Quantitative matching of forensic evidence fragments using fracture surface topography and statistical learning.

ABSTRACT: The complex jagged trajectory of fractured surfaces of two pieces of forensic evidence is used to recognize a "match" by using comparative microscopy and tactile pattern analysis. The material intrinsic properties and microstructures, as well as the exposure history of external forces on a fragment of forensic evidence have the premise of uniqueness at a relevant microscopic length scale (about 2-3 grains for cleavage fracture), wherein the statistics of the fracture surface become non-self-affine. We utilize these unique features to quantitatively describe the microscopic aspects of fracture surfaces for forensic comparisons, employing spectral analysis of the topography mapped by three-dimensional microscopy. Multivariate statistical learning tools are used to classify articles and resul

SUBMITTER: Thompson GZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11381546 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature