title: Development of a laboratory test for knicker tearing re-creation studies.
abstract: False sexual assault and rape claims result in wasted forensic and police resources and stigma for the alleged offender. In this work a laboratory method was developed to (i) recreate the ripping of knickers and (ii) measure the force required to rip the garments. The effect of laundering was considered as a means to mimic age of garment, and the effect of speed of ripping was used as a measure of forcible removal of garments. Whilst laundering resulted in visual damage to the thongs, it did not affect the mechanical properties. Faster test speeds resulted in higher measured forces and increased levels of damage. This may allow comment to be made regarding the level of force used during an attack.
authors.affiliation: Impact and Armour Group, Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK. Electronic address: d.j.carr@cranfield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Impact and Armour Group, Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applications of Statistics and Mathematics, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Niven
authors.affiliation: Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Girvan
authors.affiliation: Ethos Forensics, Manchester, M32 0PP, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carney
mesh_terms: D003020:Clothing; D008192:Deception; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007846:Laundering; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011902:Rape; D013718:Tensile Strength
keywords: False claims; G-string; Rape; Sexual assault; Thongs