Forensic textile science: a case study with gunshot damage
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Forensic textile science is a relatively new discipline with forensic science. Different aspects have been developed to varying degrees of expertise e.g. fibre identification (particularly for man-made synthetic-polymer fibre is extremely well established; more difficulty exists with natural fibres). Textile damage is another sub-discipline and this is relatively poorly represented in the scientific literature, particularly from a textile science perspective; expertise does exist within several organisations and it can be argued that the topic gained international significance during the dingo case in Australia. The work summarised in this presentation was conducted under the auspices of a Winston Churchill Fellowship in forensic textile science (2012) and considered the damage caused to typical apparel by handgun ammunition.
Debra Carr has a BSc(Hons) in Materials Science and a PhD in Engineering. Debra is a Senior Lecturer in Impact and Armour at Cranfield University at The Defence Academy of the UK. Debra has worked for the Ministry of Defence (Stores and Clothing Research and Development Establishment), Imperial College (Department of Mechanical Engineering) and The University of Otago (Clothing and Textile Sciences). Debra is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Professional Member of The Chartered Society of Forensic Science. In 2012, Debra was a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellow in Forensic Textile Science. Debra has published over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals and over 50 conference papers. Debra currently supervises MSc and PhD students at Cranfield University, RMIT and the University of Otago. Debra's current research interests include: forensic textile science, body armour and helmet optimisation, wound ballistics, forensic textile science and clothing and textile sciences.