Litigations – Materials Expertise – Forensic Analyses

When Concrete Structures Fail to Survive their Expected Service Lives

Concrete structures fail to survive their expected service lives because of the lack of the proper application of durability engineering by practitioners. Durability in its broadest sense depends on the nature of the concrete and the aggressiveness of the in-service environment.

Why do concrete structures fail? Why do they crack, delaminate, spall, or even worse, collapse?

SIMCO can help you to determine why these failures have occurred, assess the level of damage and analyze the impact of degradation mechanisms on the global performance of the structure under investigation.

ARE YOU ASKING YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS?

• Were materials used for the construction in compliance with the approved concrete mix design?
• Were there any compatibility issues between the materials and the environment?
• Were adequate quality control measures used during the batching process?
• Was the concrete placed, finished and cured properly?
• What is the cause or causes of deterioration affecting the concrete structure?
• Does the structure need to be demolished or are there repairs or other remediation measures that can ensure a safe and durable structure?

Credentialed experts with over 25 years of experience in evaluating concrete infrastructure

SIMCO’s team of concrete experts is comprised of credentialed and experienced concrete engineering professionals who have provided superior consultancy and expert witness services to owners, engineers, architects, contractors, attorneys, manufacturers, and insurance companies for over 25 years.

Our team provides expert guidance and support in evaluating concrete deterioration problems, design issues, and construction defects.

SIMCO’s concrete and materials specialists have extensive experience and knowledge about materials science and they are highly-recognized experts around the world. SIMCO’s expert advisors provide professional and independent technical advice relating to all aspects of the material or the structure.

Our programs are designed to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted in the field and in laboratory in order to provide quality reports that are credible and that are supported with hard facts.

AT THE HEAD OF SIMCO’S EXPERTS’ TEAM, IS DR. JACQUES MARCHAND, PRESIDENT OF SIMCO

Dr. Marchand is a world-renowned expert, who has been called in as an expert consultant for many private and public organizations in Canada and the United States.

In the past few years, Dr. Marchand’s expertise was called upon by the offices of the Auditor General of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Canada. In 2003, Dr. Marchand acted as an expert in the coroner’s investigation into the collapse of the “Du Souvenir” overpass in Laval, Quebec. In 2006 and 2007, Dr. Marchand chaired the committee of experts appointed by the Public Inquiry on the partial collapse of the Concorde overpass.

Over the past ten years, Dr. Marchand has also been involved in projects in the United States. On behalf of the Deutsche Bank, he led the survey to determine the level of damage and the remaining life of the concrete foundations of the Bankers Trust Building, damaged by the collapse of the South Tower, of the World Trade Center, in New York City. His expert services were also used by the Department of Defense of the United States, including the Naval Engineering Services Center of the U.S. Navy.

OUR SERVICES

• Conduct comprehensive investigations regarding the deterioration of concrete structures
• Provide litigation support and expert witness services for concrete projects and legal cases
• Conduct forensic investigations and analyses of construction failures
• Provide technical support and advice to stakeholders regarding concrete construction and production industry standards
• Develop concrete design and technical specification documents
• Conduct visual inspections, condition assessments, and laboratory tests
• Elaborate expert witness (technical) reports for the client or the Court
• Provide expert testimony to refute an opposing counsel’s arguments