Forensic Engineering. Civil Engineering Edition Vol. I. NAFE Journal Papers on. Forensic Engineering Collection. Advanced Accident Reconstruction

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1 NAFE Journal Papers on Forensic Engineering Civil Engineering Edition Vol. I Forensic Engineering Collection Advanced Accident Reconstruction BioMedical Civil Electrical Mechanical Legal/Ethical i

2 NAFE Journal Editor [ ], and Executive Director, E. Joyce Dixon, NAFE Founder NAFE Journal Editor [1999 to date], NAFE Founding President and Executive Director Marvin M. Specter, P.E., L.S., F.NSPE, Hon.M. ASCE 2011 National Academy of Forensic Engineers, NAFE All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of NAFE. ISBN: Material published in this Journal, including all interpretations and conclusions contained in papers, articles, and speeches, are those of the specific author or authors and do not necessarily represent the view of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) or its members. Printed in the U.S.A. ii

3 Preface THE HISTORY AND SOURCES OF THIS PUBLICATION The articles collected herein are reproduced without change from the original printed copies as they appeared in the Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. The conception in the late 1970 s of an Academy for continuing education and emphasis on competent, ethical practice by engineers in the jurisprudence system was suggested by E. Joyce Dixon, a sociologist and psychologist, and business associate of Marvin M. Specter, P.E., L.S. Mr. Specter then founded and implemented the proposed organization as NSPE President. Formal filing of the new Corporation was made on May 25, 1982, as documented in Journal paper, The Founding of NAFE and its Future, M.M. Specter, P.E., L.S., NAFE Journal, Vol. I, No 1, June, In a later writing, tribute was paid to E. Joyce Dixon, Recollections of Ten Years of NAFE by M.M. Specter, P.E., L.S. in NAFE Journal, Vol. IX, No. 2, December, The idea of a peer reviewed technical journal of forensic engineering practice was part of the original conception of the newly formed Academy. Following the 1983 invitation by NSPE President Specter, ninety of the new members attended the first general meeting and seminar of NAFE, held in January 1984 in San Francisco in conjunction with the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) meeting. The NAFE papers presented were edited by Executive Director E. Joyce Dixon, who conceived the format and produced the first NAFE Journal, June All the Journals up to the time of her death in July 1999 were based on seminar lectures which she authorized as Executive Director and assessed as Editor. These duties were taken over by Founding President Specter after Mrs. Dixon s passing, continuing as such to the present time. In addition, Mr. Specter, as NAFE Technical Review Chairman, has directed the Peer Review process for all the articles since the beginning, including those reprinted and presented in this compilation. In 2010 Laura L. Liptai, Ph.D., proposed that selected articles from the NAFE Journal be reprinted and republished in hard cover format to create a series of educational books on particular topics, beginning with her specialization of Forensic Biomedical Engineering. NAFE Secretary and Past President (2006) Michael Kravitz, P.E. had previously voluntarily proceeded with the task of scanning the Journals to create digital files of all previous Journal titles to distribute to NAFE members. Mr. Kravitz was able to select those titles concerning Forensic Engineering from the database that was created in the mid 1990 s by Joel T. Hicks, P.E. who with Mr. Kravitz anticipated the reprinting of the Journals in hard cover format. Encouragement toward this end has been given by President (2011) E. Smith Reed, P.E. as Publications Committee Chairman and as NAFE President. Particular credit and appreciation is due to those NAFE members and affiliates whose dedicated cooperation and professional inputs as speakers, authors and reviewers have made this possible. iii

4 Forward Forensic Engineering is the application of the art and science of engineering in matters which are in, or may possibly relate to, the jurisprudence system, inclusive of alternative dispute resolution. The National Academy of Forensic Engineers, NAFE, was founded to bring together those professional engineers who have attained substantial experience and recognition in forensic engineering practice. It seeks to improve the practice, elevate the standards, and advance the profession of forensic engineering. Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including bridges, roads, canals, dams, and buildings. Civil Engineering is the oldest engineering discipline after Military Engineering, and it was defined to distinguish non military engineering from military engineering. It is traditionally broken into several sub disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. This collection of papers encompasses examples of Forensic Civil Engineering. The interpretation of physical evidence is an important element in the forensic engineering analysis of causal factors. Insights are gained from forensic analysis of failures from individual incidents that supplement data on the occurrence of causal factors. Forensic engineering offers insightful solutions to the improvement of human safety. The collection of peer reviewed Journal papers in the field of Civil Engineering forensics reflects the diversity of Civil Engineering. NAFE supports this diversity. This collection includes authors from various experience levels, methodological protocols and specialties. Fostering this diversity and periodic non homogenous points of view challenges the thought processes, and in the end, we are better engineers. This collection expresses our appreciation to our colleagues throughout the world who are willing to share their work for educational purpose. iv

5 Table of Contents Title Month Year Page Forensic Analysis of Building Design and Construction Defects June Theodore B. Jenson, P.E. The Forensic Engineer and the Delay Claim December H. Murray Hohns, P.E. Mediation During Construction To Save Time And Cost June Joseph S. Ward, P.E Limitations of the A.A.S.H.T.O. Formula for Braking Distances December Jack W. Anderson, P.E. A Case For The ''Jack of All Trades'' December William A. Moore, P.E. Additional Information on Construction Discussion, Mediation and Arbitration Joseph S. Ward, P.E., L.S. June Forensic Engineering Analysis of Slips and Falls June James D. Anderson, Jr., P.E. Engineering Evaluation of Work Force Efficiency June Calvin Zemsky, P.E. Forensic Engineering Analysis By Plausible Inference Case in Point: A Building Failure June Lewis L. Zickel, P.E., L.S. v

6 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Leaning Bridge Piers December Roy J. Leonard, Ph.D., P.E. Investigation of the Collapse of L' Ambiance Plaza Charles F. Scribner Ph.D., P.E. and Charles G. Culver, Ph.D., P.E. June The Forensic Engineer in an Earthquake Scenario "What We Can Expect When The Big One Hits" June Robert E. Garrett, P.E. Forensic Geotechnical Engineering Case Studies June Oswald Rendon Herrero, Ph.D., P.E. Forensic Engineering Analysis of Gross Maximum Price Costs December Calvin L. Zemsky, P.E. Litigation on a Collapsed Slurry Wall as Viewed by a Product Design Engineer December Herbert Egerer, P.E. Investigative Techniques for Structural Failures December Lev Zetlin, Ph.D., P.E. Analysis of Wood Truss Connection Failure June George A. Merlo, P. E. vi

7 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Forensic Engineering for Riparian Boundary Disputes Charles H. Coates, Jr. P.E. December Litigation of Building Code Disputes June Joel A. Miele, Sr., P.E. The Forensic Engineer's Role in Eminent Domain Valuation Disputes Wayne H. Coloney, P.E. December Small Steel Plates on Highway Pavements December Michael Kravitz, P.E. Forensic Engineering Practice In New Zealand June Stephen R. Jenkins, C. Eng. Estimating Train Speed From Braking Distance December John C. Glennon, D. Eng., P.E. Forensic Engineering In The Criminal Case December H. Boulter Kelsey, Jr. P.E. The Forensic Engineer in Resolving Realty Disputes December Norman L. Cooper, P.E. Worker Dies After Stacked Shingles Slide Off Roof: A Forensic Engineering Analysis Norman L. Cooper, P.E. December vii

8 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Forensic Analysis of a Grain Elevator Collapse December Charles P. Reynolds, P.E. Railroad Highway Grade Crossing Accidents: The Problems Robert T. Hintersteiner, P.E. December Impact of Third Dimension on Catenary Calculations Donald C. Thorn, Ph.D., P.E. June viii

NAFE Journal Papers on Forensic Engineering Accident Reconstruction Edition Vol. I Forensic Engineering Collection

NAFE Journal Papers on Forensic Engineering Accident Reconstruction Edition Vol. I Forensic Engineering Collection Advanced Accident Reconstruction BioMedical Civil Electrical Mechanical Legal/Ethical