Applied Science & Research

Overview

Testing and research to understand the unknown.

Why has this material failed? How will this structural connection perform? What happens to this substance when exposed to extended sunlight, water, cold, or heat? We constantly question the “why” to better understand how structures and materials behave. Laboratory testing helps us validate innovative designs, provides evidence for investigations, and informs our repair techniques.

By executing hands-on analyses in our Applied Science & Research Center, SGH staff explore all the relevant information–digitally and physically–to develop ideas and find solutions. Through our constant questioning, we solve complex issues, satisfy our curiosity, and create an environment where we can learn and improve.

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Tour SGH's Applied Science & Research Center, our in-house laboratory facility, to learn more about what we can do.

Advancing the meaning of what’s possible.

Specialized Capabilities

Physical Testing

SGH can perform mechanical testing to understand the physical characteristics of materials, components, and systems. We can conduct tension and compression loading; fatigue testing; macro- and micro-hardness testing; and specialized tests, such as shear, fracture toughness, adhesion, and delamination with our axial load machines. We also have a 5 ft thick strong floor, supported by an overhead crane, that allows us to simulate pushing or pulling forces on components of various sizes and configurations.

Environmental Simulations

Evaluating how materials, components, and systems perform in specific environments is an important aspect of predicting serviceability and suitability for proposed applications. SGH uses equipment–such as a walk-in freezer, oven, or salt fog chamber–and applies corrosive liquids, high temperature gases, and ultraviolet light to simulate a wide range of aggressive environments, evaluate long-term exposure, or replicate past events to efficiently determine root causes of issues.

Laboratory testing in SGH's Applied Science & Research Center

Materials Science

Whether a material is new, being used in a new way, or taken to a new limit; deteriorates due to age or exposure; or fails or performs unexpectedly, our Applied Science & Research Center can answer complex questions. With physical testing, environmental simulation, microscopy, and chemical/thermal analysis capabilities, SGH develops testing plans to determine a material’s composition and properties that help us identify it or predict its behavior in service. Our multidisciplinary teams apply an understanding of materials science, engineering principles, construction techniques, and testing approaches to evaluate materials for innovative project designs, investigate failures, and design durable and appropriate repairs.

Microscopy

Microscopy can help our trained specialists in the Applied Science & Research Center identify characteristics that can affect a material’s behavior or performance. We can use this information to evaluate whether a material is appropriate for the intended use or why it failed. SGH’s fully equipped microscopy laboratory includes stereo microscopes (10X to 100X); a transmitted light polarizing microscope (10X to 1,000X); and an ultraviolet, reflected light microscope (10X to 50X); along with cutting and lapping equipment to create flat, polished surfaces, and a computer-assisted, linear-traverse instrument for conducting hardened air-void analyses.

Research Partnerships

We’re better when we work together. SGH collaborates with academic and scientific institutions and other professional firms to advance the architectural, engineering, and construction industry by evaluating new building and structural materials, components, and systems. We work with these partners to develop and execute research initiatives in our Applied Science & Research Center.

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With approximately 13,500 sq ft of in-house laboratory facilities, our Applied Science & Research Center develops and executes comprehensive testing and research plans to better understand how materials, components, and systems behave. Take a look inside our laboratory and learn how its capabilities enhance the work we do for clients.

Working together for optimal results.

Our engineers partner with team members in the Applied Science & Research Center to identify project goals, develop testing protocols, interpret results, and tackle the toughest challenges. Our collective technical knowledge and years of laboratory experience provide us with a unique lens to investigate and explain failures, help codify standards today, and innovate the future. Some of our specialists in the Applied Science & Research Center include:

Chemists
Geologists
Metallurgists
Materials Engineers
Laboratory Technicians

SGH’s Applied Science and Research Center is where we combine our engineering knowledge with our testing and materials expertise to help our clients by solving problems or investigating new technologies/approaches to turn their visions into reality.

Emily Hopps, Principal

In our Applied Science & Research Center, SGH engineers and architects and material scientists and petrographers can work together, looking at the same sample at the same time and talking about it. We gain so much knowledge and information through that collaborative interaction.

Matthew Sherman, Senior Principal

Meet The Lab

Meet the Lab: Max Kratzok

Meet Max Kratzok.

Max is a mechanical engineer with a knack for breaking things—for the better. In SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center, he uses his analytical and observational skills to test the limits of materials and push our problem-solving ability to new heights. Follow #SGHLab on LinkedIn to see all the upcoming interviews in our “Meet the #SGHLab” miniseries!

Meet the Lab: Emily Norwine

Meet Emily Norwine.

Emily began her professional career teaching chemistry to undergraduate students. Now, she is SGH’s resident chemistry expert, using her skills as an academic researcher in our Applied Science & Research Center to make discoveries and assist engineers when they encounter challenges.

Meet the Lab: Linda Seymour

Meet Linda Seymour.

As an SGH Project Consultant, Linda performs material and structural investigations on a variety of structures. She often takes her findings in the field and brings them back to members of our Applied Science & Research Center, where they can uncover the story behind a failed structure together. When they team up, they can help find the answers to the most challenging problems.

Meet the Lab: Anass Harmal

Meet Anass Harmal.

Anass first joined SGH as an intern and returned as soon as he finished his studies. He brings expertise as a materials scientist and a desire for discovery to the #SGHlab, adding to the depth of talented professionals who take on challenges every day.

Meet the Lab: Alan Humphreys

Meet Alan Humphreys.

Alan is a metallurgical engineer with one foot in our Applied Science & Research Center and one foot in the field. He constantly uses the lab to perform a multitude of tests to solve the problems he encounters. Follow #SGHLab on LinkedIn to see all the upcoming interviews in our “Meet the #SGHLab” miniseries!

Meet the Lab: Emily Hopps

Meet Emily Hopps.

Emily leads SGH’s Building Technology Division in Waltham, MA. As a friend of the lab, she collaborates with its many experts to help her solve problems in the field and deliver answers to her clients’ most difficult questions. Working together, there’s no challenge too complex for this power team.

Meet the Lab: Norm Perkins

Meet Norm Perkins.

Norm is SGH’s Director of Applied Science & Research. He leads a diverse team of experts in our lab, using his experience in experimental design and physical testing programs to recreate and dissect problems to find answers to our clients' toughest challenges.

Meet the Lab: Melissa Roth

Meet Melissa Roth.

Melissa is SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center Manager, bringing over ten years of experience as a chemical and materials scientist engineer into the lab. An expert in experimental design, failure analysis, and research and development of high-performance materials, she also oversees the lab’s day-to-day activities and thrives on coming up with creative client solutions.

Meet the Lab: Bob Sovie

Meet Bob Sovie.

Bob has worked in SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center for more than thirty years, mastering the ins and outs of concrete, aggregate, and FRP testing. He knows all the test methods in our ISO 17025 scope of accreditation, and is the reason we pass through our audits with flying colors. As an ACI-certified lab and field technician for concrete mixing and testing, Bob is a go-to resource for all standard and non-standard testing approaches.

Meet The Lab: Pat Kelley

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Featured Projects

Northeast

Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) required Seabrook to investigate the implications of this finding and Seabrook subsequently retained SGH to assess the existing, safety-critical structures for the presence of ASR and the evaluate the effects of distress on the structural performance.

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West

Pullman Regional Hospital

Following replacement of some sheet vinyl flooring with an alternate moisture mitigation coating, the hospital reported liquid-filled blisters in the repaired floor finishes. SGH investigated the cause(s) of the reported flooring failures.

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Ready to work together?

We’re here to solve your complex questions.

Contact our Applied Science & Research Center and let’s talk about what’s possible.

Norman Perkins

Director of Applied Science & Research

781.907.9099 nfperkins@sgh.com

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Applied Science & Research

Testing and research to understand the unknown.

Advancing the meaning of what’s possible.

Physical Testing

Working together for optimal results.

Meet The Lab

Meet the Lab: Max Kratzok

Meet the Lab: Emily Norwine

Meet the Lab: Linda Seymour

Meet the Lab: Anass Harmal

Meet the Lab: Alan Humphreys

Meet the Lab: Emily Hopps

Meet the Lab: Norm Perkins

Meet the Lab: Melissa Roth

Meet the Lab: Bob Sovie

Meet The Lab: Pat Kelley

Related Insights

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Weathering the Storm

The Art of Water Testing

Featured Projects

Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant

Pullman Regional Hospital

Ready to work together?