Schadepatronen

Schadepatronen is a term used in Dutch-language disciplines to describe the characteristic distribution and features of damage observed after an incident. These patterns help investigators infer the cause, mechanism, and progression of damage, as well as the relative severity and sequence of events. The concept is applied in forensic engineering, fire investigation, disaster assessment, archaeology, and material science to interpret how damage occurred.

Common schadepatronen include fire damage patterns, which are indicated by charring, heat-affected zones, and soot deposition aligned with ventilation; blast or impact patterns, such as crater formation, debris spatter, and directional cracking; structural degradation patterns, including shear failures and preferential cracking; and corrosion or weathering patterns that reflect exposure conditions over time. Each pattern provides clues about the energy, orientation, and timing of the damaging event.

Analysis relies on systematic field documentation (photography, sketches, measurements), non-destructive and laboratory testing of materials, and modeling or simulation to compare observed patterns with known reference patterns. Pattern analysis is typically one element of a broader assessment that also considers context, maintenance history, environmental conditions, and corroborating evidence.

Limitations include the potential for post-event alterations, multiple simultaneous causes, and environmental factors that modify damage appearance. Therefore, skadepatronen are interpreted with caution and in combination with other data, especially in legal, insurance, or safety investigations.