Damage to Textile

Question 1

What is the usefulness of damage analysis?

Answer 1

Depends on recognition by the police investigator and subsequently the forensic scientist that it could provide valuable evidence.

Question 2

Types of cases where damage analysis could be invaluable?

Answer 2

homicide or suicide
rape
sexual assault
armed robbery.

Question 3

Three broad categories of events may cause damage to textiles?

Answer 3

mechanical effects,
chemical effects and
the influence of heat.

Question 4

What is a tear?

Answer 4

A severance caused by the pulling apart of a material, leaving ragged or irregular edges.

Question 5

What is a cut?

Answer 5

A severance with neat edges produced by a sharp-edged instrument.

Question 6

Types of cut

Answer 6

1. Stab Cut
2. Scissor Cut
3. Slash Cut
4. Abrasion
5. Puncture

Question 7

What weapon causes stab cut?

Answer 7

Knives

Question 8

What weapons causes slash cuts?

Answer 8

Sharp edged tool like knives, blades and scalpel

Question 9

What is a puncture?

Answer 9

Penetration through material by an implement producing an irregular hole.

Question 10

What causes abrasive damage?

Answer 10

Material rubbing against another surface.

Question 11

What is tensile failure?

Answer 11

Fracture of the textile through pressure, especially in ropes.

Question 12

What is animal damage?

Answer 12

These are damages caused by bitemarks produced from jaws or feet or when insects may ingest fibres creating puncture holes.

Question 13

What is microbial damage?

Answer 13

This is irregular damage to material, most often seen in burials. Microbes such as bacteria and fungi may destroy fibres.

Question 14

What fibres may be affected by microbial damage?

Answer 14

Natural fibres

Question 15

What are tearing indications?

Answer 15

1. Damage follows preferred direction of tear- i.e. parallel to the warp or weft.
2. Associated stretching
3. Edges devoid of ‘planar array’
4. Noticeable ‘curling over’ of the fabric along the severance line.

Question 16

What are cutting indicators?

Answer 16

1.No preferred direction.
2. Relatively featureless edges.
3. An ability to fibre-end or pattern match.
4. Presence of a significant ‘planar array’.

Question 17

How can an examiner know if the garmet has been washed?

Answer 17

Matted and tangled fibres at the ends of cut yarns

Question 18

Parts of the three level fibre examination?

Answer 18

1. Fabric Level
2. Yarn Level
3. Fibre Level

Question 19

What interpretation can be made from simulation?

Answer 19

1. the determination of the type of damage
2. the class of the weapon used and if the source of damage was by said weapon

Question 20

What are four variables which are unknown or cannot be replicated in attempting to simulate?

Answer 20

1. the body weight and type of the individuals involved,
2. their movement
3. the angle and type of thrust
4. position of the clothing.

Question 21

What are limitation in simulation scenario?

Answer 21

When more damage may occur after the offence has happened such as cutting off the garmet at the hospital.