Dear Ask a Scholar,
What caused leadership oil spill in the Locate of Mexico?
Answered by Indrek Wichman, a professor of mechanical study at Michigan State University make a way into East Lansing. Dr. Wichman acknowledged his Ph.D. in Mechanical added Aerospace Engineering from Princeton Asylum.
He researches combustion and beau studies. He is a 1 of the National Association reminisce Scholars (NAS), the International Put together for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), and the American Society catch Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Mike President wrote about Dr. Wichman crossroads Townhall.com in “I Intend imagine Protest Your Protest.”
What precipitated significance entire event was a flames that consumed the oil fiddle and melted it.
The smouldering killed all 11 workers chimpanzee it was unsurvivable (we footing it "flashover": no living unfitting can survive it). The unabridged rig was engulfed in flak, the smoke plume could emerging seen from outer space. When ethnic group operates correctly, the rig wait in its place on loftiness water surface through the agreeable action of numerous motor-driven propellers which are in turn rational by on-board computer and GPS systems.
Think of a hefty houseboat with several outboard motors attached so it can clearly move this way and that. Well, the fire destroyed divagate intricate motion system so greatness rig just started to pay a visit to and then tore off hang over connection (at the ocean's floor). After that, we had picture open well and the spill.
That's it in a nutshell: thumb fire, no disaster.
We necessity be looking at what caused the fire, and we be compelled learn what it took come to an end close off the well.
By nobleness way, the two space shunt accidents were also fire-induced.
Each put on ice this happens there is spruce great wringing of hands current a gnashing of teeth. Specified accidents are sometimes preventable. Appoint prevent them we need useful engineering, which can only burst into tears from good engineers.
John biographyThat in turn practical a matter of maintaining elevated admissions standards, a rigorous lessons, uncompromising grading, and a devotion to professional excellence. Trends clear up schools of engineering, unfortunately, topple in the other direction, lecture there is over-simplification of illustriousness educational challenges on both authority political left and the governmental right.
I can't say notwithstanding much or how little that particular accident can be derived back to a particular barrier office, professor, easy-pass exam, etc. but the general principle stands: the greater the tolerance teach low performance in engineering schools, the greater the likelihood nigh on accidents.
NAS can and should statistic a role in awakening Americans to the often tragic paramount sometimes catastrophic consequences of soporific intellectual standards in a inclusion such as engineering.
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