Litigation Support - Dr. Clarksean offers expert witness services to attorneys for plaintiff and defendant. Services include thorough review, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. Types of cases have included personal injury, design defects, patent infringement, trade secrets, and insurance subrogation. Forensic investigations have included the review and application of engineering standards to numerous different systems (pipelines, irrigation systems, pressure vessels, HVAC systems, lithium-ion battery fires, etc.).
Consulting: Providing expertise related to heat transfer, mechanical engineering, failure analysis, fluid mechanics.
Randy Clarksean, Ph.D., P.E.
CFEI - Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
CVFI - Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator
CFII - Certified Fire Investigator Instructor
Experience:
Randy Clarksean, PhD, PE, CFEI, CFII, is a Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of engineering experience on a wide range of Mechanical and Thermal Systems. Specializing in Failure Analysis and Forensic Engineering, he has over 40 engineering conference and journal publications.
Dr. Clarksean is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI), registered Professional Engineer (PE Idaho), and Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (CFII). He has extensive experience in the application of engineering analysis techniques for new designs or the analysis of system failures. Analysis experience includes hand calculations and spreadsheets all the way to complex three-dimensional heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and structural analysis.
Failure Analysis / Forensics Type Projects
Inadvertent Discharge of Foam Fire Suppression System (~$3M)
o Scene investigation and documentation
o System testing and sensor evaluation
Fire in Semi-Tractor Garage (USD $1M+ loss)
o Fire cause and origin investigation
o Arc mapping, video review, facility examination
Fire in Laundry and Storage Facility (USD $5M+ loss)
o Fire cause and origin investigation
o Video review, fire scene investigation
o Investigate potential issues with fire protection system
Fire and ammonia release for ammonia refrigeration system (USD $5-8M+ loss)
o Investigated fire source at refrigeration facility
o Ammonia release also occurred
Inadvertent sprinkler discharged (>USD $100K)
o Investigated failure of sprinkler head
Investigation of Solar Thermal Plant (USD $20M+)
o Examined floating pipe scenario in thermal storage tank
Investigated Gas Turbine Loss (USD Unknown)
o Reviewed metallurgical data
o Examined Operational data
o Participated in fault tree review
Consulting Expert - Large Fire Tube Boiler Facility
o Reviewed design, commissioning and failures
o Provided technical guidance to legal team
Investigation of Solar Energy System Collapse (USD $50M+)
o Ongoing, structural failure of support structure
Investigation of Mold and Moisture Damage - Residential (USD > $700K)
o Improper maintenance and setup for HVAC system
Fires in Hospital Facilities (several facilities)
o Battery backup fires – lithium ion batteries
Small Garage Fire (~ $40K)
o Cause and origin within garage
o Product exam to determine fire cause (electrical)
Investigation of HVAC system (USD $1M+ loss)
o Performance and installation issues (potato storage).
o Improper control system design
o Improper overall system design (competing controllers, improper sizing)
o Infant mortality of compressors
Operating Loss in Fire Tube Boiler System (USD $5M+ in loss claims)
o Six 1000 HP fire tube boiler facility to provide process steam for large facility
o Investigation relating to system design, water quality, operations.
o $70M+ dollar facility which failed 9 months into operations. Claims for $5M+ in renovations and design changes.
Grain Bin Failures (several investigations)
o Assisted in review of opposing expert’s report
o Assessed failure mechanism of collapsed structure (bad weld)
o Assessed reasons for structural failure of structure that failed and fell
Collapse of concrete silo for coal storage (USD $20-30M+ loss)
o South Korean loss site
o Investigated potential for dust explosion
Propane boiler explosion (< USD $500K)
o Backup fuel supply (dual system for natural gas and propane) of propane led to boiler explosion
o Evaluated safety aspects of design (single point failure led to failure).
Explosion in Residential Structure
o Multiphase investigation of natural gas system
Submarine pipeline failure ($30M+ loss)
o Pipeline used for power plant cooling water inlet and outlet
o Investigated reasons why pipeline floated and failed
o Rough seas and design calculation assumptions (flow related)
Mining equipment collapse ($35M+ loss)
o Collapse of a stacker reclaimer used at a steel mill for movement of iron ore pellets
o Structural collapse, modified PLC control systems, motor controllers
o Failed due to lack of electromechanical safety system
Inadvertent ignition for natural gas boiler
o Failure of electronic valve/ignition units
Residential Fire Loss (small USD ~$40K)
o Investigated potential product failure that caused the fire
Frozen sprinkler system (>USD $300K)
o Investigated and documented loss associated with frozen sprinkler system
Turbine blade failure analysis (USD $5M+ loss)
o Turbine blade design and materials related issues.
Natural gas skid failure (personal injury)
o System removes “oil” from natural gas prior to entering utility scale natural gas turbine
o Safety system failure led to oil release and natural gas release
o Single point failure and system design issues
