See Contact Page to Submit an Inquiry. We provide engineering design, analysis and troubleshooting services to industries including Petrochemical, Mining, Materials, Transportation, Aerospace and Power.

Call Tom O’Donnell, PE (412) 835-5007 FEA Model of Heater Vessel FEA Model of Pressure Vessel What is Finite Element Analysis? Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computer simulation method used for evaluating components, structures and systems. It is a versatile and powerful tool that models simple and complex geometries, in conjunction with linear and …

What is Finite Element Analysis? (Blog) Read More »

Failed Wire Rope Weld Failure Failure Analysis – The Basics Call Tom O’Donnell, PE (412) 835-5007 Failure Analysis is the process of understanding equipment failure. Failures happen, often despite the best efforts of designers, engineers, and fabricators. One of the first steps to take after equipment failure should be to check similar in-service components. Although …

Blog: Failure Analysis – The Basics Read More »

Introduction Call Tom O’Donnell, PE (412) 835-5007 Engineering design is a critical process that involves creating reliable structures, systems, and products. To ensure the safety and functionality of these designs, engineers employ various methodologies, two of which are Design by Analysis and Design by Rule. Design By Rule Design by Rule (DBR) is a simplified …

Blog: Basics of Design by Analysis v. Design by Rule Read More »

Weld Defects and Failures: Quantifying Fitness For Service – How Finite Element Mathematical Simulations can Mitigate Risk and Cut Costs Article by Dr. William J. O’Donnell, PE, President – O’Donnell Consulting Engineers Fatigue in Welded steel components is often initiated by mathematical vibration, corrosion and thermal cycling. Fitness for service analysis is the most viable …

Article on Weld Defects in Stainless Steel World Read More »

Fitness-for-Service analysis is the most viable step in determining the safety and financial risk factors related to component repair or replacement. This Stainless Steel World article (written by Bill O’Donnell, Sr.) shares insight about managing risk specific to weld failures. As President of O’Donnell Consulting Engineers, Inc., he began his professional career at Westinghouse Bettis …

Quantifying Fitness-For-Service – Article by Bill O’Donnell, Sr. Read More »

FEA Model of Vessel at Nozzles Introduction to Pressure Vessels Call Tom O’Donnell, PE (412) 835-5007 Pressure vessels have wide applications in power plants, and industries including pharmaceutical and petrochemical which require the safe storage and transportation of gasses and liquids under high pressure. In order to avoid catastrophic accidents, careful attention to design detail …

Blog: Basics of Pressure Vessel Design & Analysis Read More »

Fatigue of Welded Components – Quantifying Fitness for Service Fatigue in welded steel components is often initiated by mechanical vibration, corrosion, and thermal cycling.  Fitness-for- Service analysis determines the safety and financial risk factors related to component repair or replacement. Bill, Sr. shares insight about managing risk specific to weld failures in his article Quantifying Fitness …

Fatigue of Welded Components Read More »

We’ve updated our Links Page which lists professional societies, engineering books and resources, and as well as other links of interest.

See Murals Page – that were painted by a local artist, depicting stories of various engineering and legal cases.

See updates to our Portfolio Page – we are continually adding to it. Above is a finite analysis element analysis (FEA) model of a base skid containing a Vapor Recovery Unit.

We continually updating updated our Events Page concerning engineering conferences.

Cracks Found in Brass Fitting of an HVAC System Summary Calll Tom O’Donnell, PE (412) 835-5007 “Call a metallurgist!” When components are made of metal, this is typically the first reaction. It’s a fact of life – things break. Learn more about when to call a metallurgist and what’s involved. Introduction Although often a good …

When to Call a Metallurgist – Learn More What’s Involved (Blog) Read More »

See resume summaries of our Senior Engineers at Our Team. See Also:Who We Serve to see a list of a few of our clientsPopular Links to see what’s trending No Time? – Call Tom O’Donnell, PE

GlobalSpec Article on a forensic investigation O’Donnell Consulting performed on a ductwork failure in a Pittsburgh-local school. Call Tom O’Donnell to Discuss Your Forensic Engineering Issues

What is a Primary Stress? Call Tom O’Donnell, PE (412) 835-5007   Most engineers are familiar with the terms “Normal Stress”, “Shear Stress” and potentially “Equivalent Stress.” However perhaps not so much with the terms “Primary Stress” and “Secondary Stress”. What do these terms mean and why are they important? “Primary Stress” is a term …

BLOG: What is a Primary Stress? Read More »

Bill O’Donnell, Sr., recently published “Handbook of Lessons Learned In Engineering, Design, Manufacturing and Construction.” It is intended for engineers, designers, manufacturers and constructors – depicting failures from thermal, structural, vibration, corrosion and other failure mechanisms. Read a sample of this book, Section 1 Designers’ Lessons. This book can be purchased at Amazon.com.

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and NuScale Power, two leading companies in the race to build small modular reactors (SMRs) for power generation, have recently announced deals that could result to new plants being constructed in Europe. See the Power Magazine article.

See Our Links Page to find resources on engineering associations, books, and more.

Advantages of Dual Linear Array Probes for Corrosion Inspection. The power generation industry is among those whose aging infrastructure contributes to increased safety concerns, and can lead to costly unscheduled maintenance and shutdowns. Facilities must be vigilant about monitoring corrosion in their in-service pipes and vessels to help ensure their integrity. Read the Power Magazine …

Advantages of Dual Linear Array Probes for Corrosion Inspection Read More »

The reliability and integrity of equipment, structures and piping can suffer because of vibration and dynamic responses. These depend mainly on excitation forces, stiffness, mass distribution and damping. Modal analysis, which focuses on natural frequencies and associated modal shapes, provides an important tool in understanding potential issues. Indeed, usually the first step in checking for …

Don’t Let Vibrations Shake Up Operations Read More »

Steam turbines are used across the world as a source of power for many different industries. Even with the best maintenance procedures and preventative maintenance techniques, problems can still arise. Resolving one of the more serious issues, that of stress corrosion cracking, can often be achieved in a straightforward manner by accurately identifying the causes.  …

Mitigating Failure Mechanisms – Turbomachinery Read More »

A first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor that will use a 3D-printed core, advanced materials, and integrated sensors and controls is on track for completion by 2023. Read the Power Magazine Article.   .

See our Covid-19 Update. 

The past 10 years have been filled with trials and tribulations for both the nuclear and coal power industries. From accidents to plant closures there has been little to cheer about. Still, nuclear and coal power continue to provide reliable baseload generation to billions of customers around the globe. Here’s a look back at the …

A Decade of Turmoil: How Nuclear and Coal Have Struggled to Survive Read More »