Reconstructing Truck Accidents from Tire Marks
Reconstructing Truck Accidents from Tire Marks:
Determining Truck Speed at Rollover
by Frank Navin
“Truck collisions can become very complex very quickly…The trick in reconstructing [these] collisions is to simplify them to the point that there are recognizable limits.” - Frank Navin, Ph.D.
In order to successfully investigate a crash in which a truck has rolled over, you must have a handle on the underlying engineering mechanics involved. Reconstructing Truck Accidents from Tire Marks: Determining Truck Speed at Rollover, written by Dr. Frank Navin, will help you understand what is involved in the reconstruction of these special types of collisions, which ones can be reconstructed with a good degree of certainty and how to approach the investigation.
Previously performed rollover experiments are included to help you better understand the forces and mechanics involved when investigating simple truck crashes. From there, Dr. Navin shifts his focus to more complex rollovers, specifically those involving trucks hauling moving loads, such as liquid, partial loads and hanging meat. In addition, he points out the data you need to collect if you suspect hydroplaning was involved. As Dr. Navin continues to explore the intricacies of the truck rollover, you will be presented with numerous formulas, charts and diagrams to help you solve for different variables during the reconstruction process. He even provides five reconstruction examples with an analysis of each.
You will find all this information contained within the following chapters:
1 - Trucks at the Limit
2 - Friction Circle
3 - Coefficient of Friction
4 - In-Line Braking
5 - Tractor-Trailer Jackknife and Other Skid Marks
6 - Trucks on Their Side
7 - Simple Truck Rollover
8 - Complex Rollovers
9 - Hydroplaning
10 - Example Reconstructions
Frank Navin, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, Department of Civil Engineering, where he taught Transportation and Road Safety Engineering from 1972 until his retirement in 2003. He also headed the Transport Canada Reconstruction Team at UBC for 15 years and has lectured on Road Safety and Collision Reconstruction around the world and still remains the president of Synectics Road Safety Research Corporation in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Manual specifications: 145 pages; 8½x11"; coil bound; Publisher: IPTM (April 2005)