NAFE Journal Papers on Forensic Engineering Electrical Engineering Edition Vol. II Forensic Engineering Collection

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1 NAFE Journal Papers on Forensic Engineering Electrical Engineering Edition Vol. II 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. Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, including its generation, transmission and practical uses. Electrical engineers are involved with the design and implementation of not only generation and distribution systems, but also of the electrical systems found in appliances and machines. In addition, electrical engineering is also involved with electric signal processing and the transmission of information such as that that is found in controls, communications and computing devices. The collection of peer reviewed Journal papers in the field of Electrical Engineering forensics reflects the diversity of Electrical 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 A Patent Infringement Investigation at the International Trade Commission December H. Clark Bell, Ph.D., P.E. A Faulted Three Phase Line June Donald C. Thorn, Ph.D., P.E. Proximity Warning Devices in Defect Claims Against Lifting and Loading Equipment J. Derald Morgan, Ph.D., P.E., Robert Edwards and Alex Krasny June Forensic Engineering Analysis of Fire Hazards from Metal Oxide Varistor Failures June Richard D. Brugger, P.E. Forensic Engineering Data Showing Lightning Damage to Structures December James F. Wilson, Ph.D., P.E. Forensic Engineering Review of an Overhead Power Line Breakage Failure June Robert E. Nabours, Ph.D., P.E. Forensic Engineering Analysis of Copper/Brass Contacts December Roger L Owens, P.E. Forensic Engineering Investigation of A Cruise Ship Fire December Thomas P. Shefchick, P.E. v

6 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Forensic Engineering Analysis of Electric Arc Accidents Donald E. Ruff, P.E. December Forensic Engineering Use of X Rays in Failure Investigations Richard M. Hansen, P.E. December Engineer s Use of National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) Frank A. Denbrock, P.E. December Forensic Engineering Analysis of Electric Shock From Failed Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Richard D. Brugger, P.E. December Forensic Engineering: Testing of Hostile Electrical Connections in a Residential Clothes Dryer Roger L. Owens, P.E. December Forensic Engineering and Laser Scan Technology June Steven M. Schorr, P.E. Forensic Engineering Analysis of Electro Shock Weapon Safety James Angelo Ruggieri, P.E. December vi

7 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Forensic Engineering Investigation of Domestic Appliance Solenoid Water Supply Valves Walter S. Laird, P.E. June Forensic Engineers and the New Federal Rules Regarding Electronically Stored Information (ESI) John Cosgrove, P.E. June Forensic Engineering Investigation of Fire and Explosion Scenarios in a Power Plant Juan F. Charles Santana, Ph.D., P.E. June Forensic Engineering Investigation of Pyrite s Expansive Forces and Impact on Long Term Building Failure Paul G. Carr, Ph.D., P.E. December Forensic Engineering Analysis of Firearms Trigger Incidents John R. Nixon, P.E., FIMechE, Eur Ing December Forensic Engineering Analyses of the Potential for Hydrogen Gas Ignition while Charging Golf Car Batteries Roger L. Owens, P.E. June Forensic Engineering Investigation of Electrical Power Line Contacts J. Bradley Shepherd, P.E. June vii

8 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Forensic Engineer s Interpretation of an Electric Blanket Found in a Fire Richard M. Hansen, P.E. June viii