CASE STUDY: Product Liability

Failure analysis evaluations:
a. Airbag Systems
b. Air & Hydraulic Brake Systems
c. Cruise Control Systems
d. Frame & Suspensions
e. Hot Shock Lamp Filament Testing
f. Lighting & Electrical Systems
g. Seatbelt Usage and Failure
h. Steering Systems
i. Tire, Wheel and Axle Failures
j. Vehicle Design

Mechanical Failure Analysis & Product Liability Evaluations.
You know that it takes comprehensive analysis of design, manufacture, usage and wear and tear for the determination of what really happened in the case. We have a specialized group of qualified engineers, metallurgists, and material specialists with a careful understanding of forensic sciences and failure analysis when it comes to conducting product testing and evaluation.

We have the knowledge to uncover the subtle relationships between design and use, design tests and participate in laboratory analysis to determine if a failure contributed to property damage or bodily injury.

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DETAILED CASE STUDY:
Did tire failure cause a motor home to strike a concrete barrier?
An American Eagle motor home equipped with Goodyear steel-belted tires was traveling at approximately 60 mph on a major interstate. Police reports show that the left-front tire blew as the motor home was crossing a causeway over water. The sudden deflation of the tire caused the drive to momentarily lose control of the vehicle and strike a concrete barrier at the side of the highway. The driver stated that he regained control of the vehicle and brought it to a stop. He then retrieved the two sections of the tire tread near where the blowout occurred.

Rimkus Consulting Group was given the assignment to investigate the tire to determine its liability in this accident.

The blown tire was carefully transported to the Rimkus Consulting Group evidence storage facility where analysis begun. The tread had completely separated from the body of the tire and was in two sections of approximately equal length. The groove depth on the road surface of the tread was more than 7/32” deep, and the amount of wear was consistent with the reported 26,000 miles on the vehicle odometer. The underside of the tread showed evidence of non-uniform adhesion of the tread to the body of the tire. The non-uniform adhesion was due to a defect in manufacturing. Rimkus also found evidence that the radial cords in the body of the tire were terminated in the middle of tread. This is also a defect in manufacturing.

Significant damage was caused to the tire by the wheel rim after the sudden deflation as the driver was bringing the vehicle to a stop. The tire was left intact. Rimkus determined it was not necessary to examine the interior of the tire by dismounting the carcass from the wheel. This was in order to preserve the conditions of the tire and wheel unit for future examination by others.

Rimkus Determined this Fact: The blowout of the tire and subsequent damage to the motor home was caused by the separation of the tread and delamination of the cord layer which was the result of defective manufacturing of the tire.