Forensic Engineering. Electrical 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 Electrical 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. 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. This collection of papers encompasses examples of Forensic Electrical Engineering. The interpretation of physical evidence is an important element in the forensic engineering analysis of causal factors. Insights are gained from 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 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 Simultaneous Multiple Points of Origin: Incendiary or Electrical? June The Use of Iridium 192 Radiography for Non Destructive Testing Robert E. Witter, P.E. December Travelling Fire Balls on Conductors: Lightning or Illusion? December Some Fundamental Electrical Concepts in Locating the Cause and Origin of a Fire Louis I. Rothschild, Ph.D., P.E. December Storage Battery Explosions: Heating and Jarring December Forensic Engineering Investigation Of A Gas Pipeline Condensate Explosion Due to Static Electricity James C. Wernicke, P. E. June Forensic Investigation of Electrostatic Shock Injury Louis I. Rothschild, Ph.D., P.E. December Fire Cause: Overheated Electrical Outlet Boxes? December v

6 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Court Cases Show that Storage Battery Explosions are BLEVEs, Part I December Court Cases Show that Storage Battery Explosions are BLEVEs, Part II December Evaluation of Proximity Warning Devices for Cranes J. Derald Morgan, Ph.D., P.E. December Insulating Devices for Cranes Test Results December J. Derald Morgan, Ph.D., P.E. Voltage Spike Failure of Building Wire Insulation as Fire Cause Robert W. Armstrong, Ph.D., P.E. June Superhigh Direct Current Switching Failure June Eugene F. Tims, D.Sc., P.E. Glowing Electrical Connections June Richard D. Brugger, P.E. Forensic Engineering Practice Before the Federal Communications Commission D.C. Williams. P E. December vi

7 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Forensic Engineering's Believe It or Not June Thomas P. Shefchick, P.E. Heat and Arcing Fire Causation at Conduit Connections Robert E. Nabours, Ph.D., P.E. June The Circumvention and Failure of Electrical Interlock Switches Irving F. Hazard, P.E. June Re Enactment of An Unobserved Electrocution Yields Conclusions Consistent With the Physical Evidence John M. Carden, P.E. December Galvanic Corrosion In At Stainless Fasteners Causing Chair Collapse: Richard Kent Spears Ph.D., P.E. June Electronic Failures in Machine Controls December Richard D. Brugger, P.E. Electrical Injury and Electrocution June Thomas P. Shefchick, P.E. Forensics and the Catenary June Glenn A. Burdick, Ph.D., P.E. vii

8 Table of Contents (cont.) Title Month Year Page Impact of Third Dimension on Catenary Calculations June Donald C. Thorn, Ph.D., P.E. An Overvoltage Incident December Donald C. Thorn, Ph.D., P.E. Scientific Analysis of a Chicken Coop Fire June Joseph A. Cristino, P.E. An Electrical Clearance Problem December Donald C. Thorn, Ph.D., P.E. viii