Dr. Buehler specializes in the application of chemical engineering principles to the analysis, investigation, and prevention of accidents with emphasis on fires, explosions, and chemical releases. He has investigated numerous fires and explosions at petroleum refineries, natural gas and chemical process facilities, and other locations where chemicals were involved such as warehouse storage and containerized transport. Further, Dr. Buehler has characterized, quantified, and evaluated the chemical fate of numerous atmospheric releases and spills, including flare emissions during periods of a process upset as well as developed test programs and engineering analysis for examination of indoor air quality.
Dr. Buehler’s projects have involved the performance evaluation and failure analysis of a wide range of process equipment. He has developed chain-of-events scenarios from various sources of evidence including physical artifacts, process measurement data, sample analyses, electronic event logs, eyewitness accounts, surveillance video, and simulations. Dr. Buehler’s area of expertise further extends to the stability and hazard potential of chemicals and chemical mixtures and the compatibility of materials with specific chemical environments. He has investigated incidents involving self-heating or thermal runaway of chemicals and unintentional chemical reactions of incompatible materials.
The production and use of hydrogen, biogas, and other alternative sources of energy interests Dr. Buehler. Of particular interest are gasification systems to convert materials such as coal or organic wastes into hydrogen, syngas, and synthetic fuels.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Buehler has held research positions with academic institutions such as Villanova University and Purdue University and has also worked as a researcher for the ARCO Chemical Company.
Buehler CS, Caruthers JM, Franses EI. Spectroturbidimetry theory for determining orientation distributions of spheroidal particles in the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans and Rayleigh scattering segimes. J Chem Phys 1994; 100:2422–2428, February.
Buehler CS, Caruthers JM, Franses EI. Theory and measurements of orientation distributions of spheroidal particles by Rayleigh-Debye-Gans light scattering. J Chem Phys 1993; 98:3600–3611, March.
Buehler CS. Measurement of orientation distributions of spheroidal particles by light scattering. Ph.D. Dissertation, Purdue University, 1991.
Buehler CS, Caruthers JM, Franses EI. Light scattering theory from monodisperse spheroidal particles in the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans regime. J Chem Phys 1990; 92:140–156, January.
Buehler CS. Light scattering determination of size, shape, and orientation of spheroidal particles in the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans regime. Master’s Thesis, Purdue University, 1989.
Reports
Zannetti P, Buehler C, Rouson D, Goodman M. Investigation of the off-site impact of a herbicide application at A-1 auto body, Inc., Racine, WI. Exponent, Inc., January 1999.
Buehler C, Goodman M. A microbiological assessment of E-pod indoor environment at Walnut Grove Elementary School. Exponent, Inc., April 1998.
Whitehouse G, Petersen J, Buehler C, Picard B. Supplemental report to the analysis of overtime and productivity for the reconstruction project at NIPSCO’s Bailly Generating Station. Failure Analysis Associates, July 1992.
Whitehouse G, Petersen J, Buehler C, Picard B. Analysis of overtime and productivity for the reconstruction project at NIPSCO’s Bailly Generating Station. Failure Analysis Associates, January 1992.
Invited Presentations
Buehler CS. Meeting Canadian hydrogen demand through gasification. Canadian Hydrogen Association Workshop: Hydrogen Defense Against Climate Change, Gatineau, Québec, October 24, 2007.
Buehler CS. Meeting Canadian hydrogen demand through gasification. Processing Canadian Oils ands Coal Using Gasification, Calgary, Alberta, August 16, 2007.
McGoran B, Nunes S, Buehler C, Ross B. Role of process monitoring in a chemical plant explosion. Proceedings, 2006 International Symposium on Safety Science and Technology, Changsha, China, October 24–27, 2006.
McGoran B, Ross B, Nunes S, Buehler C, Reza A, Kemal A, Fessler J, Belanger J, Arnold D. Evaluation of a chemical plant explosion and lessons learned. Proceedings, Safety and Reliability, Annual Meeting of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society and 1st Annual Meeting of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mechanics and Transportation Engineering Division, pp. 252–257, 2006.
McGoran B, Nunes S, Buehler C, Ross B. Role of process monitoring in a chemical plant explosion. 35th Annual Loss Prevention Symposium, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Spring National Meeting, Houston, TX, April 2001.
Buehler CS, Caruthers JM. Franses EI. The inverse problem of determining orientation of spheroids from Rayleigh-Debye-Gans (RDG) light scattering regime. American Institute of Chemical Engineers National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 1989.
Buehler CS, Caruthers JM, Franses EI. Determination of orientation distribution of nonspherical particles in the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans scattering regime. American Institute of Chemical Engineers National Meeting, Miami, FL, November 1986.
Keville KM, Franses EI, Caruthers JM, Buehler CS. Characterization of novel microspheroidal polymer particles. 60th Colloid and Surface Science Symposium, Atlanta, GA, June 1986.