An Initial Survey of Forensic Engineering Practices in Some European Countries and the USA

Terwel, Karel; Ratay, Robert T.; Brühwiler, Eugen; Wood, Jonathan; Godart, Bruno; Dalmy, Dénes

doi:10.1061/9780784412640.103

Cited by 8 publications

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“…However, the international association of structural engineers IABSE (International Association for Bridges and Structural Engineering) formed a working group in 2011, called Forensic Structural Engineering, whose main objective is the improvement and practical application of forensic structural engineering. As a part of the working group activities, a survey of practical application of forensic engineering was conducted in several European countries and the USA [4]. Based on the survey results, the working group report stated that in the majority of included countries (except the UK and the USA) there are no official associations of forensic structural engineers, and no legal regulations for the investigation of structural failures.…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, it was concluded that the professional responsibility of engineers in charge of design, construction and/or maintenance varies greatly from country to country. It is important to note that this report [4] took into account only handful of European countries and that the working group was not able to access country based databases on bridge failures and consequences. Overall, forensic engineering can be described as an interdisciplinary scientific field, dealing with the investigation of technical illegalities and their legal aspects.…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bridge failures, forensic structural engineering and recommendations for design of robust structures

2021

JCE

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A review of forensic structural engineering, which is a strategy that follows after bridge failure, is presented in the paper. A detailed statistical analysis, and worldwide systematisation of available bridge failure data for the 1966-2020 period, are given. More than six hundred cases of partial or full collapse of bridges are analysed in detail, and causes that have led to their failure are examined. Failure of each of these bridges was in most cases not caused by a single factor, i.e. the main cause was most often just a trigger in the cause-and-effect sequence of events that contributed to such failure. Consequently, in addition to main causes, the influence of human factor, as a precondition leading to failure, is considered in each of the analysed cases. Types of progressive collapse, being a critical structural failure mechanism, are described in the second part of the paper, with an emphasis on bridges. An overview of the theory of structural robustness is also given. Design guidelines and approaches, aimed at preventing catastrophic failure and creating more robust structures, are presented. Methods for achieving robustness in the design of new bridges and in the strengthening of the existing ones are also described, and practical real-life examples are provided.

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Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridge failures, forensic structural engineering and recommendations for design of robust structures

2021

JCE

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“…One of the first activities of WG8 was the conduct of a survey of the forensic practices in the IABSE member countries. After an initial survey of the US and a limited number of European countries conducted in 2012 [1], in 2013-2014 the WG8 has developed a more detailed survey, and expanded it to all 48 IABSE member countries. The survey IABSE Conference -Structural Engineering: Providing Solutions to Global Challenges September 23-25 2015, Geneva, Switzerland consisted of a letter and a questionnaire sent to the chair and secretary of each IABSE National Group, review and evaluation of the returned questionnaires, and conclusions drawn.…”

Section: The Iabse Working Group On Forensic Structuralmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Practice of Forensic Structural Engineering in IABSE Member Countries: Review of a Survey

Ratay¹,

Palmisano²,

Brühwiler³

et al. 2015

IABSE Reports

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The IABSE Working Group on Forensic Structural Engineering aims to examine and mitigate failures, improve the professional practice of forensic structural engineering, and facilitate the dissemination and application of failure information to structural design and construction throughout the world. This article is the second progress report on the evaluation of the Working Group's completed, and recently revitalized, survey of the forensic engineering practices in the IABSE member countries. The intent of the article is to familiarize the reader with the state of forensic engineering practices in the IABSE member countries, and urge the adoption of good practices by following the successful models of some of the countries.

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“…The results of the initial survey for six countries were presented at an American Society of Civil Engineers' congress on forensic engineering in San Francisco (Terwel et al, 2012). It appeared that forensic practices in the USA and the UK are more organised and structured than in the other European countries that have been reviewed.…”

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confidence: 99%

Briefing: Activities by IABSE WG8 (Forensic Structural Engineering)

Terwel¹,

Palmisano²

2016

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Forensic En

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A working group on forensic engineering (WG8) was established within the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) in 2011. This working group aims to mitigate structural failures and improve forensic engineering practices. To accomplish this goal, several activities were organised such as an international survey among 48 countries to compare forensic engineering practices. Furthermore, several interesting forensic engineering sessions were organised at IABSE conferences with various presentations. Moreover, a pre-conference short course focusing on various types of failures and the process of forensic investigation was well received. It appears that there is great interest in forensic structural engineering both from practitioners and from researchers. This briefing article describes the activities of WG8 in detail. Within the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), a working group on Forensic Structural Engineering (WG8) was established in 2011.'The ultimate objective of WG 8 is to mitigate structural failures and improve forensic engineering practices. To those ends it endeavours to (i) report on the engineering investigation of structural failures;(ii) encourage improvements of design and construction practices based on the lessons learned from failures; (iii) publicise techniques of field and analytical investigation of failures; (iv) promote ethical forensic engineering practices; (v) inform of effective dispute resolution procedures; and (vi) through publications and seminars increase the awareness of students and practicing engineers of the causes, prevention and consequences of failures, thereby increasing the safety and reliability of structures ' (Ratay, 2013).

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An Initial Survey of Forensic Engineering Practices in Some European Countries and the USA

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Bridge failures, forensic structural engineering and recommendations for design of robust structures

Bridge failures, forensic structural engineering and recommendations for design of robust structures

The Practice of Forensic Structural Engineering in IABSE Member Countries: Review of a Survey

Briefing: Activities by IABSE WG8 (Forensic Structural Engineering)

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