Forensic Engineering

When structures fail they are investigated to determine the causes of the failures and to learn how to prevent future failures in similar structures. Engineers investigate construction failures in a manner similar to private investigators analyzing crime scenes. They have to determine everything that was taking place at the time of the failure, who was involved, what materials were being used, how it was designed to be built, what was surrounding the structure that failed, what personnel were working on it at the time of the failure, and what external influences might have contributed to the failure. Everything related to the failed structure is preserved and analyzed to try and determine the precise cause of the failure. A thorough investigation is performed by engineers who then generate a report for government agencies, owners, and insurance companies. The failures may be as simple as a guardrails or pipes or as complex as oil tanks or gas storage facilities.