ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION & INVESTIGATION

"The Effect of Tensile Prestress on the Fatigue of Rock Drill Bits"
Failure Prevention and Reliability 1987 (ASME DE v.9). New York, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1987, pp. 91-93

Dennis B. Brickman

Fatigue failures of rock drill bits are investigated by examining the crack patterns and stresses produced during the fabrication process using brittle coating and strain gage rosettes. The interference fit associated with impact wedging of carbide inserts produced a high tensile prestress which compromised the fatigue life of the drill bit.


"Fire and Explosion Investigations: A Historical and Hysterical Perspective"
Triodyne Safety Brief
v.7 #2 (December 1991)

Kim R. Mniszewski and John Campbell

A large body of cause-and-effect mythology has developed in fire investigation. The lack of validity of common myths is reviewed, and new forensic engineering analysis techniques discussed.


"Introduction to Fracture Mechanics"
Triodyne Safety Brief
v.6 #3 (March 1991)

E. J. Ripling

Until recently, blaming all structural fractures on discontinuities was expedient since there was no quantitative way of identifying the major contributing factors to service fractures. With the advent of fracture mechanics, fractures can no be analyzed with a certainty never before possible. The concepts of this new discipline are described.


"Photographic Documentation and Analysis in Vehicle Accident Reconstruction"
Triodyne Safety Brief
v. 6 #4 (May 1991)

Crispin Hales and Dror Kopernik

The use of the camera is increasingly important in vehicle accident construction work. This paper reviews photographic methods and techniques currently in use in accident reconstruction.


"Use of Computerized Thermodynamics Tools in Fire/Explosion Investigation"
Journal of Fire Protection Engineering
v. 3 #3 (July-September 1991): 69-79

Kim R. Mniszewski

Several thermodynamics computer codes are useful in fire/explosion investigations. Applications include the estimation of basic fuel material properties and hazard properties. Codes by ASTM, NASA-Lewis, the Department of Defense, and Department of Energy are discussed.


"Pepcon Plant Fire/Explosion: A Rare Opportunity in Fire/Explosion Investigation"
Triodyne Safety Brief v. 10 #3 (February 1995)

Kim R. Mniszewski

Videotape of a fatal fire and explosion at a large ammonium perchlorate plant allowed advanced investigative fire reconstruction techniques. This and other engineering analyses were used to determine the complex sequence of events and to determine possible causes of the explosion.


"Accident Investigation and Reconstruction Mapping with Aerial Photography"
SAE 960894
. Warrendale, PA, Society of Automotive Engineers, 1996

Michael A. Dilich and John M. Goebelbecker

A system for investigating and reconstructing vehicular accidents using close-range aerial photography, the Accident Investigation and Reconstruction with Aerial Photography (AIRMAP) utilizes a tethered blimp and suspended camera in a close-range aerial survey technique. It produces high-resolution, color, vertical photographs. Computer-generated graphics of physical evidence can be superimposed over the image to produce a plan view photographic map easily understood by a non-technical audience.


"Standards Opposing Spoliation in Fire & Explosion Investigations"
Triodyne Safety Bulletin v. 5 # 4 (June 1997)

John A. Campbell

Important information regarding fire and explosion accident investigation.


Copyright © 2006 Triodyne Inc. All Rights Reserved