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Preface

Engineering investigation and determination of the causes of structural failures

of buildings, bridges, and other constructed facilities, as well as rendering opin-

ions and giving testimony in judicial proceedings, has become a field of profes-

sional practice of its own, often referred to as forensic structural engineering.Structural failure does not have to be a catastrophic collapse, it may be a non-

conformity with design expectations or deficient performance. Collapse is

usually attributed to inadequate strength and/or stability; deficient performance,

or so-called serviceability problems, is usually the result of abnormal deteriora-

tion, excessive deformation, and signs of distress. In short, structural failure may

be characterized as the unacceptable difference between intended and actual

structural performance.

Well-rounded expertise and success in this field is the result of the combina-tion of many components in an engineers background: a good education in struc-

tural engineering and its related subjects; years or even decades of experience in

analysis, design, construction, testing, inspection, condition assessment, and

trouble-shooting; an understanding of the design-construction process; compre-

hension of legal implications; good communication skills; a knack for problem

solving; a positive attitude to teamwork; a strong sense of ethics; self-confidence

without arrogance; credible and confident disposition; and a high level of intel-

lectual sophistication. Some of these traits can be learned but most are ingrainedor acquired.

In my nearly 40 years of structural engineering practice and university teach-

ing of structural design, analysis, and investigation of failures, I often felt the lack

of a comprehensive practical reference on the practice and business of investigat-

ing failures. This book is intended to fill the need for a comprehensive and author-

itative reference for guidance on forensic structural engineering, addressing

technical as well as nontechnical and legal matters on the investigation of struc-

tural and construction failures.

Some of the most frequently asked nontechnical and legal-related questions by

engineers embarking on an activity of forensic structural engineering are: How do

I go about it?, How do I start?, What is the right procedure?, What should I

watch out for?, How do I deal with my client, with the other parties, with the

other experts?, Who are my allies, who are my adversaries?, What are my

duties and to whom?, What is my expected, allowable and ultimate behavior?,

How do I work with the lawyers?, What are the legal positions I need to be

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aware of?, What is an affidavit, a deposition, a testimony?, What do I do and

how do I testify at arbitration, at trial?, and How do I charge for my work?

Strictly technical questions by both the novice and the experienced forensic engi-

neer include: What are the applicable codes and standards in this case?, How do

I define the applicable standard of care?, What are the critical characteristics ofthis type of structure?, What are the types and causes of common deficiencies and

failures of this type of structure?, What are the methods of observation, instru-

mentation and testing?, What are the effective methods of analysis for this type of

structure?, and What are the workable temporary and permanent repairs for this

type of structure?

This book has been developed to answer these and many other questions.

This is not a what happened or lessons learned book this is a what I

need to know, what I need to do, and how I need to do it book.

In order for the forensic engineers to intelligently investigate the cause of a fail-

ure and subsequently to identify the parties responsible for it, they have to have an

understanding of not only loads, strength and stability, but also of the business

and practice of design and construction in order to know where, when, how, why, and

by whom a cause of failure can originate. They have to know, of course, how to con-

duct the investigation appropriate to the case. Since nearly all structural deficiencies

and failures create claims, disputes, and legal entanglements, forensic engineersneed to have some familiarity with the relevant legal process and need to know how

to work effectively with attorneys. Complete familiarity with the nature and conse-

quences of loads, and of the critical characteristics and vulnerabilities of structures

of different types and materials is the most basic requirement. A special feature of

this handbook is its coverage in appropriate detail of the range of these topics that

are all necessary for the successful practice of forensic structural engineering.

Seventeen chapters are grouped into three parts:

Part IDesign and Construction Practices provides the background forunderstanding the design-construction process, the design and construction

codes, standards and regulations, and the legal relationships.

Part IIInvestigation of Failures and Resolution of Claims contains six chap-

ters that explain the technical and legal steps both immediately and later after a

failure, the engineering investigation and reporting process, the standard of care,

the litigation and dispute resolution procedures, and the practice and business of

expert consulting and witnessing.

Part IIIEngineering Analysis of Structural Defects and Failures begins witha chapter on the magnitude, nature, and consequences of loads and hazards, and

then continues with seven chapters on the critical characteristics, most common

types and causes of failures, methods of analyzing and testing, and remedial

repairs of steel, concrete, masonry, building envelope, timber, foundation, and

temporary structures, and presents case studies of nonperformance and failure of

each of these seven classes of structures.

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The book is intended for use primarily by structural engineers but also by geo-

technical, civil, and construction engineers, contractors, attorneys, insurers, and

owners and managers of constructed facilities. (Failure analysis and forensic

investigation is an intriguing and stimulating subject, and it is expected that a num-

ber of engineers will acquire the book as a useful addition to their reference libraryeven though they are not actively practicing in this field.) Although not written

specifically as such, in the absence of a real textbook on the subject and given the

logical progression of the topics, as well as the case studies included, it is expected

that this handbook will stimulate the teaching of forensic structural engineering

and will be embraced as the text in academic and continuing education courses.

No single author would have the wide-ranging expertise and credibility to write on

all the topics that were necessary for this comprehensive reference book; therefore

contributing authors were invited to prepare the individual chapters. The authors are

not only experienced practitioners and competent writers but, in most cases, are also

nationally and internationally recognized experts in their respective fields.

I am grateful to the contributing authors for accepting my invitation to partici-

pate in this book and I thank them for their outstanding effort and cooperation.

Without their contributions there would be no book.

I also owe thanks to the McGraw-Hill people, particularly to Larry Hager, Senior

Editor of Civil Engineering and Construction in the Professional Book Division, forhis valuable assistance and continuing cooperation in producing the book, to Steven

Melvin for his able supervising of the editing, and to the production supervisor,

copyeditor, illustrator, typesetter, and others whose work I much appreciate.

Robert T. Ratay, Ph.D., P.E.

PREFACE xiii