AFTE Store - Fracture Matching and Repetitive Experiments: A Contribution of Validation

A forensic science laboratory is often asked to prove whether two or more pieces of broken material were, at one time, attached to each another. This matching of surfaces is based on topographic featuresof the fractured surfaces: pattern fit analysis. However, there are current trial challenges to this practice by toolmark examiners carrying out fracture matches. Although such comparisons have long been undertaken by forensic experts, these challenges may be persuasive to the courts. The reason is a serious lack of scientific research on this subject in connection with validation of the various techniques for associating two or more separated objects. This study examined the principle that fracture surfaces are unique. An overview about repetitive experiments and the scientific interpretation of the experimental results relating to fracture matching will be given.