Forensic Engineering Investigation provides analyses and methods for determining how something was damaged and when the damage may have legal consequences. It covers 21 of the more common types of failures, catastrophic events, and losses that a forensic engineer may be called upon to assess. Each chapter is self-contained, highly specific, and succinct.
1 Introduction
1.1 Definition of Forensic Engineering
1.2 Investigation Pyramid
1.3 Eyewitness Information
1.4 Role in the Legal System
1.5 The Scientific Method
1.6 Applying the Scientific Method to Forensic Engineering
1.7 The Scientific Method and the Legal System
1.8 A Priori Biases
1.9 The Engineer as Expert Witness
1.10 Reporting the Results of a Forensic Engineering
Investigation
Further Information and References
2 Wind Damage to Residential Structures
2.1 Code Requirements for Wind Resistance
2.2 Some Basics about Wind
2.3 Variation of Wind Speed with Height
2.4 Estimating Wind Speed from Localized Damages
2.5 Additional Remarks
Further Information and References
3 Lightning Damage to Well Pumps
3.1 Correlation is Not Causation
3.2 Converse of Coincidence Argument
3.3 Underlying Reasons for Presuming Cause and Effect
3.4 A Little about Well Pumps
3.5 Lightning Access to a Well Pump
3.6 Well Pump Failures
3.7 Failure Due to Lightning
Further Information and References
4 Evaluating Blasting Damage
4.1 Pre-Blast and Post-Blast Surveys
4.2 Effective Surveys
4.3 Types of Damages Caused by Blasting
4.4 Flyrock Damage
4.5 Surface Blast Craters
4.6 Air Concussion Damage
4.7 Air Shock Wave Damage
4.8 Ground Vibrations
4.9 Blast Monitoring with Seismographs
4.10 Blasting Study by U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 442
4.11 Blasting Study by U.S. Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 656
4.12 Safe Blasting Formula from Bulletin 656
4.13 OSM Modifications of the Safe Blasting Formula in
Bulletin 656
4.14 Human Perception of Blasting Noise and Vibrations
4.15 Damages Typical of Blasting
4.16 Types of Damage Often Mistakenly Attributed to
Blasting
4.17 Continuity
Further Information and References
5 Building Collapse Due to Roof Leakage
5.1 Typical Commercial Buildings 1877–1917
5.2 Lime Mortar
5.3 Roof Leaks
5.4 Deferred Maintenance Business Strategy
5.5 Structural Damage Due to Roof Leaks
5.6 Structural Considerations
5.7 Restoration Efforts
Further Information and References
6 Putting Machines and People Together
6.1 Some Background
6.2 Vision
6.3 Sound
6.4 Sequencing
6.5 The Audi 5000 Example
6.6 Guarding
6.7 Employer’s Responsibilities
6.8 Manufacturer’s Responsibilities
6.9 New Ergonomic Challenges
Further Information and References
7 Determining the Point of Origin of a Fire
7.1 General
7.2 Burning Velocities and “V” Patterns
7.3 Burning Velocities and Flame Velocities
7.4 Flame Spread Ratings of Materials
7.5 A Little Heat Transfer Theory: Conduction and
Convection
7.6 Radiation
7.7 Initial Reconnoiter of the Fire Scene
7.8 Centroid Method
7.9 Ignition Sources
7.10 The Warehouse or Box Method
7.11 Weighted Centroid Method
7.12 Fire Spread Indicators — Sequential Analysis
7.13 Combination of Methods
Further Information and References
8 Electrical Shorting
8.1 General
8.2 Thermodynamics of a “Simple Resistive” Circuit
8.3 Parallel Short Circuits
8.4 Series Short Circuits
8.5 Beading
8.6 Fuses, Breakers, and Overcurrent Protection
8.7 Example Situation Involving Overcurrent Protection
8.8 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
8.9 “Grandfathering” of GFCIs
8.10 Other Devices
8.11 Lightning Type Surges
8.12 Common Places Where Shorting Occurs
Further Information and References
9 Explosions
9.1 General
9.2 High Pressure Gas Expansion Explosions
9.3 Deflagrations and Detonations
9.4 Some Basic Parameters
9.5 Overpressure Front
Further Information and References
10 Determining the Point of Ignition of an
Explosion
10.1 General
10.2 Diffusion and Fick’s Law
10.3 Flame Fronts and Fire Vectors
10.4 Pressure Vectors
10.5 The Epicenter
10.6 Energy Considerations
Further Information and References
11 Arson and Incendiary Fires
11.1 General
11.2 Arsonist Profile
11.3 Basic Problems of Committing an Arson for Profit
11.4 The Prisoner’s Dilemma
11.5 Typical Characteristics of an Arson or Incendiary Fire
11.6 Daisy Chains and Other Arson Precursors
11.7 Arson Reporting Immunity Laws
11.8 Liquid Accelerant Pour Patterns
11.9 Spalling
11.10 Detecting Accelerants after a Fire
Further Information and References
12 Simple Skids
12.1 General
12.2 Basic Equations
12.3 Simple Skids
12.4 Tire Friction
12.5 Multiple Surfaces
12.6 Calculation of Skid Deceleration
12.7 Speed Reduction by Skidding
12.8 Some Considerations of Data Error
12.9 Curved Skids
12.10 Brake Failures
12.11 Changes in Elevation
12.12 Load Shift
12.13 Antilock Brake Systems (ABS)
Further Information and References
13 Simple Vehicular Falls
13.1 General
13.2 Basic Equations
13.3 Ramp Effects
13.4 Air Resistance
Further Information and References
14 Vehicle Performance
14.1 General
14.2 Engine Limitations
14.3 Deviations from Theoretical Model
14.4 Example Vehicle Analysis
14.5 Braking
14.6 Stuck Accelerators
14.7 Brakes vs. the Engine
14.8 Power Brakes
14.9 Linkage Problems
14.10 Cruise Control
14.11 Transmission Problems
14.12 Miscellaneous Problems
14.13 NHTSA Study
14.14 Maximum Climb
14.15 Estimating Transmission Efficiency
14.16 Estimating Engine Thermal Efficiency
14.17 Peel-Out
14.18 Lateral Tire Friction
14.19 Bootlegger’s Turn
Further Information and References
15 Momentum Methods
15.1 General
15.2 Basic Momentum Equations
15.3 Properties of an Elastic Collision
15.4 Coefficient of Restitution
15.5 Properties of a Plastic Collision
15.6 Analysis of Forces during a Fixed Barrier Impact
15.7 Energy Losses and “ ε”
15.8 Center of Gravity
15.9 Moment of Inertia
15.10 Torque
15.11 Angular Momentum Equations
15.12 Solution of Velocities Using the Coefficient
of Restitution
15.13 Estimation of a Collision Coefficient of Restitution
from Fixed Barrier Data
15.14 Discussion of Coefficient of Restitution Methods
Further Information and References
16 Energy Methods
16.1 General
16.2 Some Theoretical Underpinnings
16.3 General Types of Irreversible Work
16.4 Rollovers
16.5 Flips
16.6 Modeling Vehicular Crush
16.7 Post-Buckling Behavior of Columns
16.8 Going from Soda Cans to the Old ‘Can You Drive?’
16.9 Evaluation of Actual Crash Data
16.10 Low Velocity Impacts — Accounting for the Elastic
Component
16.11 Representative Stiffness Coefficients
16.12 Some Additional Comments
Further Information and References
17 Curves and Turns
17.1 Transverse Sliding on a Curve
17.2 Turnovers
17.3 Load Shifting
17.4 Side vs. Longitudinal Friction
17.5 Cornering and Side Slip
17.6 Turning Resistance
17.7 Turning Radius
17.8 Measuring Roadway Curvature
17.9 Motorcycle Turns
Further Information and References
18 Visual Perception and Motorcycle Accidents
18.1 General
18.2 Background Information
18.3 Headlight Perception
18.4 Daylight Perception
18.5 Review of the Factors in Common
18.6 Difficulty Finding a Solution
Further Information and References
19 Interpreting Lamp Filament Damages
19.1 General
19.2 Filaments
19.3 Oxidation of Tungsten
19.4 Brittleness in Tungsten
19.5 Ductility in Tungsten
19.6 Turn Signals
19.7 Other Applications
19.8 Melted Glass
19.9 Sources of Error
Further Information and References
20 Automotive Fires
20.1 General
20.2 Vehicle Arson and Incendiary Fires
20.3 Fuel-Related Fires
20.4 Other Fire Loads under the Hood
20.5 Electrical Fires
20.6 Mechanical and Other Causes
Further Information and References
21 Hail Damage
21.1 General
21.2 Hail Size
21.3 Hail Frequency
21.4 Hail Damage Fundamentals
21.5 Size Threshold for Hail Damage to Roofs
21.6 Assessing Hail Damage
21.7 Cosmetic Hail Damage — Burnish Marks
21.8 The Haig Report
21.9 Damage to the Sheet Metal of Automobiles and
Buildings
21.10 Foam Roofing Systems
Further Information and References
|
