Dr. Ellen Wright is a Director and Senior Managing Consultant with Engineering Systems Inc. (ESi) and leads metallurgical and materials investigations across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing; transportation (aviation and aerospace, rail, maritime, and automotive); power generation; chemical processing; gas transmission and storage; medical device; and construction. She is a licensed professional engineer and instructor for the Metallurgical and Materials Professional Engineering Licensing Exam Review Course offered annually nationwide through The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS). She also serves on the Board of Directors for the ASM International Failure Analysis Society (FAS), contributing to the advancement of materials engineering and failure analyses.
Ellen's Recent Updates
An Avoidable Construction Accident
View this case Study
Looks Can Be Deceiving – Investigating Assembly Issues and Their Role in a Gas R...
Not the Intended Hawaiian tour: Tale of an Emergency Commuter Plane Landing
Be Careful Walking the Dog: An Orthopedic Leg Brace Failure
Multi-Discipline Approach to Investigation of Hail Damage to Metal Roofs with a ...
Areas of Expertise
Publications
- Fractography of Aluminum Alloys, ASM Handbook, Volume 12, Fractography, November 2024
- An Overview of Aircraft Accident Investigation and Component Failures, ASM Handbook, Volume 11A, Analysis and Prevention of Component and Equipment Failures, August 2021
- The Influence of Microstrain Evolution by Tensile Straining on Localized Corrosion of Al-Li Alloys 2099 and 2196, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, December 2019
Professional Associations
Case Studies
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When Cleaning Makes a Mess
Using a combination of chemical and metallurgical principles, ESi determined that stainless steel kitchen components could be restored to their pristine state, following staining damage from acid exposure, eliminating need to purchase all new equipment.
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Major Pipe Recall: Engineering Analysis of Production Data Justifies Replacement
In a major recall of installed pipes in a Middle East gas field, an ESi statistical analysis supported the initial premise that a large proportion of pipes failed to meet the technical specifications.
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Multi-Discipline Approach to Investigation of Hail Damage to Metal Roofs with a Cosmetic Damage Endorsement
This matter involved a dispute over an insurance claim for hail damage to several low sloped commercial metal roofs.
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Be Careful Walking the Dog: An Orthopedic Leg Brace Failure
Advanced laboratory testing uncovered the cause of an orthotic brace fracture and provided key evidence supporting settlement of the claim.
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Not the intended Hawaiian tour: Tale of an emergency commuter plane landing
A Hawaiian inter-island commuter aircraft experienced an in-flight engine shutdown and had to make an emergency landing. ESi was called upon to investigate and determine the root-cause of the engine failure.
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Looks Can Be Deceiving – Investigating Assembly Issues and Their Role in a Gas Range Explosion
ESi was engaged to critically evaluate allegations that factory mis-assembly of a cooking range gas compression connections resulted in a leak that caused an explosion.
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An Avoidable Construction Accident
ESi was engaged to investigate a construction accident involving a crane boom extension jib that fell from its stowed position injuring a worker below it.
