Mechanical and Metallurgical Forensics Expert: Product Liability, Vehicular Accident Reconstruction

Expertise

• Stress and materials failure analysis of mechanical and structural systems.
• Nuclear waste water handling, alloy selections.
• High tolerance machining practice improvements.
• Automated and manual welding procedures to improve, yield, quality, reliability.
• Industrial boiler explosion system and component failure analysis.
• Numerous commercial, industrial building component and system failure analyses.
• Direct reduction plant design and construction with responsibility for the implementing design, modification, procurement, construction, mechanical design, procurement, installation and field testing of chemical process plants including HVAC (comfort and process), process water systems, pneumatic conveying and mixing and materials handling equipment.

Expert Witness Experience

Provide expert support for the plaintiff and defendant

• Automotive products liability: Failure analysis of an automobile rear axle failure.
• Gas heater products liability: Venting failure causing affixation.
• Towed trailer accident investigation: Failure analysis, safety and code. Violations.
• Logging equipment products liability: Failure analysis, operational errors.
• Bicycle products liability: Manufacture defect.
• Home heating equipment products liability, operational error.
• Vehicular accident reconstruction: Site lines, speed, braking, etc.
• Lawn mower products liability: Materials of construction and design defect.
• Automotive tire failure analysis: Various operator errors, plaintiff and defense.

Experience

Undisclosed Company, Professional Engineer, 1978 - 2009

• Provide mechanical, metallurgical and structural engineering services to firms in the Southeast.
• Work with client management, engineering, loss control staff resulting in engineering reports and provide presentations to management.

Projects:

• Industrial boiler explosion cause and origin, system and component failure analysis.
• Numerous commercial, industrial building component and system failure analyses.
• Technical, economic feasibility and forensic report writing.
• Clients: Duke Energy, Bellsouth, BASF and Curtis Wright Flight Systems.

Dispute Resolution

• Served as American Arbitration Association hearing Chairman or Neutral for disputes involving construction cost overruns and liability disputes due to delay of work, change orders, work sequencing, design and workmanship issues, construction failures involving in-process collapse, wind and settlement.
• Other dispute issues include masonry, wood, steel construction; grading, paving, drainage design; retaining walls, roofing, waterproofing and mechanical systems design and implementation.

York Technical College, Rock Hill, SC, Head, Mechanical Engineering Technology, 1974 - 1978

• Head, Mechanical Engineering Technology Department teaching primary courses in Mechanical Engineering Technology Program including strength of materials, metallurgy, machine design, fluid mechanics and senior design projects.
• Consulted with industry (Duke Power, Bowaters Paper, Mead Paper, local A&E firms) in mechanical , materials failure analyses, equipment selection, competitive bidding and procurement.

Midrex Corporation, Charlotte, NC, Lead Mechanical Engineer, 1974 - 1976

• Lead Mechanical Engineer for DR (Direct Reduction) plant design, construction with responsibility for the implementing design, modification, procurement, construction of DR plants worldwide (Qatar, Argentina, USSR, Brazil, Trinidad).
• Assisted process feasibility studies for Kobe Steel, Keystone Steel. Assisted in plant, process start-up, troubleshooting at Georgetown Steel.
• Assisted, specified, equipment selection and procurement for such as systems, components of the direct reduction furnace, natural gas catalytic reformer, control room HVAC, hydraulic, pneumatic, fluid power and water pumping systems.

E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Richmond, VA, Process Research Engineer, 1972 - 1974

• Research and Development Process Engineer involved with the commercialization of a new synthetic fiber product (Nomex™).
• Implemented team for the yield increase of seven times through process and equipment modifications.
• Teamed with others in troubleshooting process upsets, increasing process productivity.

Catalytic Inc., Charlotte, NC, Senior Mechanical Engineer, 1972 - 1974

• Senior Mechanical Engineer with lead responsibilities for mechanical design, procurement, installation and field testing of various mechanical systems, manufacturing processes in client's chemical process plants including HVAC (comfort and process), process water systems, pneumatic conveying and mixing, materials handling equipment, fabricated equipment, systems vendor RFP and bid analysis.

Honors & Publications

Credentials

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training Through American Arbitration Association - AAA

• Construction Industry Arbitrator Training Workshop, Charlotte
• Fast Track Construction Workshop, Charlotte
• Advanced Arbitrator Training, Charlotte
• Registered Professional Engineer - Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering

Publications and Patents

• Numerous publications in; feasibility studies, scientific magazines and safety magazines.
• One U.S. patent.