Past and new methods
In terms of today's forensic engineering, there is an increased emphasis on investigating the cause of failure of consumer project. This is because firms are being sued more frequently about allegedly defective practices and products. There is also a continuing need for the investigation of delays, disruptions, fires, explosions, air and rail crashes and other important accidents or possible crimes.
Past Methods
The principal methods used in early forensic engineering included:
- Analysis of scattered record keeping
- Contemporarily witnessed pictures
- Careful analysis of the service record of the component
- Review of the loads carried
- Record of temperatures suffered
- Weather reports
- Analysis of the microstructure of the material used
- Assessment of witness evidence.
Present Methods
All of these are still required but the task of the forensic engineer has been aided by the introduction of certain key concepts and methods including:
Time impact Analysis (TIA)
Retrospective contract development analysis
Project Management Software
Fracture mechanics - the analysis of loads applied to bodies containing cracks
Scanning electron microscopes - fracture surfaces can be analysed at magnifications of thousands to determine modes of failure, as well as the chemical composition of key components of the microstructure
Finite element analysis - the determination by numerical mathematics of stresses, temperatures at all positions within a body, rather than the analytical solution of simplified shapes
Computational fluid dynamics - this uses numerical mathematics to determine effects of fluids (gases or solids) on components or structures
Impact dynamics or the use of numerical and analytical codes and models to determine the behavior of structures when hit by fast-moving projectiles.