The Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities is a bi-mmonthly peer-reviewed technical journal published by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  It is an international, interdisciplinary journal on the causes and costs of failures and performance deficiencies in the construction industry.  The journal was established in 1986.  I was the founding editor-in-chief, and I continue to serve in that capacity.  For further information see http://www.pubs.asce.org.

Here are some other publications produced through activities of the Technical Council on Forensic Engineering of the American Society of Civil Engineers.  ASCE has published a number of excellent documents on construction failures and forensic investigations.  These listed here are my favorites.  I was involved in some capacity with many of these and can answer questions about them.  More information about each of these references (and many more) can also be found at the ASCE Publications web site, http://www.pubs.asce.org.

Forensic Engineering: Proceedings of the Third Forensic Engineering Congress, edited by Paul A. Bosela, Norbert J. Delatte and Kevin L. Rens, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2003.  This publication contains many interesting papers, including a number of failure case studies.   It also reviews a number of ongoing activities by the various subcommittees of the Technical Council on Forensic Engineering.  The Third Forensic Engineering Congress was held in San Diego, California,  October 2003.

Forensic Engineering: Proceedings of the Second Forensic Engineering Congress, edited by Kevin L. Rens, Oswald Rendon-Herrero, and Paul Bosela, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2000.  This publication contains many interesting papers, including a number of failure case studies.   It also reviews a number of ongoing activities by the various subcommittees of the Technical Council on Forensic Engineering.  The Second Forensic Engineering Congress was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 2000.

Forensic Engineering: Proceedings of the First Forensic Engineering Congress, edited by Kevin L. Rens, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1997.  This publication contains many interesting papers, including a number of failure case studies.   It also reviews a number of ongoing activities by the various subcommittees of the Technical Council on Forensic Engineering.  The First Forensic Engineering Congress was held in Minneapolis, MN, October 1997.

Engineering Considerations for Lift-Slab Construction, by Rubin M. Zallen and David B. Peraza, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2004.  This paperbound monograph was sponsored by the Technical Council on Forensic Engineering.  It describes various lift-slab systems and reviews potential problems.  Failure cases are presented, along with guidelines for successful construction using this method.   The monograph is based on the deliberations of a TCFE task committee established after the tragic construction collapse of L'Ambiance Plaza in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1987.

Guidelines for Forensic Engineering Practice, edited by Gary L. Lewis, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2003.  This paperbound book, a product of our TCFE Committee on Forensic Engineering Practice, contains valuable information for engineers engaged in the practice of forensic engineering.  Specific guidelines for the technical aspects of conducting forensic investigations is included, along with discussion of ethical practices.

Failures in Civil Engineering: Structural, Foundation and Geoenvironmental Case Studies, edited by Rob Shepherd and J. David Frost, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1995.  This small paperbound book, a product of our TCFE Committee on Education, contains about 50 case studies of important failures that led to improvements in design codes and standards.  Each case is discussed in a similar format, with a brief review of the project and failure, a figure or photograph, a list of "lessons learned," and a reference list for further study.  The book is intended for use in undergraduate and graduate civil engineering courses.

Forensic Engineering: Learning from Failures, edited by Kenneth L. Carper, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1986.  This is the proceedings of a symposium held at the ASCE National Convention in Seattle, Washington,

Reducing Failures of Engineered Facilities, edited by Narbey Khachaturian, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1985.  This is the conference proceedings of an interdisciplinary conference held in Clearwater, Florida in 1985.

Failure Mechanisms, by David Nicastro, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1997.  This is a collection of brief articles on construction details that have typically caused problems.  Also included is an excellent glossary of forensic engineering terms and a comprehensive annotated bibliography of forensic engineering references.

Guidelines for Failure Investigation, by the TCFE Task Committee on Guidelines for Failure Investigation, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1989.