EXPERIENCE

Design and Analysis Experience

THE FOLLOWING IS A PARTIAL LIST OF PASO FINO’s INSPECTION, DESIGN AND ANALYSIS EXPERIENCE:

Pressure Vessels, Vacuum Chambers, and Heat Exchangers

• Performed finite element analyses of two test pressure vessels. Work included transient heat transfer analyses for thermal shock, stress analyses, and conducting fatigue evaluations.

• Evaluated pressure vessels used for processing nuclear waste with finite element analysis. Engineering effort included performing heat transfer analyses, stress analyses (including seismic loads), and conducting creep-fatigue evaluations.

• Performed finite element heat transfer and stress analyses of scrubber vessels used in processing nuclear waste. Work included evaluating the vessels for internal equipment subjected to buoyancy, seismic loads, and performing non-linear buckling analyses.

• Evaluated a large scale concrete acoustic chamber to assess feasibility of using it as a vacuum chamber.

• Stress analysis and ASME Code evaluation of modifications to a vacuum chamber.

• Performed stress analyses and ASME Code evaluations of multiple accumulator tanks.

• Performed finite element stress analyses of process decanters for the powder metal industry.

• Evaluated a chemical adsorption vessel subjected to severe cyclic thermal transients using finite element analysis.

• Conducted creep buckling analyses of a chemical reactor.

• Performed modal analyses and random vibration analyses of a thermal vacuum chamber and supporting equipment using finite element analysis.

• Performed modal and stress analyses of condensers for nuclear submarines.

• Conducted a third-party ASME Code evaluation of a bioreactor.

• Performed a third-party evaluation of an arsenic pressure vessel.

• Performed shock analyses of ship-board heat exchanger systems using finite element analysis.

• Finite element stress analysis and fatigue evaluation of a rectangular pressure vessel with quick-acting closures.

• Reconciliation of design calculations of a pressure vessel to a different edition of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code.

• Provided Section VIII, Division 1 calculations for multiple pressure vessels.

• Finite element analysis of a heat exchanger with large nozzle penetrations and significant external nozzle loads. Work included performing elastic stress analyses, limit load analyses, and elastic-plastic stress analyses.

• Performed ASME Section VIII, Division 1 design calculations and finite element analyses of a split-head pressure vessel. Engineering effort included evaluating the pressure vessel for out-of-balance loads from a head mounted agitator and performing a fatigue evaluation.

• Conducted fatigue evaluations of pressure swing adsorption vessels using finite element analysis.

Storage Tanks

• Designed multiple liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks for domestic and international clients. Engineering effort included performing steady-state and transient heat transfer analyses to evaluate insulation systems, and evaluating the storage tanks for operating conditions, seismic loads, cryogenic spills, and fire scenarios.

• Designed multiple liquid oxygen (LOX), liquid nitrogen (LIN), liquid argon (LAR), liquid ammonia (NH3), and propylene storage tanks.

• Performed thermal stress analyses of large scale cryogenic vacuum chambers.

• Analyzed and evaluated multiple carbon steel and stainless steel process and storage tanks with severe fabrication distortions to assess their fitness-for-service.

Mining Equipment

• Performed a stress analysis and fatigue evaluation of a rotary breaker.

• Stress analysis of a 4-wheel primary equalizer for a rotary car dumper.

• Performed a finite element stress analysis of a rotary car dumper positioning arm.

• Evaluated a rotary car dumper positioner arm mainframe using finite element analysis.

• Stress analysis of modifications to a rotary car dumper frame.

• Performed a stress analysis of an Automatic Temporary Roof Support (ATS) using finite element analysis.

Aerospace/Aircraft

• Performed a structural analysis of a pitch axis isolator for the Airborne Laser (Boeing YAL-1) using FEA.

• Evaluated aircraft crankshafts using finite element analysis.

• Performed stress analyses and fatigue evaluations of Embraer ALX engine isolators.

• Finite element stress analysis of an aircraft turbine engine lubrication system.

• Performed modal and stress analyses of a clutch cradle assembly for the Joint Strike Fighter using finite element analysis.

Power Generation

• Performed transient heat transfer and thermal stress analyses of a fuel cell pre-reformer using finite element analysis.

• Evaluated a ship-board propulsion converter of an auxiliary propulsion system for static shock loading using finite element analysis.

• Performed modal and stress analyses of a feedwater strainer for a nuclear power plant for vibration loads. Work included validation of finite element results with testing.

Rotating Equipment

• Performed finite element analyses of turbomachinery casings. Engineering effort included transient heat transfer analyses, and elastic-plastic stress analyses.

• Conducted a fatigue evaluation of an impeller.

• Performed stress analyses of various impeller blade and weld configurations.

Steel Processing Equipment

• Performed finite element stress analyses of work chocks.

• Evaluated a pinion gear using finite element analysis.

• Performed stress analyses of power and idler rolls.

Platforms, Stairways, Storage Racks, and Lifting Equipment

• Designed stairways and platforms for various petrochemical facilities.

• Designed lifting equipment for multiple customers.

• Performed calculations and evaluated lifting lugs for pressure vessels and shipping containers.

• Evaluated various storage racks for seismic loading.

• Performed evaluation of racks supporting power plant backup batteries.

• Evaluated mortuary racks and related equipment for seismic loads.

• Finite element modal analysis of a multi-story platform supporting large scale aggregate crushers.

• Evaluated a platform supporting filter equipment subjected to out-of-balance vibratory loads using finite element analysis.

• Performed stress analyses and AISC Code evaluation of multiple shipping containers using FEA.

Failure Investigations

• Reviewed and critiqued opposing expert witness’ FEA of a hydroelectric plant turbine bolt failure.

• Performed a failure investigation into the collapse of a storage rack at a warehouse distribution center.

• Failure investigation of a large-scale autoclave explosion.

• Performed a failure investigation of a rotor for a whey permeate dryer. Work included performing thermal stress and harmonic analyses using finite element analysis.

• Conducted a failure Investigation of pressure vessels transporting hazardous materials using finite element analysis.

• Evaluation of a monorail/carrier system for an assembly line in an automotive plant that was experiencing multiple component failures. Work including performing finite element stress analyses, determination of placement of strain gages, and evaluation of acquired data.

• Performed a failure investigation into the collapse of a large fuel oil storage tank.

• Investigation of cracking in the steam jacket of a process vessel used in lubrication oil production.

• Third-party review of a failure investigation of large-scale industrial fans. Work included performing finite element analyses and conducting a fatigue evaluation.

• Investigation into excessive warping of television screen molds. Effort included performing transient thermal analyses and evaluation of resulting deformations using finite element analysis.

• Performed finite element stress analyses as part of an investigation into repeated cracking of a logwasher.

• Failure investigation of a large-scale quarry impact hammer. The investigation included performing finite element analyses and conducting a fatigue evaluation.

• Failure analysis of a gas turbine. Work included performing thermal stress analyses using FEA.

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