Forensic Materials Engineering Case Studies

Peter Rhys Lewis, Ken Reynolds, Colin Gagg9780849311826, 0-8493-1182-9

A catheter used to transfer vital fluids splits during surgery.A wheel detaches from a moving car on the highway.A small gear tooth breaks from a chisel and flies into a mechanic’s eye.How did these accidents occur and were they preventable? Peter Lewis, Ken Reynolds, and Colin Gagg are seasoned forensic engineers who have been commissioned by insurance companies, lawyers, and private clients to investigate a variety of mechanical accidents that allegedly involved faulty equipment. The causes of these failures have varied – from manufacturing defects to user negligence to a combination of both – but their outcomes are often the same: huge financial loss, and sometimes even the immeasurable loss of life.Case studies are the most valuable source of information for manufacturers striving to improve their products. In Forensic Materials Engineering: Case Studies, the authors offer stories of real accidents and thorough assessments of what went wrong. Unlike other case study presentations, they focus on not just the technical details, but also other vital aspects, including human error, turning points in the investigations, and the litigation involved. Presented in chronological order, each well-illustrated case study includes legal background, reports the case results, and highlights the lessons learned from the case. New materials and applications appear constantly, and with them, new failure modes. Examining various materials in a range of situations, Forensic Materials Engineering: Case Studies provides an outstanding opportunity to gain virtual experience through up-to-date facts and feedback from forensic engineering practitioners.