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Expert has had extensive experience in cost/performance trade studies for the selection of composite materials. These materials use graphite, aramid, glass, and polyolefin fibers with epoxy, vinyl ester, and other thermosetting resins. Expert has knowledge of the structural capabilities, limitations, and processing requirements for composite material systems. He feels that this is essential for determining the product design and life cycle cost. He uses control or modification of the processing parameters to improve performance and reduce variability. Expert has six patents pending in this area. He uses micromechanical methods (Halpin-Tsai and MIL HDBK 17) to predict material properties where required.

Expert has successfully designed over 150 composite pressure vessels. This has required the integration of materials knowledge, processing options, and structural analysis. The principal design tools that he uses are netting and laminate theory, which he has used to develop computer codes for the rapid evaluation of proposed designs. He has designed many sandwich laminate structures to reduce cost and weight using foam and honeycomb cores with graphite, aramid, and glass fiber skins. He has several patents pending which relate to composite structures design. Expert also has successfully designed hundreds of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks, piping, stacks, and other custom products primarily for the chemical process industry where corrosion resistance and cost are driving factors.

Expert has used finite element analysis to verify design capability of over 200 models. This has involved the use of TEXGAP, NASTRAN, and PATRAN-ABAQUS programs. In a supervisory position, Expert has been responsible for interpreting, evaluating, and determining the validity of FE analyses. He has often used micromechanics theory for material property input. He has also used laminate theory for plate and shell structures to predict resin crazing and to validate FE analysis.

Expert has been responsible for the filament winding of hundreds of composite pressure vessels using both prepreg and wet winding materials. He has used fibers consisting of graphite, aramid, glass, and polyolefin. He has used resins which include UV cure epoxy, 250 and 350 degrees F epoxy, and other thermoset resins. Expert has written computer programs for pattern generation and translators to integrate the design codes. He has evaluated fiber path stability and fiber and resin stresses with specialized computer codes. He has five patents pending which are related to composites processing and filament winding.

Expert has been involved with many failure analyses of composite structures. These analyses have involved reviewing the design and manufacturing history using laminate, FE, and/or microscopic analyses. Along with this, he has used his knowledge of the capabilities and limitation of many composite material systems. He was heavily involved with redesign efforts for the IR+D programs for other aerospace divisions. He has performed load transfer analyses for patches and repairs to damaged structures. Expert has written many design and analysis computer programs for laminated beams, plates, and shells. These include micromechanics, shear deformation effects, linear and large deformations, and elastic stability calculations.

Expert managed the design/analysis and composites manufacturing groups for a major aerospace company. He has approximately 15 patents directly related to composite pressure vessels. He has also written computer codes for cylindrical, dome and attachment design/analysis. Expert is also knowledgeable of ASME Section X. He was responsible for the successful design and testing of over 200 composite pressure vessels.

Expert has experience with tanks (both cylindrical and rectangular) for the chemical processing industry and with design of storage vessels for high pressure fluids including vessels with thermoplastic and metal liners. He is knowledgeable in and an active participant with ASME RTP-1, ASME Section X, and ANSI/ASME B31.3 FRP Pipe committees.



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Projects ranged from structural design and analysis over a wide range of applications; failure analysis; manufacturing processing (such as filament winding, resin transfer molding, hand lay up, and spray up); materials selection; expert witness testimony in product liability cases; and expert witness testimony in patent dispute cases.