The NoonPi Blog2024-09-05T13:38:10-04:00
6November 2023

The Rise and Fall of the Airbus A380: A Lesson for Professional Engineers

November 6th, 2023|Categories: Tuesday Tidbits|6 Comments

The A380 was designed to be a game-changer in the aviation industry. Boasting a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet configuration, it had a typical seating capacity of 555 passengers in a three-class configuration and could transport over 800 passengers in a denser configuration. The goal? Address the problem of congested airports and airspace by carrying more passengers per flight.

26October 2023

Lessons Learned: The 1999 Aggie Bonfire Collapse

October 26th, 2023|Categories: Friday Famous Failures|4 Comments

On November 18, 1999, the traditional Aggie Bonfire, an iconic annual event at Texas A&M University, suffered a devastating structural failure that led to the death of twelve people, while injuring twenty-seven. The Aggie Bonfire was more than a mere bonfire; it was a towering structure of log stacks reaching nearly sixty feet high, an emblem of Aggie spirit and camaraderie. The collapse, which occurred during construction, was a shocking tragedy that deeply affected the University and the broader community.

16October 2023

The October Ethical Dilemma: Gift-Sharing of a Hotel Suite

October 16th, 2023|Categories: Ethical Dilemma|8 Comments

Engineer Bob is director of engineering with a large governmental agency that uses many engineering consultants. Engineer Alan is a principal in a large engineering firm that performs services for that agency.

2October 2023

Releasing Radioactive Water from Fukushima: An Engineering Perspective

October 2nd, 2023|Categories: Tuesday Tidbits|2 Comments

In 2023, Japan made the monumental move to begin releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster into the ocean. The decision was mired in controversy, met with both support and opposition from international bodies, neighboring countries, and environmental groups.

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