title: Preliminary study on the effect of heated surfaces upon bloodstain pattern analysis.
abstract: Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) involves the interpretation of distinct blood patterns found at crime scenes following a violent act. In this paper, we explored for the first time the effects of surface temperatures upon blood impacting a horizontal surface (steel) with its implications in BPA explored. Specific surface temperatures were explored over the range 24-250°C which relate to the four major boiling regimes of liquid media; natural convection, nucleate boiling, transition boiling, and film boiling, where a series of blood drops tests were performed at varying impact velocities. Blood was found to separate into its components at temperatures of 50°C+, displayed as temperature induced blood rings, where a single secondary and a series of further inner rings are exhibited. This consequently led to the development of a new constant Cd heated expressing the decrease in spread factor (D(s)/D(o)) at the secondary ring.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science and the Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, Lancs, U.K.
authors.forename: Bethany A J
authors.initials: BAJ
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science and the Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, Lancs, U.K.
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D001801:Blood Stains; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D013499:Surface Properties
keywords: Leidenfrost effect; blood impacts; bloodstain pattern analysis; forensic science; heated surfaces