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Engineering Approach to Property Loss
CLM Greater Atlanta Chapter
March 7th, 2017
David Ahearn, P.E. Engineering Systems Inc.
#CLMChapter
Insurance History
Ocean Marine Insurance
Insurance History
Ocean Marine Insurance
Insurance History
Fire Insurance
Insurance History
1950’s Modern Insurance
Insurance Lessens Loss
Changing Environment
Documentation
Changing Environment
Investigation Techniques
Changing Environment
Understanding the Aspects
Insurance Coverage
Coverage completely dependent on policy wording
Processing a Claim
•Get Information of Loss
•Project Management
•Understand Coverage
•Document and Close
When To Hire An Expert
When the loss needs clarity
Major Engineering Disciplines
• Aeronautical
• Automotive
• Biomechanical
• Boiler Machinery & Process Industry
• Chemical
• Civil/Structural
• Electrical/Electronic
• Environmental
• Fire and Explosion
• Manufacturing
• Marine
• Materials
• Mechanical
• Metallurgical
• Oil and Gas
• Patent & Trademark
• Safety
Civil and Structural Engineering
• Failure analysis of collapsed or distressed structures
• Property Damage
• Environmental Effects of Development
• Assessment of scheduling and delay damages
• Code Compliance
Mechanical Engineering
• Heat transfer
• Thermodynamics
• Machine design evaluation
• Manufacturing
• Fluid mechanics
• Hydraulics
• HVAC
• Control systems
Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Metals
• Plastics and Composites
• Ceramics and Glasses
• Concrete and Wood
• Corrosion resistance
• Machining, forming, welding
• Material Selection and Processing
Fire and Explosion
• Residential, industrial, product and vehicular
• Flow dynamics simulation programs
• Trace element analyses
• Root cause determination
• Material tests ( both fire and explosion)
Chemical Engineering
• Process hazard event simulation
• Grid development & evidence collection
• Laboratory analyses
• Hazard evaluation
• Dispersion analyses
• Runaway reactions
Biomechanical/Biomedical Engineering
• Ergonomics and human factors
• Injury mechanisms and causation
• Medical Devices
Electrical Engineering
• Power plants & transformers
• Hand tools & plant machinery
• Power lines
• Switchgear, motors
• Protection and grounding
• Safety, shocks & electrocutions
• Stray currents
• Electrostatic ignition
Automotive Engineering
• Standards compliance
• Accident analysis, rollovers
• Design, manufacturing and performance analysis
• Component and systems failure analysis
• Biomechanics, human factors and risk analysis
• Animation, modeling and simulation
Safety Engineering
• Industrial and agricultural safety
• Instructions and warnings
• OSHA, MSHA, MSDS regulations
• Product Hazard Analysis
• Consumer Product Testing and Safety Investigations
• Slip and Fall
Tools of the Trade
• Photography
• Stereo Microscope
• Scanning Electron Microscope
• Fourier Transform Infrared
•Modeling
Stereo Microscope
Stereo Microscope
Stereo Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope
TESCAN VEGA TS 5136XM
• Images are acquired by rastering an electron beam across the sample
• 4x-500,000x Magnification
• Analytical Tools
o Low Vacuum Capability
o Back-Scatter Detector
o Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS)
o Elemental Mapping
• Large chamber
SEM – Analysis
Low Vacuum Capability• The variable pressure system allows
imaging and analysis of non-conductive materials
o Plastics
o Ceramics
o Composites
o Biological Specimens
Back-Scatter Detector• Aids in the determination and
distribution of certain elements (chemistry/composition)
o Heavy elements (Ruthenium) appear brighter than lighter elements (Copper)
Nylon
Reinforced
“Rubber”
SEM - Fire Case Study
• Allegation: Fire was caused by a faulty switch in a dryer
• SEM was to look at the switch
• Conclusion: The microstructure was consistent with eutectic melting or alloying. The two contacts were in contact for a prolonged period of time, leading to diffusion and lowering the melting point
Contact A
Contact B
Contact A
Contact B
Eutectic Melting/Solidification
FTIR – Material Analysis
Trace Material on a Fracture Surface
Solid Mechanics – Analytical Tools
Finite Element Analysis
• Tennessee State Highway 69 bridge collapse
• Failure analysis/buckling modes analysis
Solid Mechanics – Analytical ToolsABAQUS/Standard Example - Miller Park Crane Failure
Solid Mechanics – Analytical Tools
ABAQUS/Standard Example - Miller Park Crane Failure
Legal Claims Approach
•Document the Facts
•Know the Scope
•Preserve the Evidence
•Report the Outcomes
•Document Correspondence
Any claim could go to court!
Questions?
David Ahearn, P.E.
Senior Consultant
Engineering Systems Inc.
678-990-3280
