Forensic Engineering
Expert Investigations When Clarity and Integrity Matter Most
When a structure fails or a dispute arises, you need more than an opinion—you need a scientific determination. G.M. Selby’s Forensic Engineering department specializes in the investigation of materials, products, structures, or components that fail or do not operate as intended. Our mission is to identify the root cause of failure to support legal proceedings, insurance claims, and public safety.
Core Capabilities
We translate complex structural failures into clear, defensible, and actionable technical evidence.
Structural Failure Analysis
- Root cause analysis of building collapses, foundation movements, and material fractures.
- Evaluation of design errors versus construction defects or maintenance failures.
- Advanced load path analysis and stress testing of failed components.
- Metallurgical and material science evaluations to identify fatigue or corrosion.
Expert Witness & Litigation Support
- Provision of clear, unbiased expert witness testimony for depositions and trials.
- Preparation of high-impact visual exhibits and 3D failure reconstructions.
- Technical review and rebuttal of opposing expert reports.
- Assistance in the development of technical discovery and interrogatories.
Catastrophe & Damage Assessment
- Detailed structural integrity audits following hurricanes, fires, or seismic events.
- Differentiation between pre-existing conditions and event-related damage for insurance claims.
- Assessment of "Scope of Repair" vs. total loss determinations for large-scale losses.
- Evaluation of high-velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ) code compliance post-event.
Construction Defect Investigation
- Investigation of water intrusion, building envelope failures, and mold origin.
- Auditing of as-built conditions against original permitted design documents.
- Evaluation of workmanship standards and industry-standard compliance.
- Design of remedial engineering solutions to correct identified defects.
Technical Expertise & Approach
A Scientific Framework for Forensic Inquiry
Site Preservation & Inspection
We move quickly to the scene to document conditions before evidence is disturbed, utilizing 3D scanning and high-resolution drone photography.
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Evidence Collection
Our team collects physical samples for laboratory testing, including concrete coring, steel sampling, and moisture level monitoring.
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Analytical Modeling
We utilize advanced engineering software to recreate the failure event, testing various hypotheses to isolate the true cause.
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Definitive Reporting
We produce comprehensive, peer-reviewed reports that clearly explain technical findings to non-engineers (adjusters, attorneys, and juries).
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