What Does a Forensic Engineer Do?

What Does a Forensic Engineer Do?

We find answers. We solve puzzles. The forensic engineer’s mission is to investigate, solve, and explain the most challenging engineering and scientific problems.

To vastly simplify, forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles and science employed to investigate the failure of a machine, component, material, structure, system, and more.

It’s easy to think of it as a form of reverse engineering – using scientific methodology to uncover why something went wrong or stopped working. The same methodologies also allow forensic engineers to help clients take safety measures that will stop accidents and serious incidents from occurring in the first place.

The reports compiled by forensic engineers are to establish the cause of incidents where injury or property damage have occurred - such as:

Forensic engineers are called in to assess catastrophic damage following hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, explosions, hailstorms, tornadoes, large fires – any unexpected event that can wreak havoc on day-to-day business operations.

Forensic Engineering Fields

There are many types of forensic engineering experts, from biomechanical to metallurgy to geotechnical. Forensic engineers cover this wide range of areas, all of which involve the application of engineering principles to investigate and analyze failures, accidents, and other incidents. They work to determine the root causes and contribute to the resolution of legal and insurance-related matters. Forensic engineers and experts offer their expertise to clients from the private sector to the legal, oil and gas, insurance, electrical, and petrochemical industries in matters surrounding:

Structural Engineering: Investigating building collapses, bridge failures, foundation issues, and structural integrity problems.

Civil Engineering: Analyzing accidents related to roads, highways, transportation systems, and geotechnical failures.

Industrial Accidents: Investigating accidents in manufacturing plants, factories, and other industrial settings to determine their causes and prevent future occurrences.

Mechanical Engineering: Examining failures of machinery, equipment, and mechanical systems in industrial settings, automotive incidents, and product liability cases.

Environmental Engineering: Addressing environmental incidents like pollution, hazardous material spills, and ecological damage.

Electrical Engineering: Investigating electrical fires, power system failures, electrocutions, and electrical equipment malfunctions.

Traffic Accident Reconstruction: Analyzing vehicle collisions to determine factors like speed, impact angles, and driver behavior.

Materials Engineering: Analyzing material failures, such as metallurgical failures in industrial equipment or construction materials.

Geotechnical Engineering: Evaluating soil and foundation failures, landslides, and geological hazards.

Fire Investigation: Examining the cause and origin of fires, fire spread analysis, and evaluating fire protection systems.

Forensic Biomechanics: Studying the mechanics of human movement and injuries to understand accident scenarios and impact effects.

Product Failure Analysis: Investigating the failure of consumer products, appliances, and industrial equipment.

Construction Defects: Examining construction-related issues like building code violations, poor workmanship, and design flaws.

Marine Accidents: Investigating accidents related to ships, boats, and offshore structures.

Aerospace Accidents: Analyzing failures and accidents involving aircraft and spacecraft.

Cybersecurity Incidents: Examining cybersecurity breaches, data theft, and digital evidence analysis.

Human Factors Engineering: Assessing the role of human error and human-machine interactions in accidents and incidents.

Finding the Solution

Forensic engineers conduct a variety of tests and analyses to investigate failures, accidents, and incidents. Specific tests depend on the nature of the case and the area of engineering concerned. Common types of tests are:

Materials Analysis: Testing the composition and properties of materials, such as metals, plastics, concrete, and composites, to assess their suitability, quality, and potential weaknesses.

Metallurgical Analysis: Examining the microstructure and properties of metals to identify defects, cracks, and failure mechanisms.

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Utilizing techniques like ultrasonic testing, radiography, magnetic particle testing, and dye penetrant inspection to evaluate the integrity of materials and components without causing damage.

Structural Load Testing: Applying controlled loads to structures to assess their load-carrying capacity and response.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Using computational methods to simulate and analyze the behavior of structures and components under different conditions.

Failure Analysis: Investigating the root cause of failures in materials, structures, or mechanical components to determine why they broke down or malfunctioned.

Electrical Testing: Assessing the performance and safety of electrical systems, circuits, and equipment, including voltage, current, and resistance measurements.

Fire Testing: Conducting controlled experiments to understand fire behavior, fire spread, and the effects of fire on materials and structures.

Accident Reconstruction: Using physics and engineering principles to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to an accident, such as traffic collisions or industrial mishaps.

Impact and Crash Testing: Simulating collisions and impacts to study how structures, vehicles, or products respond to forces.

Geotechnical Testing: Analyzing soil and rock properties to assess their stability and bearing capacity for construction projects.

Fluid Dynamics Analysis: Studying the behavior of mixtures and fluids, such as air or water, to understand their impact on structures or accidents like water-related incidents.

Computer Forensics: Extracting and analyzing digital data and electronic evidence from computers and digital devices.

Product Testing: Evaluating consumer products, industrial equipment, and machinery to determine if they meet safety standards and specifications.

Human Factors Testing: Conducting experiments and simulations to understand human behavior and performance in various scenarios, such as accidents or usability assessments.

An immensely important skill set for any forensic engineer is the ability to not only be fluent in testing methods but to also have the meticulousness to perform them, then interpret the results to reach the correct conclusion.

Forensic Engineer Duties, Responsibilities, and Basic Requirements

Perhaps the best way to show what a forensic engineer does is to look at what it takes to be a forensic engineer. Let’s start with some of the duties and responsibilities of a forensic engineer:

• Investigating accidents, failures, and other incidents to determine the root cause
• Examining and analyzing physical evidence, such as damaged structures or equipment, to understand how an incident occurred
• Interviewing witnesses and gathering relevant information about an incident
• Conducting experiments and simulations to verify the findings of an investigation
• Preparing reports and presentations outlining the findings of an investigation
• Providing expert testimony in legal proceedings related to an incident
• Staying up to date on the latest technologies, techniques, and regulations related to forensic engineering

Followed by the general, minimal, job requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field
• Professional engineering license (PE)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex technical data
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility to work on a variety of projects and adapt to changing priorities

And, lastly, the basic skills that forensic engineering require:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Knowledge of relevant regulations and standards
• Specialized industry knowledge
• Legal training or experience

About McDowell Owens

McDowell Owens Engineering, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary, worldwide forensic engineering firm. Since 1986, we have provided comprehensive, unbiased forensic engineering and failure analysis services. Over the decades we have worked with clients from the private sector to the legal, oil and gas, insurance, electrical, and petrochemical industries, among others.

Established leaders in the field, McDowell Owens’ professional engineers, fire scientists, and consultants are experts in forensic failure analysis. Our clients rely on us to conduct exhaustive investigations to produce a multi-disciplinary analysis in the wake of any incident or disaster.