scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Use Of Computer Animations And Graphics

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Ziernicki ◽  
Danaher David A.
Keyword(s):  
3D Modeling ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Computer Animations ◽  
Modeling Simulation ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
Investigation Process ◽  
Video Matching

During An Accident Reconstruction Investigation, Many Complicated Issues Arise That Must Be Presented To A Judge Or Jury. Although The Reconstructionist May Understand The Issues And Can Explain Them Orally, The Audience May Not Completely Understand. The Use Of Computer Animations And Graphics Can Take Those Complicated Issues And Present Them In A Clear And Understandable Way. The Graphics And Animations That Are Developed From The Engineering Analysis Are A Visual Representation Of The Forensic Engineers Opinion. Psychological Studies Show That People Are Only 15% Likely To Remember Orally-Communicated Information, But 95% Likely To Remember Orally-Communicated Information In Conjunction With Visually-Communicated Information. Visual Tools, Such As Photo Matching, Evidence Matching, Photogrammetry, Video Matching, 3d Modeling, Simulation, And Animation, Can Be Implemented During The Accident Investigation Process To Identify Evidence And Demonstrate A Thorough Analysis For Later Use In Court. For Example, Roof Crush Analysis Graphics, As Seen In Figure 1, Not Only Visually Illustrates The Deformation Of The Roofs Structure, But The Graphics Also Have A Solid Foundation Based On Accurate Measurements Of The Physical Evidence.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Pedestrian Trauma Using Biomedical And Accident Reconstruction Engineering Methods

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. Liptai ◽  
Lamb Rowland D.
Keyword(s):  
Biological Tissues ◽  
Fracture Pattern ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Spider Web ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Kinematic Study ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
The Right

This Study Examines The Theory And Methods Of Forensic Engineering Analysis Applied To Pedestrian Trauma And Fatality. Optimally Approached With The Collective Analysis Of Both The Accident Reconstruction Engineer And Biomedical Engineer, The Accident Reconstruction Engineer Translates The Physical Evidence Related To The Vehicle And Scene While The Biomedical Engineer Interprets The Physical Evidence Related To The Human Body In The Biological Tissues. With Both Disciplines, A Collaborative Understanding Can Be Gained Using The Vehicular And Human Tissue Physical Evidence Available. The Case Presented Involves A Pedestrian Verses An Automobile. The Collision Between A Pedestrian And Automobile Resulted In The Death Of The Pedestrian. Physical Evidence On The Vehicle Included: A Dent In The Front Right Fender; A Spider Web Glass Fracture Pattern On The Windshield In The Lower Right Comer; And A Dent In The Right A-Pillar. This Study Will Also Demonstrate What Can Be Learned From The Absence Of Classic Physical Evidence On The Vehicle And On The Pedestrian As Well As The Determination Of When A Kinematic Study Is Appropriate For Pedestrian Verses Automobile Investigation.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Analysis Of Pedestrian Vision Ambulation And Vigilance

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervyn F. Strauss ◽  
Lee William E.
Keyword(s):  
Good Health ◽  
The Other ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Injured Person ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Human Skills ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Good Vision

The Accident Reconstruction Engineer Is Frequently Called Upon To Analyze And Provide An Opinion On The Probable Cause Of Same Level Trips And Falls. The Incident Usually Involves A Raised Object Or Stub Toe In All Types Of Environments, Both Indoors And Outdoors. The Person May Be Walking Or Even Running Along, Going About Their Own Business, When They Trip And Fall Over Some Type Of Object Raised Above A Walking Surface. The Individual Many Times Is In Good Health, Without Any Apparent Impediment To Their Ability To Walk Or Ambulate And With Good Vision. A Question Asked By One Side Or The Other In This Type Of Litigation Is, Why Did You Trip Over That Object, Post, Walk Joint, Or Whatever, That Was In Front Of You? The Object That You Tripped Over Was Obvious. If You Had Just Kept A Proper Lookout, You Could Have Avoided It. In Some Cases, It Is Not Unusual To Discover That The Injured Person Had Walked Through The Area Sometime Before The Incident. Furthermore, The Person May Actually Be Relatively Familiar With The Locale, Having Walked Across The Spot On Many Occasions. This Paper Addresses The Complex Set Of Events And Human Skills Involving Pedestrian Tripping And Falling Over Raised Objects On A Foreseeable Pedestrian1 Walking Surface. In Addition To Raised Objects, Depressions Or Holes In The Walking Surface May Trigger A Fall Event.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Analysis And Testing For Speed Reduction In Transient Braking

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene A. Castaneda
Keyword(s):  
Field Testing ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Quasi Steady State ◽  
Transient Phase ◽  
Brake Pedal ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Speed Reduction ◽  
Elapsed Time ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Wheel Brake

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.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Analysis of Fatal Overhead Crane Accident

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Ziernicki ◽  
Ricky Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
3D Modeling ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Manufacturing Plant ◽  
Overhead Crane ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Video Imaging ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Industrial Standards ◽  
Modeling Principles

This paper outlines the forensic procedure and techniques used in the reconstruction and safety assessment of a fatal overhead crane accident. The decedent (a subcontractor) was working as a pipe fitter at a manufacturing plant. At the time of the accident, the decedent had climbed up onto an overhead crane rail to move existing pipework when the crane struck and killed him. This paper presents the application of various techniques/methodologies to reconstruct the complex accident, including 3D HD scanning, drone video imaging, and 3D modeling/principles of photogrammetry to understand how the incident occurred and provide visualizations of the construction project. Safety analysis was conducted by analyzing crane maintenance and operation as well as the duties/responsibilities of the different employers and comparing industrial standards and practices such as OSHA, ANSI, and safety principles.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Evaluation Of Physical Evidence In Accident Reconstruction

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Ziernicki ◽  
Danaher David A.
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Dynamic Motion ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Accident Site

Physical Evidence Deposited By Vehicles As A Result Of An Accident May Not Always Be Fully Documented By The Investigating Law Enforcement Officers By Means Of Measurements. Many Times, The Investigating Officers Are Able To Document The Location Of The Vehicles At Rest, But Can Only Measure And Locate Some Of The Related Tire Marks And/Or Gouges That May Be Present On The Roadway As A Result Of The Collision. The Officers May Further Supplement Their Investigation By Photographing The Scene Of The Accident. The Photographs Often Depict The Position And Geometry Of Other Physical Evidence Relative To The Roadway Or Other Geographic Features. However, The Forensic Engineer May Require More Detailed Information Regarding The Physical Evidence Than Is Shown In The Photographs Or Measured By The Officers, And Must Therefore Take Further Steps To Extract It. Depending On The Evaluation Required In The Case, The Forensic Engineer Would Need To Further Analyze The Accident By An Inspection Of The Accident Site And/Or Vehicles. After Collecting The Available Information From The Measurements Made By The Officers, The Photographs Taken At The Scene, And The Inspections By The Forensic Engineer, The Data Must Then Be Compiled In A Comprehensive Form To Further Evaluate The Dynamics Of The Accident. This Paper Discusses Three Methods (Camera Matching, Photogrammetry, And Rectification) Of Collecting The Physical Evidence From Several Sources And The Procedure Of Producing A Comprehensive Forensic Map Of The Evidence Relative To The Roadway And The Dynamic Motion Of The Vehicle.

Forensic Engineering Analysis Methods Employed for the Purpose of Determining the Location of a Long-Range Shooter Based on Terminal Bullet Trajectory

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Knox
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Methods ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Computational Analysis ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Linear Trajectory ◽  
Projectile Motion ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
Forensic Engineering

The reconstruction of shooting incidents based on the terminal bullet trajectory is commonly carried out over short distances using a linear trajectory simplification model. However, when shooting incidents, such as sniper attacks, take place over longer distances, linear simplification models destabilize and result in large errors in determining the location of the shooter. In such cases, it becomes necessary to account for a large number of variables affecting the flight path of the bullet. While linear simplification models for bullet trajectories do not require robust engineering analysis methods, reverse modeling of long-range bullet trajectories can only be carried out using numerical methods for solving the differential equations of projectile motion. This paper will explore methods for employing computational engineering methods to model the trajectories of bullets with a focus on reverse modeling from the trajectory terminus. In this way, the forensic engineer can use basic measurements of the terminal angle of the bullet trajectory combined with appropriate knowledge of the firearm and ammunition to model the bullet’s path back to a probable location of the shooter. This paper will focus on methods that the forensic engineer can employ when solving problems involving determination of the location of a shooter based on limited physical evidence at the scene. Computational analysis tools will be presented.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Analysis in The Collision Of Two Tractor-Trailer Trucks

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Arnoult
Keyword(s):  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Fatal Accident ◽  
Fracture Surfaces ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Leaf Springs ◽  
Forensic Engineering

After A Fatal Accident Involving Two Tractor-Trailer Trucks, One Of Which (Vehicle #1) Overturned And dumped Its Load In Front Of An Oncoming Tractor-Trailer (Vehicle #2), It Was Discovered That Two Of The Leaf springs Of The Overturned Trailer Were Broken. Forensic Engineering Metallurgical Examination Of The fracture Surfaces Of The Broken Springs And Other Axle Evidence, In Conjunction With Accident Reconstruction results, Played A Key Role In Determining The Overall Sequence Of Events In The Accident.

scholarly journals Unique Methods of Visual Presentation With Respect to Accident Reconstruction

1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Visual Presentation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
Engineering Communication ◽  
Automobile Accident ◽  
Direct Form ◽  
Forensic Engineering

Obviously, communication is one of the most important aspects of forensic engineering. Communication is certainly important between both the engineer and the lawyer as well as the engineer and the jury. Of course, communication involves not only sending a message to someone but also making sure that the message is understood by the person receiving it. Speaking and sending letters are two methods of sending a message. However, perhaps a more direct form of communication is visual. The old adage 'a picture is worth a thousand words' has been proven many, many times. Therefore, this discussion deals with two very specific methods of achieving communication through visual presentation. First of all, understand that these two methods are directed primarily toward accident reconstruction. For purposes of illustration, an automobile accident will be used as an example; however, these methods can be applied to other types of accidents as well. The first method, one involving aerial photography, is currently under development. The other method, which is primarily graphic, is already developed and available through several graphic companies or individuals.

scholarly journals CAD/CAM System for Additive Manufacturing with a Robust and Efficient Topology Optimization Algorithm Based on the Function Representation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 7409
Author(s):  
Dmitry Popov ◽  
Yulia Kuzminova ◽  
Evgenii Maltsev ◽  
Stanislav Evlashin ◽  
Alexander Safonov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Topology Optimization ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
3D Modeling ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Simulation Data ◽  
Function Representation ◽  
Modeling Simulation ◽  
Cad Cam ◽  
Design Ideas ◽  
Good Agreement

Additive manufacturing erases the distance between design ideas and finished parts. However, designers must use several software tools to use these advantages. Moreover, these tools operate with different representations of geometry. This paper describes the architecture of a new CAD/CAM system that uses only the function representation of the geometry (FRep). It provides all widely used design operations and allows an engineer to employ robust and efficient topology optimization algorithms. The developed CAD/CAM system consists of 3D modeling, simulation, topology optimization, and direct manufacturing modules. We successfully printed designed parts and performed mechanical tests of printed parts. The results of tests show good agreement with simulation data. The system makes it possible to create structures with the desired properties in a fast and flexible way. The proposed approach significantly helps in designing additive manufacturing process and saves time for its users.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Critique Of The Methodology Eliminating Fire Cause Possibilities

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger L. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Heat Energy ◽  
Electrical Failure ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Fire Scene ◽  
Rotary Switch ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
Heat Released ◽  
Fire Cause ◽  
Nfpa 921

In A Case Involving A Residential Fire With Fatalities, Plaintiff Experts Alleged That The Fire Originated In A Bedroom As A Result Of An Electrical Failure In An Oscillating Pedestal Fan. At The Time Of The Fire, The Fan Was Plugged Into A Six Foot Extension Cord That Was Lying On The Floor Under The Bed And Plugged Into A Standard 115 Volt Duplex Receptacle. The Plaintiffs, Specific In Their Allegations, Opined That The Failure Occurred In The Rotary Switch That Controlled The Speed Of The Fan Even Though No Physical Evidence Of A Failure Of That Nature Was Identified Or Collected During The Analyses Of The Fire Scene. Since No Physical Evidence Of A Failure Was Identified, Nfpa 921, Guide For Fire & Explosion Investigations, Requires That All Other Potential Ignition Sources In The Area Of Origin Be Eliminated As A Possible Cause. Plaintiffs Eliminated The Power Cord For The Fan, The Extension Cord And The Cord Plug And Cord Receptacle Connection Under The Theory That The Material Was Pvc With A Vw-1 Fire Rating. Plaintiffs Testified That The Self Extinguishing Characteristics Of Vw-1 Material Were Such That, Even With An Electrical Failure In One Of Those Components That Resulted In The Ignition Of The Material, There Would Be Insufficient Heat Released To Ignite The Box Spring For The Bed. Plaintiffs Also Eliminated Improperly Discarded Smoking Material As A Potential Cause.Efendants Were In Sharp Disagreement With Plaintiff Case In Chief Regarding The Elimination Of The Vw-1 Materials As A Potential Fire Cause, Since The Material Will Combust In Situations With A Sustained Electrical Fault. Defendants Conducted Tests Which Not Only Demonstrated An Electrical Failure With Ignition At The Extension Cord Plug Receptacle Interface, But Also That The Burning Vw-1 Pvc Released Sufficient Heat Energy To Ignite A Box Spring Similar To The Box Spring Involved In The Fire. The Results Of Those Tests Assisted In The Resolution Of The Case Prior To Trial.

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