Evaluation of Structural and Consequential Damage Resulting from Vehicle Impacts to Residential Structures

As civil/structural engineers in the field of forensic engineering, we are often asked to evaluate the condition of residential buildings after a vehicle impact. A vehicle impact to a residence can damage a structure in numerous ways, and the typical concerns are related to the severity and extent of damage to the structural building components as well as the resultant damage to the interior and exterior finishes. The purpose of this paper is to outline steps to characterize and describe the damage caused by a vehicle impact to a residential structure, and how to track load paths through the structure to evaluate related damage beyond the direct impact location. We will discuss the frequent situation, where the structural engineer must discern between damage caused by a vehicle impact and pre-existing damage. The paper will review inspection techniques and specific concerns related to the evaluation of key structural elements and provide some discussion on cosmetic damage related to a vehicle impact (such as cracking of veneers, cracking of interior finishes, and damage from secondary impacts). The paper will also discuss two case studies which discuss the types of damage often encountered during the assessment of buildings impacted by vehicles. The forensic civil/structural engineer should find this paper to be a good primer on the subject of building damage assessment from vehicle impacts.