Beyond failure forensic case studies for civil engineers

by Norbert J. Delatte Jr.

Beyond failure forensic case studies for civil engineers represents the culmination of more than a decade of effort, but I couldn’t have done it alone.

Many of my friends and colleagues on the American Society of Civil Engineers Technical Council on Forensic Engineering (ASCE TCFE) have helped me put case study materials together.

“Beyond Failure” presents the circumstances of important failures that have had wide-reaching impacts on civil engineering practice.

Each case study narrates the known facts of the situation: design and construction, the failure, subsequent investigation or analysis, and, where appropriate, additional issues such as technical concerns, ethical considerations, professional practice issues, and long-term effects.

The case studies are organized around eight common topics of undergraduate engineering courses, and each case study has teaching points and a reading list, so this book is useful to engineering faculty and their students.

With more than 40 full cases, Beyond failure forensic case studies for civil engineers will also appeal to practicing engineers with an interest in forensic investigations or the analysis of historic failures.

Engineers design. Engineering design may be seen as an attempt to use science, mathematics, and other principles to prevent failures.

Most of the time the attempt is successful, but the times it is not successful can provide useful lessons for students and practitioners.