bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forensic Engineering Assessment Of Fast And Fastlite Fire Modeling Software
Authors: DeWitt William E.
Published: August 2021

Mathematical Equations That Relate To Fire Phenomena Have Been Around For A Long Time. In 1984, Bukowski Proposed A Series Of Individual Calculations For Conducting A Fire Hazard Analysis. A Broader Series Of Equations, Applicable To Fire Growth Estimates, Was Published In 1985 By Lawson And Quintierez. Nelson Extended This Idea Further In 1986 With Fireform And Fpetool To Give Simple Models Along With Engineering Calculations In A Software Package That Was Widely Used For Fire Safety Engineering Calculations. More Recently, The National Institute For Standards And Technology (Nist) Released Fast And Fastlite. These Software Programs Are A Collection Of Procedures That Builds On The Core Routines Of Fireform And A Simplified Version Of The Computer Model Cfast To Provide Engineering Calculations Of Fire Phenomena. Fast, Which Stands For Fire Growth And Smoke Transport, Is Designed To Provide Quantitative Estimates Of Some Likely Consequences Of Fire, Such As Room Temperatures, Ceiling Layer Height, And Time To Flashover. This Paper Will Describe The Historical Use Of Fire Modeling Software In A Forensic Engineering Context, Review Current Fire Modeling Software Programs Available From Nist, And Present The Results Of An Applied Research Project That Modeled Actual Building Fires Using Fast. Finally, The Paper Will Show The Results Of A Fire Modeling Software Usage Survey Of Nafe Members Who Specialize In Fire And Explosion Investigations.
Deposition & Court - Quotes That Altered The Engineering Case
Authors: Kravitz Michael
Published: August 2021

Previous Speakers At Nafe Seminars Have Discussed Matters Regarding Testimony At Depositions And Court, How To Approach Various Types Of Questions, And Above All To Be Unbiased In Our Opinions Even If The Opinions Are Of Limited Or Negative Value To Our Clients. However, We Have Rarely Referred To The Importance At The Reading Of Depositions, Which In Simple Terms Is Just The Reading Of A Transcript. However, In The Reading Of A Transcript It Is Easy To Overlook A Short Statement Or A Simple Question That Is Only Asked Once And May Occupy Only A Few Lines In A Transcript. This Paper Will Deal With Quotations From Several Depositions And A Cross Examination In Court Where The Full Facts Of A Case Were Not Revealed To The Expert.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Railroad Event Recorders
Authors: Hintersteiner Robert T.
Published: August 2021

The Railroad Event Recorder, Which Is Commonly Known As A Speed Tape, Continuously Records Events That Are Occurring Throughout The Operation Of A Railroad Engine. The Railroad Event Recorder Was Mandated To Be Installed And Operational Within Every Railroad Engine By The Federal Railroad Administration Under Cfr 49 Part 229.135 Event Recorders. The Railroad Event Recorder Operates The Same Way As A Flight Recorder In An Airplane, Except That It Can Record Up To 48 Hours Continuously, While The Black Box In An Airplane Can Only Record The Last 30 Minutes. The Purposes For Placing The Event Recorders In Each Locomotive Are Twofold: First They Are Used To Help Maintenance Personnel Determine If The Engine Had Any Malfunctions When It Is Brought In For Emergency And/Or Planned Maintenance. Second, They Are Used By The Train Master To Determine If And When The Train Operator Applied The Brakes, And Sounded The Horn During An Incident. This Paper Will Address The Second Purpose For The Event Recorder As It Relates To An Incident And The Requirements Of The Data And Its Presentation.
Forensic Engineering Review- Causes Of Sudden Unexpected Vehicle Acceleration
Authors: Leshner Michael D.
Published: August 2021

A Disturbing Number Of Drivers Have Experienced Accidents In Which Their Vehicle Runs Away Or Suddenly Accelerates. This Article Will Address Some Of The Reasons For This Phenomenon, Including Mechanical Malfunctions, Human Factors Issues, And Design Defects. Some Vehicle Makes And Models With Particularly High Rates Of Sudden Acceleration Incidents Are Highlighted.
Forensic Analysis Of Tilting File Cabinets
Authors: Yaxley Wilbur T.
Published: August 2021

This Case Involved A File Clerk Inserting Files Into An Office 4 Drawer File Cabinet. The File Cabinet Did Not Have Latching Devices For The Drawers. The File Drawers Were Designed To Be Stabilized With A Small Indent In The Suspension Track To Prevent The Drawers From Unexpectedly Opening. The File Cabinet Unexpectedly Tilted And Opened All The Drawers With A Force Sufficient To Knock The Clerk To The Floor With The File Cabinet On Her Back. The Clerk Sustained Substantial Back Injuries. The Jury Agreed With The Forensic Engineering Analysis And Were Shocked At The Ease Of The Drawers Opening, The Cabinet Falling, And The Force Of Overturning Of The File Cabinet. The Jury Awarded The Verdict To The Plaintiff With A Surprising Twist.
Forensic Analysis Of An Overheated Railway Tank Car
Authors: Sampsel Michael M.
Published: August 2021

This Paper Presents The Technique Of An Engineering Analysis Of A Railway Tank Car Anhydrous Ammonia Leak. The Tank Car Had Been Sitting In The Open For Several Days In A Semi-Arid, Desert Like Region Of The Southwestern United States. Introduction Approximately Two Years After An Oklahoma Chemical Plant Had Shipped A 32,000 Gallon Railway Tank Car Of Anhydrous Ammonia, It Was Informed That It Had Been Named In A Lawsuit. The Tank Car Had Apparently Leaked Some Unknown Amount Of The Anhydrous Ammonia, Classified As A Hazardous Material, While Parked On A Rail Siding In El Centro, California, In September 1989. The Dark Colored Car Had Been Sitting On A Rail Siding For 15 Days Awaiting Delivery To Its Final Destination Near El Centro. The Area Is A Semi-Arid Agricultural Region In Southern California, Approximately 70 Miles Inland From The Coast And San Diego. A Well Known Defense Attorney In San Diego, California, Began Evaluating The Case And Assembling A Defense Team. Ultimately The Defense Team Would Consist Of Several Medical Experts, A Mechanical Engineer, An Industrial Hygienist, A Department Of Transportation Regulatory Expert, And A Meteorologist. The Team Started Work In May 1995. This Paper Will Cover Only The Mechanical Engineering Analysis Issues Involved In The Litigation.
Forensic Engineering Critique Of Toxic Chemical Exposure Assessment And Protection
Authors: Herman Harry H. Jr.
Published: August 2021

The Primary Illnesses Among Industrial Workers Worldwide Are Those, Which Target The Respiratory System.1 With The Possibility Of Exposures To Airborne Toxins From Our Environment And With The Potential From Terrorists Looming, It Is Important To Obtain Both A Historical And Up To Date Perspective On The Current Methodology Of Exposure Level Determination And Respiratory Protection From Airborne Toxins.
Forensic Engineering Review Of Forklift Truck Back-Up Visibility
Authors: Josephs Harold
Published: August 2021

There Are A Number Of Blind Spots On Any Vehicle, Primarily On Both Sides And To The Rear. Additionally, All Vehicles Have Blind Spots To Some Degree When Traveling In Reverse; The Larger The Vehicle, The Larger The Blind Spot. Large Forklift Trucks (Flts) Typically Travel In Reverse (Forks Trailing) Often As Much As Half The Time Largely Due To The Obstruction Of Forward Visibility Caused By The Load On The Fork. Also, Traveling On Ramps And Setting A Delivered Load Require The Flt To Travel In Reverse. Frequent Flt Reverse Travel Poses Problems For The Operator Who, When Attempting To Look To His Rear By Turning His Head And/Or Upper Body, Can Suffer Back And Neck Strain And Fatigue. Traveling In The Forks Trailing Direction Creates A Situation Of A Large Blind Spot Behind The Drivers Now Rotated Head And Upper Body. A Case Study Is Presented Of An Accident That Involved Backing Up A Large (52,000 Pound Capacity) Flt. This Vehicle Was Equipped With Mirrors, A Constant- Sound-Level Back-Up Beeper And A Flashing Beacon. Despite These Safety Features, The Injured Party Failed To See The Oncoming Flt, Nor Did The Driver See Him Due To The Blind Spot. The Commonly Accepted Back-Up Warning Systems, Which Include Mirrors, Beacons And Beepers, Are Shown To Be Often Inadequate During Accidents Involving Blind Spots That Occur While Driving In Reverse.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Electric Shock From Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Authors: Brugger Richard D.
Published: August 2021

Many Electrical Wiring Systems Include Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (Gfci) As Protective Elements. The Application Is For Avoidance Of Electric Shock Injuries To A Person In The Event That Their Body Becomes Part Of An Electrical Circuit Path From A Live Wire And Ground. The Theory Behind The Device Is That If There Is A Difference In Electrical Current Flowing Through The Live (120 Volt Ac) Wire And The Neutral Wire, Then The Difference Current Is Flowing To Ground And Is Potentially Hazardous To A Person. Functionally, The Gfci Should Automatically Open The Electrical Circuit Above A Certain Ground Current Value. This Paper Explores How The Circuit May Fail To Provide The Protection For Which It Is Intended, And Result In An Electric Shock.
Forensic Engineering Analysis And Testing For Speed Reduction In Transient Braking
Authors: Castaneda Rene A.
Published: August 2021

The Speed From Skids Equation Is Derived From The Work-Energy Theorem And Is Often Employed In Accident Reconstruction To Determine A Vehicles Speed At The Onset Of Visible Locked-Wheel Braking Application. The Conventional Use Of This Equation In The Field Of Accident Reconstruction, However, Does Not Yield A Vehicles True Speed At The Onset Of Braking. In Maximum Application Of The Brake Pedal, A Vehicle Initially Undergoes A Transient Brake Phase Prior To Arriving At The Quasi-Steady-State Locked-Wheel Brake Phase. There Is A Reduction Of Speed That Occurs During The Transient Phase Of Braking That Is Generally Not Accounted For In The Reconstruction Of Vehicular Collisions. Accounting For This Reduction In Speed, A Forensic Engineer Can Estimate A Vehicles Speed At The Onset Of Braking And Further Employ The Relative Elapsed Time In Collision Avoidance Calculations. This Study Will Explore A Method To Estimate The Speed Reduction Occurring During The Transient Braking Based On Field Testing.
Forensic Survey Mapping And Engineering In Eminent Domain Cases
Authors: Armstrong Jeffrey D. , Wayne H. Coloney
Published: August 2021

The Forensic Surveyor And Engineer Play Important Roles In The Evaluation Of An Eminent Domain Case. Their Analysis Can Provide The Major Support For Damages And For The Valuation Of The Property. It Is Important That The Engineer Communicate Regularly With The Attorney, Appraiser, And Other Experts To Ensure That They Understand And Correctly Interpret His Analysis. The Engineer Must Prepare His Analysis And Exhibits In A Way That Will Be Beneficial And Understandable To Non-Engineers. A Thorough Engineering Analysis, Combined With Constant Communication With The Members Of The Team, Can Be An Important Contributing Factor In The Determination Of Full Compensation Related To A Right-Of- Way Acquisition.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of An Accident Caused By Inadequate Maintenance Of A Large Capacity Fork Lift Truck
Authors: Josephs Harold
Published: August 2021

Forklift Trucks Are The Single Most Versatile Industrial Material-Handling Device. This Versatility Is Created By The Ability Of The Flt To Move Loads In Three Dimensions, I.E., Forward, Laterally, And Vertically. This Freedom Of Movement Is Provided By The Rear Steer Front Wheel Drive Configuration Of Flts Permitting The Flt To Move Loads Into Tight Spaces And Also By The Mast Permitting The Forks To Raise And Lower Loads For Stacking. As Part Of The Stacking Operation The Masts Of Flts Have The Capability Of Tilting Fore And Aft, Which Permits The Forks To Get Under The Load And Then Once Placed On The Forks, For The Load To Be Raised And Then Cradled By The Forks By Tilting The Mast Backwards...A Case Study Is Presented Of A Fatality Accident Involving A Large Capacity Flt (52,000 Pound Capacity) Carrying 11 Sheets Of Steel Which Were 10 x 20 x 1/4 Each Weighing Approximately 1500 Pounds. The Operator Of The Flt Set The Load At About 1416 Above The Ground, Set The Spotting Brake, And Exited The Cab To Rearrange A Number Of Wooden Spacers Upon Which He Intended To Place The Sheets Of Steel. The Mast Drifted, Causing The Forks To Angle Down, Which In Turn Permitted The Sheets Of Steel To Slide Off The Forks (Much Like A Deck Of Cards) And Strike The Worker (Previously The Operator), Resulting In His Death.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Head Impacts Within A Vehicle Subject To Side Impact
Authors: Liptai Laura L.
Published: August 2021

Asymmetric Design Of Seatbelts Does Not Limit Potentially Injurious Contact With Vehicle Interior In Opposite Side Motor Vehicle Collisions. In Opposite Side Impacts, Of Approximately 65 To 70 Degrees, The Lap And Shoulder Restraint Functions Less Effectively. At These Angles, With A Change In Velocity Of Greater Than Or Equal To 20 Mph, The Head Injury Criterion (Hic) May Exceed Tolerance When The Occupants Head Impacts Unyielding Structural Surfaces Within The Vehicle. Biomedical Engineering Analysis Should Be Conducted To Determine The Likelihood Of Sustaining Brain Trauma Even When Using A Seatbelt In These Scenarios.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Nail Extraction Force In Failed Barrier
Authors: Ellis J. Nigel
Published: August 2021

A Homeowner Fell Through A Bedroom Wall Opening For A Yet-To-Be Built Deck When A Wood Barrier Gave Way As He Leaned Against It. His Fall Resulted In Two Broken Legs; He Was Disabled And Received A Jury Verdict Primarily Due To The Original Carpenters Negligence. An Investigation Was Conducted To Find Out Why The Barrier Failed So Suddenly. It Was Determined That The Barrier Was Insufficient And Improperly Installed In A Number Of Ways. These Findings Were Based On The Boca Code, Asce And Osha Standards.
Forensic Engineering Use Of The Safety Hierarchy
Authors: Schwartzberg John N.
Published: August 2021

The Safety Hierarchy Is A Recognized Linear Logical Approach To Hazard Control Most Commonly Utilized By Safety Professionals In Hazard Avoidance. In This Paper, Use Of This Method Of Analysis Is Introduced As A Method Of Forensic Analysis Of Product Failures, Workplace And Premises Liability Accidents, And Process Failures To Help Identify The Root Cause Of Failure And The Role Of The Responsible Entity In Causation. Examples And Case Histories Will Be Used To Demonstrate The Effectiveness Of The Analytical Technique.
Forensic Engineering Evaluation Of Mismanaged Renovation Exposes A Pattern Of Possible Delay Actions
Authors: Haglid Klas C.
Published: August 2021

A 42 Million Dollar Plus Renovation Of An Arena Located In A North Eastern City Was Behind Schedule And Over Budget. The Mechanical Contractor Responsible For Hvac, Piping And Steam Lines Was Blamed And Fired By The City. By All Accounts, Complicated Designs And Engineering Problems Caused The Delays And The Different Damage Claims. Initially The Mechanical Contractor Was The Defendant In The Case, But The Forensic Engineering Analysis Exposed A Pattern Of Hundreds Of Intentional Delay Actions. With The Large Number Of Different Engineering Issues The Challenge Became How To Manage And Present This Material In A Manageable And Clear Manner. How Modern Computer Analysis And Presentation Techniques Were Useful In Clearly Presenting This Voluminous And Complicated Evaluation Are Explored.
Forensic Engineering Report - Finite Element Analysis Of A Flex-Fan Blade Failure
Authors: Marcosky John
Published: August 2021

Dynamic Failure Of An After-Market Automotive Radiator Cooling Flex-Fan Will Be Used To Describe The Application Of Finite Element Analysis As A Forensic Engineering Diagnostic And Reconstruction Tool. The Replacement Flex-Fan Assembly Installation And Operation History Prior To The Failure Event Will Be Presented Including Methodologies Employed During The Reconstruction.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Codes Causative Of Building Envelope Failures
Authors: Jillson Geoffrey
Published: August 2021

Moisture Intrusion And Accumulation In The Building Envelope Causes Conditions Of Deterioration Including Development Of Mold Which Form The Basis Of Numerous Lawsuits. The Causes Of Intrusion Of Moisture/Water Into The Envelope Relate To Materials And Construction Methods Which In Turn May Relate To One Or Multiple Subcontractors Or Suppliers On A Project. Any Of The Contractors, Subcontractors, Suppliers Or Product Manufacturers May And Commonly Are Parties In Complex Litigations Involving Damage In The Building Envelope. The Involved Parties Commonly Include The General Contractor, Architect, Engineers, Masonry Subcontractors, Hvac Subcontractor, Window Manufacturer, Window Vendor, Framer/Window Installer, Roofer, Siding Subcontractor, Insulation Subcontractor Etc.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of A Pickup Truck Wheel-Off Failure
Authors: Josephs Harold
Published: August 2021

While Traveling On An Interstate Highway, A Pick-Up Truck Went Out Of Control As A Result Of The Detachment Of Its Left Rear Wheel. The Loss Of A Wheel From A Moving Vehicle Obviously Represents A Significant Safety Hazard, And, Apparently, Is Not A Rare Occurrence. Wheel Detachment From A Moving Vehicle Causes Instability Of The Vehicle, Which Can Lead To A Series Of Catastrophic Events, Resulting In Serious Injury Or Death. The National Transportation Safety Board Estimates That Approximately 750 - 1050 Reported Accidents And 40-50 Fatalities A Year Occur Due To Truck-Wheel Separations The Wheel-Off Failure Discussed Herein Resulted From The Loss Of Adequate Clamping Load On The Nut/Lug/Wheel Joint. A Case Study Is Presented Of A Vehicle Wheel-Off Failure, After More Than 2000 Miles Of Travel, Resulting From Inadequately Torqued Lug Nuts. An Analysis Is Presented To Determine The Elements Of Causation.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Riding Lawnmower Child Backover Blade Contact Accidents
Authors: Reed E. Smith
Published: August 2021

Since The Mid 1960s, The Popularity And Use Of Riding Lawnmowers And Lawn & Garden Tractors In The United States Have Grown Steadily. With The Growing Popularity Of These Machines Has Also Come Increased Numbers Of Riding Mower-Related Accidents, Including Children Being Backed Over Or Run Over And Injured By The Mowers Spinning Blades. Reconstructing Such Child Backover Or Runover Blade Contact Accidents Requires The Forensic Engineer To Pay Specific Attention To Certain Factors That Are Unique To Such Incidents... While This Paper Provides Background Information About Child Backover Blade Contact Accidents, And Provides Information About No-Mow-In-Reverse, The Primary Purpose Is To Offer A Tool That Has Been Found To Be Helpful And Effective In Organizing, Analyzing And Displaying Information, Time-Related Events And Travel Distance Data In Off-Road Slow-Moving-Event Accidents, Accidents Such As Child Backover Blade Contact Accidents, So That A Reasoned Reconstruction Of The Accident Can Be Developed, A Range Of Assumptions Can Be Studied, And What If Questions Can Be Isolated And Compared - All In A Format Understandable To The Layperson.
Forensic Engineering Use Of Surrogates In Injury And Fatality Cases
Authors: Leffler John P.
Published: August 2021

In Personal Injury And Fatality Cases, Particularly Those Involving Biomechanics, It Can Occasionally Be Difficult To Evaluate Causation Scenarios Without The Use Of A Human Tape Measure, More Commonly Known As A Surrogate. In These Cases, For The Incident To Happen In The Manner Alleged, Certain Bodily Positions, Configurations And Movements Would Be Necessary. A Surrogate Provides Tangible, Real-World Dimensional And Range-Of-Motion References That Can Assist Both The Causation Analysis And The Triers Of Fact. Three Case Studies Will Illustrate The Benefits Of Using Human Surrogates: A Vehicle Crash Injury, An Alleged Ramp Slip-And-Fall, And A Tractor/Mower Fatality.
Forensic Engineering Assessments Of A Robotic Welding System
Authors: Grantham Jesse A.
Published: August 2021

A Robotic Welding System Provided By The Defendant To The Plaintiff, A Scaffold Manufacturer, Was Proven Within The Legal System As Incapable Of Producing Suitable Welds For Manufacturing Scaffold Frame Components. All Welding Was Governed By The Plaintiffs Design, Materials, Process And Quality Requirements.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Dynamic Wheel Tire Impact Ejection Of Manhole Covers
Authors: Jacobson Jon O. , Michael Kravitz
Published: August 2021

This Paper Will Examine The Effect Of Vehicle Tires Driving Over A Street Hardware Manhole Cover That Was Not Properly Seated And Resulted In The Motion Of The Manhole Cover Which Eventually Either Became Unseated And Moved Along The Roadway Surface Or Failed And Fell Into The Manhole. As A Result Of The Open Uncovered Manhole, A Vehicle Tire Struck The Open Manhole Resulting In The Driver Losing Control Of The Vehicle And Crashing Into A Tree. Several Of The Passengers Were Injured And A Law Suit Ensued. The Issue Of Notice Was The Focal Point Of The Case. The Defendants Argument Was That It Had No Notice Of The Defect And The Plaintiffs Argument Was That The Defendant Had Actual And Constructive Notice Because The Defect Was Caused By The Roadway Resurfacing Project. Two Examples Will Be Presented Showing How A Manhole Cover Can Be Dislodged They Are: 1) The Dynamic Expulsion From Tire Forces On The Rocking Manhole Cover, And 2) The Fracture Of The Manhole Cover From Local Contact Stresses From A Misaligned Adjusting Riser Frame Installed During The Repaving.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Propeller Contact Injury
Authors: Liptai Laura L. , Paul K. Kamen
Published: August 2021

Human Contact With A Small Crafts Propeller Can Cause Serious Injury. Propellers Are Large, Heavy, Sharp, Very Strong, Almost Knife-Like, And Spin At High Rotational Velocities. On A Small High-Speed Recreational Craft, The Propeller Blade Tip Velocity May Be Four To Five Times The Vessel Speed. Propeller Injuries Are Generally Quite Severe, Often Involving Multiple Deep Lacerations With And Without Cortical (Bone) Damage Distributed Over A Wide Area Of The Body. There Is A Characteristic Pattern To The Geometry Of These Injuries. With A Co-Ordinate System Defined Relative To The Boat At Rest, Each Cut Corresponding To The Path Of A Propeller Blade As The Moving Water Pulls The Body Through Part Of The Area Swept By The Propeller. This Unique Pattern Is The Physical Evidence Of The Overboard Persons Trajectory And Can Yield Information About The Point Of Water Entry Relative To The Vessel. Applications Requiring High Thrust At A Relatively Low Speed, Such As Water Skiing, Wakeboarding And Parasailing, Result In Unusual Demands On Both The Propulsion System And On The Maneuvering Capabilities Of The Vessel (See Figure 1). As A Result, There Are Additional Hazards Associated With Propeller Contact That May Not Be Anticipated By Even Experienced Small Craft Operators.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Freeze Damage To Buildings
Authors: Certuse John P.
Published: August 2021

The Cause Of Property Damage To Buildings In Northern Climates Due To Frozen/Burst Pipes Can Be Especially Difficult To Identify. The Reasons For This Include The Lack Of Witnesses In Vacant Or Unoccupied Homes, False Or Misleading Statements By Property Owners And Service Technicians, And The Inherent Damage To Boilers And Furnaces As A Result Of Flooded Basements. The Basic Origins Of Freeze Losses Will Be Discussed Including: Mechanical Failure, Piping And Appliance Installation Errors, Utility Failure, And Excessive Thermostat Setback. The Methodology Presented Details A Comprehensive Approach To The Investigation Of Freeze-Damaged Buildings, Including A Forensic Assessment Of The Heating Appliance And System. These Findings Will Be Verified Against A Fuel Usage Analysis Calculated Specifically For The Damaged Property, Which Should Display A Usage Pattern Consistent With The Physical Site Findings And Occupant Reported Testimony. The Methodologies Of Fuel Usage Estimation And Analysis Derived, As Well As Those Presented In Ashrae And Other Sources, Will Be Discussed, Along With Their Strength As An Investigative Tool In Examining These Types Of Losses. Case Examples Will Be Briefly Summarized That Were Actually Litigated.
Forensic Engineering Assessment Of Safety For Stand Up Forklifts
Authors: Ziernicki Richard M. , Benjamin T. Railsback
Published: August 2021

Forklifts Operated From A Stand Up Position Rather Than A Seated Position Offer A Significant Advantage To Increase Warehouse Capacity. Stand Up Lift Trucks Can Be Operated In Warehouse Aisles As Narrow As 8 Feet. In Contrast, Traditional Sit Down Lift Trucks Typically Require Aisles Approximately 11 Feet Wide. This Paper Will Detail The Hazards Of Horizontal Intrusion And Lower Limb Injury For The Operators Of Stand Up Lift Trucks, Review Standards Related To Operator Protection Against Horizontal Intrusion And Lower Limb Injury, Summarize A Safety Engineering Analysis Of The Stand Up Lift Truck Design Including Guarding To Mitigate The Hazards, And Present Three Cases Tried To Jury Verdict Regarding Injury Accidents On Stand Up Lift Trucks.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of A Motorcycle Accident
Authors: Goldblatt Leonard
Published: August 2021

In This Case The Initiation Of The Accident Was Due To Poor Roadway Geometry. The Dynamic Characteristics Of Motorcycles Helped In The Reconstruction Of The Motorcycle Collision.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Moisture Intrusion Leading To Mold Conditions
Authors: Hughes G. Carroll
Published: August 2021

While Moisture Intrusion Was Thought To Be The Reason For Floor Tile And Carpet Adhesion Failure In An Occupied Elementary School, The Flooring Problems Were Symptoms Of Only Some Of The Many Moisture Problems That Were Discovered. By Using Destructive And Non-Destructive Testing Methods, A List Of More Than A Dozen Construction Deficiencies Was Compiled. Since The School Was In Session, The Parent-Teacher Organization Was Kept Informed Of The Indoor Air Quality In The School. Indoor Air Quality Testing Was Performed At Strategic Intervals Of The Project And A Final Indoor Air Quality (Iaq) Test Was Performed At The Completion Of The Work As A Baseline For Recommended Future Testing.
Forensic Engineering Practice In New Zealand
Authors: Jenkins Stephen R.
Published: August 2021

Having Followed The Progress Of The Maturing Of The Specialty In Both New Zealand Through My Own Practice And Through The Academy Journal And Discussion Page, This Paper Summarizes My Observations On The Differences Between Jurisdictions And Systems That Exist , Offers Some Observations On The Social And Ethical Environment In Which We Operate And Considers Some Technologies That May Influence The Future Of Forensic Presentations.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Vehicle Wheel Separations
Authors: Leffler John P.
Published: August 2021

Vehicle Wheel Fastenings Are Deceptively Complex Systems. Automobile & Truck Manufacturers Closely Specify These Components And Test Them Extensively. Conversely, Trailer Manufacturers Typically Purchase Their Running Gear Complete From Various Suppliers, And Commonly Perform Less In-House Engineering. This Case Involved A Trailer Wheel Separation. Investigation Showed A Dearth Of Relevant Published Research, And The Adverse Experts Made A Variety Of Conflicting Assertions. Ultimately, Extensive Testing Was Done Using Computerized Biaxial Load Application With Custom Stud Tension Sensing/Release Apparatus. This Paper Will Discuss The Incident-Specific Nature Of Wheel Separations, The Complex Interactions Between The Components, And The Legal Issues Involved In This Case.
Forensic Engineering Use Of Walkway Traction Testing
Authors: Leffler John P.
Published: August 2021

Pedestrian Fall Events Are Frequently Linked To Slippery Walkway Surfaces. Friction Is The Measured Quantity At Issue In Traction Testing Which Has Been Conducted Using Various Devices For Over 80 Years. The Various Available Devices (Called Tribometers) Each Have Their Advocates, Resulting In A Certain Amount Of Controversy. Robust Analysis Of Walkway Traction Requires An Understanding Of Individual Tribometer Characteristics And Knowledge Of Potential Limitations In The Ability To Test Certain Surfaces & Contaminants. It Is Also Necessary To Understand The Status Of Relevant Traction Testing Standards And To Be Familiar With Current Research Which Links Tribometer And Human Subject Testing To Provide Required Friction Values For Safe Pedestrian Ambulation.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Disposable Cigarette Lighter Accidents And Safety Regulations
Authors: Givon Bernd S.
Published: August 2021

Millions Of Disposable Cigarette Lighters Are Manufactured And Distributed To Consumers. To Mitigate The Danger From This Profuse Source Of Fires The Industry Relies On A Consensus Astm International Safety Standard Which Can Be Referenced By Forensic Engineers When Investigating The Causes Of Serious Burn Accidents. Because Young Children Constitute The Majority Of Abusers, As Well As Victims, The Uscpsc Promulgated Mandatory, But Complicated, Requirements For Ensuring Availability Of Child Resistant Cigarette Lighters. Several Cases Are Described, Including The Explosion Of Molded Plastic Cigarette Lighter Casings Traced To Defects Which Resulted In Bleve Excessive Fuel Pressure And Heat Generated Structural Failures.
Forensic Engineering Analysis Of head Impact From Falling Picture Frame
Authors: Kravitz Michael
Published: August 2021

This Paper Will Examine The Effect Of An Oak Picture Frame That Was Wall Mounted Around A Flatcreen Television. The Frame Fell From The Flat Screen Television Down 6 Inches Onto A Fireplace Mantel,Nd Then Rotated Away From The Wall, And The Upper Edge Of The Frame Struck The Plaintiff On The Head.He Plaintiff Was Sitting On An Ottoman In Front Of The Fireplace Facing Away From The Fireplace And Wasot Aware Of The Impending Impact. Plaintiff Sued The Premisesowner, Claiming Various Head, Neck Andental Injuries. An Engineering Analysis Was Performed To Assess The Magnitude Of The Force Applied Tolaintiff Neck With An Analytical Model Which Was Developed To Check The Analysis Claimed By The Opposingxpert Biomechanical Engineer. The Writer, Not A Biomechanical Engineer, Analyzed The Magnitudef The Compressive Neck Loading. The Writer Developed A Head-Neck Model That Was Utilized In Thenalysis. The Neck Was Modeled As A Spring; The Head A Sphere; The Neck-Spring Was Mounted On A Rigidlatform, I.E., The Shoulder. Based On Research, Ranges Of Spring Constants Were Estimated For The Neck.He Writer Settled On A Maximum And Minimum Neck Spring Constant With Correlating Damping. Thessue In The Case For The Writer Was The Magnitude Of The Force Applied To The Head And Neck And Whetherhat Force Was Sufficient To Cause The Injuries Claimed By The Plaintiff. The Bio-Mechanical Engineeringssues Are Addressed In The Corresponding Paper By Jon O. Jacobson, Ph.D., P.E. The Case Went Throughany Pre-Trial Discussions And Scheduling, Along With The Deposition Of The Writers Which Were Taken Bylaintiff Attorney. A Formal Written Report Was Not Prepared. Mathcad Calculations With Sidebar Explanationsere Prepared And Supplemented With An Oral Report To The Clients. As A Result Of The Analysis, Thease Settled At The Eleventh Hour Prior To Trial
Forensic Bio-Engineering Analysis to The Head From A Falling Picture Frame
Authors: Jacobson Jon O.
Published: August 2021

This Paper Concerns The Biomechanical Evaluation Of The Injuries Arising From An Injury-Causingccident. The Presentation Will Involve The Assessment Of How The Events Related To And The Likelihood Thempact Caused The Injuries And/Or The Symptoms That Were Claimed In The Legal Proceedings. The Likelihoodhat The Injury Has Occurred From This, Relates To Both The Duration Of The Symptoms And The Recovery Asell As The Appropriateness Of The Treatment That Was Received. This Analysis Was Conducted In Oppositiono That Produced By The Plaintiff Forensic Expert Including His Evaluation Of The Threshold Levels Thatere Reached Or Exceeded. The Question Should Be: Should The Event Be Judged As A Likely Source To Haveaused The Symptoms That Were Reported Or Claimed, And Did The Recovery Match The Medical Interventionnd Meet The Expected Guidelines For This Array Of Symptoms.
Forensic Engineering Investigation Of a Long Span Wooden Truss Failure during Erection
Authors: Curtis Ross
Published: August 2021

With About One Third Of The Long Span Wood Trusses In Place For A 60 By 100 Building Being Constructed As A Convenience Store, The Trusses Already Erected Fell Over Like Dominos Injuring Three Laborers.He Three Workers Sued A Number Of Parties Involved In The Project Including The Crane Rental Companynd The Manufacturer And Supplier Of The Trusses, Claiming That They Shared Responsibility For The Accidentnd That They Should Have Taken Action To Prevent The Collapse. The Author Was Retained As An Expert Witnessor The Crane Rental Company. Investigation And Analysis Of Available Facts Established That The Craneental Company Was Not Responsible And Should Have Had No Liability.
Critical Speed in a Curve - Update
Authors: Manning Lindley
Published: August 2021

V=(15 r f)l^(1/2)mph Where r is tire scuff radius of curvature in feet. f is the ratio of maximum lateral tire frictional force to vehicle weight. For the benefit of those readers unsure of the origin of the above equation, it is simply one possible solution to the undergraduate engineering dynamics text book problem involving a particle moving at constant speed on a circular arc with known, constant, coulomb friction coefficient. This equation is also used by many police accident-investigators to estimate the speed of a vehicle that has produced at least one curved tire scuff mark on the pavement. The speed estimate is always (or so nearly always that exceptions can be disregarded) very high in actual vehicle accidents. As much as 300% high! Estimates are occasionally well above the top speed capability of the automobile and often well above the speed that could be obtained in negotiating curves preceding the accident. Some progress has been made by engineers in understanding the severe limitations to the above 'critical speed in a curve' formula since my 1984 NAFE paper Critical Speed in a Curve. That paper examined one reason why the derivation of the equation is too simplified to be accurate in most cases where it is used. Where substantial yaw angle appears, much of the tire frictional capacity actually brakes the vehicle, invalidating use of the equation. There are many more reasons for the inaccuracy.
Update on Tractor - Trailer Braking
Authors: Hicks Joel T.
Published: August 2021

The objective of this article is to provide better insight into the expected braking behavior of modern trucking equipment. More specifically, data and software prepared by NHTSA researchers are presented. Among the factors in NHTSAs continuing investigations are the timing of air brake actuators and the expected braking forces developed by various actuator configurations. Study of this material furnishes realistic characteristics of vehicle braking-effort vs. time that will be helpful in forensic engineering studies involving large modern trucks.
Accidental Venting of Improperly Filled LP Gas Cylinders
Authors: Hazard Irving F.
Published: August 2021

The accidental venting of improperly filled LP gas cylinders has been the precursor of many fires and explosions. This paper provides the forensic engineer with the analytical tools needed to gain an in-depth understanding of that problem. With liberal mathematical annotation, and a number of exemplar scenarios, the author describes the relevant gas properties, the effect of not purging air from the cylinder, filling practices, low-temperature filling problems, computation of the quantity of gas vented, characteristics of safety relief valves, post-accident symptoms of improper filling, and some of the reasons why LP gas cylinders are improperly filled.
Night Auto Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrian View, Part I
Authors: Dixon Harry S.
Published: August 2021

Part I of this paper considers three of the 11 cases in the earlier paper of similar name, except having the question in the title, . . . Whence Pedestrian? That paper showed, for 11 consecutive accidents studied, the reason the pedestrian was coming from the left was, with lights on low beam, the maximum allowable speed should be 14 mph, rather than the posted 25-45 mph. This paper considers three cases wherein the pedestrian had a movement component in the same direction as the automobile, preventing him from noticing its approach. Analysis of these cases indicates that loading buses on the near side of an intersection rather than the far side could result in the saving of approximately 1000 lives per year in the United States.
Traffic Radar
Authors: Thorn Donald C.
Published: August 2021

Let us begin by making it clear that we are very strong advocates of the use of radar by police in speed limit enforcement. Without this particularly useful tool, it would be much more difficult to enforce some very important limits such as those associated with school zones. At the request of a local police force we have testified at a legislative hearing in opposition to a proposed law that would have limited the use of radar by police. However, we have also been involved in court situations in which we were prepared to state a professional opinion that the radar unit had been misused and that the speed reported on the citation was quite possibly inaccurate. In the bulk of this practice we see actual or possible litigation to resolve questions of responsibility for injury and/or property damage - that is, civil law. When we become involved in traffic radar questions we must remind ourselves that we are looking at criminal law and the rule is now one of reasonable doubt. Thus,
Trends in Chemical Process Safety Control Systems
Authors: West Harry H.
Published: August 2021

Recent advances in computer technology are changing the equipment and procedures available to the chemical processing industry, particularly in the domain of chemical safety. The capabilities of protective systems and emergency response systems designed to limit the consequences of an accidental chemical release are greatly expanded through the incorporation of computer technology....For the forensic engineer, the investigation of a chemical plant accident requires additional areas of inquiry; a more complex safety protective control system, new safety system hardware failure modes, software errors, documentation and procedural violations, and interfacing with environmental response actions. Key issues involving the nonfunctional erroneous chemical safety response system are becoming major factors in litigation and insurance decisions.
Forensic Engineering Evaluation of Failed HVAC Systems
Authors: Acorn William R.
Published: August 2021

The topic of this paper concerns the techniques and procedures for conducting a forensic evaluation of a failed heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, or what we commonly call
And the Wall came Tumbling Down - Analysis of Stucco Veneer Failure at Lee County Justice Center
Authors: Ink Stanley K.
Published: August 2021

The Lee County Justice Center is a five- and six-story masonry and concrete multi-sided building located in downtown Fort Myers, Florida. It is approximately 620 feet long by 250 feet deep at its extremities and covers a city block. The building contains courtrooms, offices and the Lee County jail (Figure 1). Pods A, B, C and the jail were constructed in 1983 and 1984 by one contractor. Pod D was constructed by a different contractor in 1984 and 1985. Construction costs were about $33 million. The architect and construction manager were the same throughout the entire construction. The building designers decided to insulate the building on the outside, because the jail required hard concrete block walls on the inside. The jail was only about one fourth of the entire building, but they let it dictate the wall design for the entire building.
Litigation of Building Code Disputes
Authors: Miele Joel A.
Published: August 2021

A treatise on the litigation of building code disputes from the standpoint of the Professional Engineer serving as an expert witness and outlining a methodology for determining a supportable history for a structure or structural element which will withstand adversarial scrutiny and attack.
Estimates and Bids - A Forensic Approach
Authors: Monsey Arthur
Published: August 2021

The differences between contract prices and estimates can be very annoying at the minimum and now and then can lead to litigation. How to prepare an analysis for arbitration or litigation for this problem is discussed. To do this requires some knowledge of what might cause this problem in addition to some of the statistical principals that be governing the behavioral relationships between estimated budgets and bid prices. The author proposes a hypothesis.
Carbon Monoxide from Gas Heating Appliances
Authors: Hazard Irving F.
Published: August 2021

A master at stealth - unannounced by sight or sound - without scent, sapidity or the softest stroke - carbon monoxide can seep forth undetected and engender the eternal sleep of the unwary. And the heirs of those unwary will frequently engender monumental lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, installers and servicemen of gas heating appliances, where their complaint will allege that a defect in the design, installation, or condition of that equipment was the sole or proximate cause of the ill-fated asphyxiation.
E & O Litigation - Berm Collapse: Slaughterhouse Waste Discharge
Authors: Green James M.
Published: August 2021

During a sudden winter storm in the Midwest, an internal containment berm in a four cell covered anaerobic lagoon suddenly collapsed spilling approximately 14 million gallons of slaughterhouse waste from the wastewater plant at a Meat Packing Plant from one cell to another. The subsequent litigation by the Meat Packing Plant named Wells Engineers, as well as the various contractors, as the defendants and requested substantial compensation for damages. I was retained by the law fi representing Wells Engineers to determine the causal factor of failure and the contribution (if any) that may have been contributed by Wells Engineers.
The Forensic Engineer Confronts the Hired Gun
Authors: Zemsky Calvin L.
Published: August 2021

A recent article in the Engineering Times issue of October, 1991, attracted our attention. The topic of the article was a review of the, two-year federal funded project to introduce applied ethics studies into required engineering undergraduate courses. The projects approach, according to Professor Michael Rabins of Texas A&M University, was
Discovery of Forensic Engineering Records
Authors: Larks Jack
Published: August 2021

Mr. Expert - how much did you make last year testifying for attorneys involved in litigation such as this case? or What was your total or gross income last year? or I demand that you furnish a copy of your income tax return for the last three years or seven years. or How much of your income comes from being hired to testify in personal injury or product liability cases? It does not take much analysis to show that this type of questioning is harassing, intimidating and discourteous. It also shows that there are pitfalls for unwary expert witnesses who will hear their answers from deposition transcripts on previous trials being used in opening statements or cross examination to show that they are hired guns, bought and paid for experts, biased, legal prostitutes, etc. This is especially true if they have allowed themselves to be coerced or intimidated into revealing their income or furnishing records of same.
Estimating Train Speed From Braking Distance
Authors: Glennon John C.
Published: August 2021

Because of the time and effort required to simulate train braking, a broad estimate of train collision speed or braking distance may be useful to see if a more detailed analysis is justified. This paper presents a series of curves comlating height train speed and emergency stopping distance for a variety of trains. These curves were generated using TBSTMa,n d allow the reconstructionist to broadly estimate train prebraking speed and to WR if further study is warranted. After a brief description of train braking systems, the curves are presented along with an explanation of their application to forensic analysis of train collisions.
Türk Havacılığında Girişimcilik Faaliyetleri: Türkiye’de Yerli Uçak Üretimi Çalışmaları Üzerine Bir Araştırma
Authors: Şen Gülaçtı
Published: August 2021

Günümüzde insanlığın ortak birikimi olarak değerlendirilen havacılık, 1903 yılında Wright kardeşlerin havadan ağır ilk motorlu uçağı icat etmesiyle farklı bir boyut kazanmıştır. Havacılığın askeri alanda kullanılmaya başlanması, ardından sivil havacılığın gelişimi ile ülkelerin kendi havacılık faaliyetlerinin hız kazanması günümüz havacılığının şekillenmesinde etkili olmuştur. Geçmişten günümüze havacılık girişimi faaliyetlerinde ülkelerin uçak üretimi girişimleri de önemli bir konu olmuştur. Hem uçak üretiminde hem de diğer havacılık çalışmalarında, Türk havacılığının bireysel ve toplumsal olarak girişimcilik faaliyetleri oldukça önemlidir. Türkiye’de havacılıkta girişimcilik faaliyetleri özellikle 1920 – 1950’li yıllarda ön planda olmuş ve 1923 yılında Türkiye’de Cumhuriyet’in ilanıyla Ulu Önder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’ün önderliğinde bu faaliyetler artmış, hatta ilk yerli uçak üretimi de gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, 1920 – 1950 yılları arasında Türk havacılığında girişimcilik faaliyetleri adı altında gerçekleştirilen yerli uçak üretimi çalışmaları aktarılmıştır. Buna ilaveten 1950 yılından 2000 yılına kadar Türk havacılığında yerli uçak üretimi ile ilgili çalışmaların neden sekteye uğradığı açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır. 2000’li yıllardan sonra Türkiye’de havacılık faaliyetlerinin hız kazanmasıyla, yerli uçak üretimi girişimleri tekrar gündeme gelmiş ve yerli uçak üretimi çalışmaları başlamıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nde havacılıkta girişimcilik faaliyetleri çerçevesinde geçmişten günümüze yerli uçak üretimi çalışmalarını değerlendirmek ve bu doğrultuda günümüzde planlanan yerli uçak üretimi projelerini ortaya koyarak literatüre katkı sağlamaktır. Çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan durum çalışması yöntemi uygulanmıştır. Günümüzde Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nde gerçekleştirilen üretimler ve planlanan projeler ortaya konulduğunda ve geçmişteki yerli uçak üretimi girişimleri göz önüne alındığında, Türk havacılığının yerli uçak üretiminde başarılı olacağı görülmektedir.
ESTADO DA ARTE NA AMÉRICA LATINA E NOS PAÍSES DO NORTE GEOECONÔMICO “PAISES DESENVOLVIDOS"
Authors: Silva Samila Mirelly Ferreira , Coutinho Diógenes José Gusmão
Published: August 2021

O presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir os procedimentos e limites dos estudos denominados de Estado da Arte nos países desenvolvidos ao apresentar sobre o tema correlacionando o estudo da arte com técnica geoeconômica pretende-se apresentar fundamentos na modalidade de pesquisas que estude os países desenvolvidos de acordo as áreas em expansão podendo contribuir com levantamento, mapeamento e analise do se produz considerando as áreas de conhecimentos de acordo com espaço, forma e condições de produção. Utilizou-se como metodologia pesquisas de estrutura bibliográfico, onde foram utilizados artigos e periódicos em meio digital. O presente artigo destaca, de forma sistemática e analítica, a relevância dos processos de avaliação, sistematizando informações sobre aspectos conceituais, e o estado da arte dos estudos sobre os países desenvolvidos.