Gary E. Kilpatrick and Associates, PA is a Forensics Engineering Firm dedicated to the application of the art, science and methodology of engineering and the scientific method to answer questions of fact in the jurisprudence system pertaining to personal injury and wrongful death. We provide technical competency, forensic evidence collection from the field and from documents, oral and written communications, objective, ethical and professional responsibility.

We are familiar with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence and Daubert and have given sworn expert testimony under oath during judicial proceedings. We are retained by law firms, public defenders and insurance companies on plaintiff, defense, criminal and claimant cases and work nation wide.

Areas of Expertise:

• Traffic Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Crash Data Report Retrieval and Interpretation
• Off-Road ATV Accident Reconstruction
• Motorcycle Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Inspections
• Industrial Accident Reconstruction
• OSHA Safety 29CFR1910
• OSHA 29CFR1926
• OSHA 29CFR1928
• Product Liability Investigations

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KnightHawk Engineering, Inc. is a technology based Specialty Engineering Company that performs consulting, field services and testing. They do this with a broad spectrum of experience-based personnel utilizing a multi-discipline integrated systems approach. Using the same approach KnightHawk develops and manufactures performance enhancement products. KnightHawk Engineering is frequently called on to solve the most difficult and challenging problems in industry which need to be solved within aggressive time constraints, without sacrificing safety, quality, or performance.

KnightHawk Engineering have made their mark in the analysis of static equipment including selective linear exchangers, quench coolers, furnace tubes, pelletizing dies, and blow-down systems into closed headers. Rotating equipment analysis includes machine and structural dynamics, evaluation of acoustic pulsation, and rotordynamic modeling. They have also established a good reputation in specialty machinery design and third party design audits.

Cliff Knight is President of KnightHawk Engineering and a Professional Engineer with 36 years of experience. Besides his corporate responsibilities as President, Mr. Knight is also Chief Engineer. Mr. Knight specializes in design, failure analysis and troublshooting in static rotating equipment. He has 21 years of experience in utilizing computer applications, which include Finite Element Method, Numerical Modeling, Heat Transfer, Pipe Stress Analysis and Computer Fluid Dynamics.

While with KnightHawk, Mr. Knight has developed proprietary tools and methods for performing analysis on Pelletizing Dies, Presure Vessels, Heat Exchangers and Centrifugal Compressors. He holds four patents related to this work. Before coming to KnightHawk, Mr. Knight spent ten years at Dow Chemical, U.S.A., where he acheived the position of Sr. Mechanical Engineering Specialist and Group Leader.

Services Include:

FEA – Linear / Nonlinear – Elastic / Plastic CFD – Transient and Steady State Fitness for Service Pipe Stress Machine Design Rotating Equipment Repair Pressure Vessel / Heat Exchanger Design Thermosyphon Analysis – Complex Systems Process Simulation on Static and Rotating Equipment Rotordynamics Heat Transfer

Thermodynamics Water Hammer / Steam Hammer Structural Dynamics Earthquake Analysis Off Shore Wave / Wind Analysis Code Compliance Risk Assessment Catastrophe Investigation Vehicle Dynamics Controls Analysis Third Party Design Audit

Specialty Areas Include:

ASME Code Compliance Boilers Compressors Critical Piping Systems Elastic / Plastic FEA Fit For Service Analysis Heat Transfer Driven FEA Engines Flow Induced Vibration Furnaces Reciprocating Pumps and Compressors

Gas and Steam Turbines High Pressure Reactors Pelletizing Dies Selective Linear Exchangers Specialty Equipment Design Steady State / Transient CFD Analysis of Static and Rotating Equipment Structural Analysis Transfer Line Exchangers Vessel Alterations and Repairs Process Performance Analysis of Static and Rotating Equipment

Dr. James Rice has over 35 years of technical and managerial experience in both industry and academia. He has a strong technical background in broad areas of mechanical engineering ranging from fluid mechanics and heat transfer to basic design. Dr. Rice’s primary expertise is in computational methods and simulation in mechanical engineering. His mechanical engineering practice has focused in particular on the development and application of these methods to a diverse range of applications in industry, and has also used these methods in his litigation support activities.

Dr. Rice has extensive experience as an expert witness in patent litigation involving issues in Mechanical Engineering. Over the last ten years, he has provided litigation support in more than 30 cases including approximately 25 patent cases. This experience has included the preparation of numerous expert reports, depositions, and trial testimony for both plaintiff and defense attorneys. His litigation support activities have also included testing and analysis as required to support his opinions.

Dr. Rice is the author of over 30 technical publications and has consulted for over fifty companies. He has conducted over 200 seminars and short courses in the U.S., Europe, and the Orient, and has been an invited speaker at international engineering conferences.

Expertise:

Computational Methods Heat Transfer / Thermodynamics Turbomachinery Combustion Fluid Mechanics

Finite Element Analysis Mechanical Design Intellectual Property Prior Art Review Infringement & Invalidity

Industries and Applications:

Automotive:

Vehicle Aerodynamics Passenger Compartment Flow Underhood Flow & Heat Transfer Intake & Exhaust Manifolds Intake & Exhaust Valves Engine Cooling Jackets

Power Steering Components Cooling Fans Fuel Delivery Systems Ejectors Control Valves Torque Converters

Power Generation: Valves Fossil & Nuclear Heat Exchangers Thermal Stratification Separation Systems Combustion Systems

Electronics: Enclosures Heat Sinks Natural / Forced Convection Hard Drive Flow Motors

HVAC: Duct Systems and Components Valves, Fittings Flow & Temperature Distribution Particle Dispersion

Turbomachinery: Pumps Compressors Blowers Fans

Aerospace:

Aerodynamics

Wind tunnels

Rotor Loads

POWERPLANT Consultants, Inc., (PPC) is a technical services company providing highly specialized support services for Industrial Power Generation Systems, Cogeneration and Combined Cycle Power Plants. PPC specializes in Design, Performance, Forensics, Construction, Design Defects, Cost Analysis for Lost Operations, Maintenance, and Repair. PPC has extensive international experience and is OSHA Lockout / Tagout Certified.

Areas of Expertise

Power Generation

Marine Propulsion - Conventional / Alternative Fueled Systems

Microturbines

Boilers

Industrial Gas Turbines

Diesel Engines

Cogeneration

Geothermal

Landfill

Digester Gas

Wind and Solar Powered Generation Systems<

Headquartered in Houston with over 30 U.S. offices plus London, Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc. is a global leader in forensic investigations, forensic engineering, forensic sciences and forensic accounting. Rimkus offers the services of over 300 full-time seasoned professionals with expertise in virtually all technical and business fields. In business for over 25 years, clients include the Domestic and International Insurance Industry, Attorneys, Industrial and Commercial Health, Safety and Risk Managers, and others.

Rimkus takes pride in its professional approach to all assignments. Each assignment is performed under the assumption that litigation will ensue, and appropriate records and evidentiary chains of custody are maintained. Client communications are clear and explanatory to insure that opinions and conclusions are complete and well supported.

Many clients find Rimkus to be their one-stop shopping place for experts. Rimkus offers forensic expert witnesses and forensic consultants in most technical fields, including all areas of Engineering, Construction, Environmental Sciences, Fires and Explosions, Oil and Gas, Forensic Accounting, Business Interruption Claims, Surety, Business Valuations, Business Analysis, Safety and Industrial Hygiene, and Animation. In the forensic engineering arena alone, we offer virtually all disciplines including:

Forensic Mechanical Engineers

Forensic Electrical Engineers

Forensic Civil Engineers

Forensic Structural Engineers

Forensic Chemical Engineers

Forensic Metallurgical Engineers

Forensic Naval Engineers

Complex technical claims often require the use of experts in more than one field to find the right answer. Rimkus brings that to you. Our website features detailed information on our areas of expertise and short CVs of key Rimkus experts in those areas. Give us a try. You'll be glad you did.