Forensic Analysis and Modeling

Forensic failure analysis tools range from hand calculations to transient, three-dimensional finite element models, and are often required to determine the root cause of a failure or accident.

Failure investigations are often complicated by several factors: the complexity of the equipment; unknown design and material history; incomplete operation and maintenance records; and the absence of key evidence. Engineering analyses are often required to evaluate potential failure scenarios. The types of engineering analyses used in our failure investigations include:

• Material Failure (fatigue, creep, corrosion, plastic flow)
• Stress (linear and nonlinear)
• Fracture Mechanics (linear elastic, elastic/plastic)
• Heat Transfer (steady state and transient)
• Fluid Mechanics (static and dynamic)
• Thermodynamics (reacting and non-reacting mixtures)
• Combustion (fires and explosions)

Often closed form, hand calculations are performed as a first cut to approximate the structure or fluid behavior. This is done for two reasons: first, to provide an initial screening of potential failure modes; and second, to serve as a check for later, more sophisticated and expensive computer models. In the cases where the data is insufficient for this approach to be accurate, more sophisticated analyses are performed.

Some of the tools used to perform the engineering analyses include:

• Finite Element Modeling
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Statistical Analysis
• Custom Spreadsheets
• Computer Animations 
   

Request more information to see how Intertek can help your organization with Forensic Analysis and Modeling.