Brian T. Weaver, P.E.

Mr. Weaver specializes in biomechanics, accident reconstruction, computer simulation, and mechanical systems design. He has over 8 years experience providing consultation in the investigation and prevention of injuries from product, vehicular, workplace, and other types of accidents.

Mr. Weaver has unique expertise in both biomechanics and accident reconstruction, and has performed investigations to determine the mechanism of injuries that occur in vehicle accidents (heavy trucks, passenger cars, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, etc.), pedestrian accidents, workplace accidents (railroad, maritime, construction, etc.), and aviation accidents.

Mr. Weaver has also used his expertise in vehicle accident reconstruction to determine various aspects of a collision, including: vehicle speeds, impact forces, line of sight, etc. He as applied this expertise in the investigation of low speed collisions, multi-vehicle collisions, heavy truck collisions, pedestrian impacts, and railroad grade crossing accidents.

Mr. Weaver has provided consultation associated with product failures and product recalls. His product failure experience includes assisting manufactures with the design of laboratory and field-testing experiments, to investigate possible failure modes with existing and retrofit designs.

Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Weaver was a Research Associate at the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Michigan State University. In this capacity, he studied the long-term effects of impact trauma to soft tissues. These studies lead to the development of an experimental model of osteoarthritis.

Giachetti R, Weaver B, Trimble J. Real-time monitoring and analysis of whole body vibration in locomotive engineers. Proceedings, 4th International Conference on Whole Body Vibration Injuries, Montreal, QC, June 2009.

Arndt S, Krauss D, Weaver B. A previously unidentified failure mode for ladder-climbing fall protection systems. Proceedings, American Society of Safety Engineers Professional Development Conference and Exposition, Las Vegas, NV, 2008.

Ashby B, Lai W, Carhart M, Newberry W, Weaver B, Ford Corrigan C. Compressive neck preloading during the airborne phase of vehicle rollover. SAE, 2007-01-0377.

Weaver B, Haut R. Enforced exercise after blunt trauma significantly affects biomechanical and histological changes in rabbit retro-patellar cartilage. J Biomechanics 2005; 38(5):1177–1183.

McCann D, Weaver B, Smith S, Meacham E. Modal testing diagnosis of bus seat failures. IMAC XXII Proceedings, Society of Experimental Mechanics, Dearborn, MI, January 2004.

Ewers B, Weaver B, Haut R. Impact orientation can significantly affect the outcome of a blunt impact to the rabbit patellofemoral joint. J Biomechanics 2002; 35(12):1591–1598.

Ewers B, Weaver B, Sevensma E, Haut R. Chronic changes in rabbit retropatellar cartilage and subchondral bone after blunt impact loading of the patellofemoral joint. J Orthopaedic Res 2002; 20(3):545–550.

Weaver B, Ewers B, Haut R. Regular exercise is beneficial to a stable joint after trauma. Proceedings, 48th Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting, 2002.

Johnson A, Probst C, Decamp C, Rosenstein D, Hauptman J, Kern T, Weaver B. Comparison of trochlear block recession and trochlear wedge recession for canine patellar luxation using a cadaver model. Journal Veterinary Surgery 2001; 30:140–150. Proceedings, 27th Conference of the Veterinary Orthopaedic Society, 2000.

Selected Invited Presentations

Weaver B. Injury biomechanics. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2009.

Weaver B. Scene documentation, accident investigation, and evidence collection. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2009.

Weaver B. Injury biomechanics. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2008.

Weaver B. Engineering case studies in aviation incidents. The Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL, 2007.

Weaver B. Injury biomechanics and accident reconstruction. Wisconsin Claims Council, Milwaukee, WI, 2007.

Weaver B. Biomechanics experts and Daubert. Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Newark, OH, 2005.

Weaver B. Vehicle black box technology. Wisconsin Claims Council, Sheboygan, WI, 2005.

Tested ladder climbing fall protection systems using Hybrid III anthropomorphic test devices to examine the performance of systems during simulated fall scenarios. Testing was done to examine the potential limitations of systems that were built in compliance with existing standards.

Investigated fracture patterns of the tibia and fibula produced by a railcar wheel running over these bones. Testing was done to examine the fracture pattern as a function of body position relative to the rail.

Monitored whole body vibrations of occupants in heavy trucks and locomotives to assess potential vibration exposures and compared these to health guidance levels associated with applicable standards.

Designed and fabricated a pendulum impactor to investigate the amount of liquid medication that can be injected into tissues as a function of loading rate. Testing was done to examine the possibility of injecting 12cc’s of medication into human tissues as a function of falling onto a needle and syringe.

Conducted dynamic testing of carbon fiber archery/hunting arrows. Testing was done to examine potential failure mechanisms during normal use and misuse to assess injury potential to the archer.

Assisted a seat manufacturer in the design of field-test protocols to measure vibrations and forces that occur in regional transportation passenger bus seats. Testing was conducted to determine the failure mechanism and to gather data used to design laboratory shaker table testing.

• Society of Automotive Engineers (member)
• American Society of Safety Engineers (professional member)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (member)
• Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (professional member)
• National Society of Professional Engineers (professional member)