Preliminary Evaluations Orienting Forensic Studies

Before starting a forensic study, it is very desirable to make an initial assessment of the anticipated behavior of the subject structure or process. Two approaches can sometimes be particularly useful. The first is serendipity, i.e., being inspired to apply to the investigation an analogy involving unrelated phenomena, materials, and/or processes. Three examples are given of serendipity in solving problems in the steel-producing industry. The second approach involves noting significant differences between predicted behavior and the structure's actual behavior. The need to explain the differences can help orient the investigation, giving it a head start. Two examples are given of prior work extended for orienting early stages of forensic investigations.