Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2019
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2016
  • B.A., Physics, Bates College, 2008
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, California, #40299
  • Professional Engineer, Pennsylvania, #PE095026
  • 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Certification (HAZWOPER)
  • Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
Professional Honors
  • TechnipFMC Educational Fund Fellowship, 2017
  • David Hinde Award, 2017
  • IBM Thomas J. Watson Memorial Scholarship, 2004-2008
Professional Affiliations
  • ASTM International (Metrology subcommittee member E11.50)
  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
  • National Association of Fire Investigators
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers

Dr. Davies is a licensed professional mechanical engineer who specializes in failure analysis and design assessments for thermal and flow processes and equipment. He has expertise in two-phase flow, heat exchangers,  liquid and gas pipelines, and upstream oil and gas. 

Dr. Davies has designed and built experimental systems for the analysis of consumer electronics, utility piping, and power-plant components. His project experience includes the investigations of fires and explosions, pipeline failures, HVAC systems, consumer products, and power plants. He also models natural gas systems using the Synergi Gas software. In addition, Dr. Davies has experience in the upstream oil and gas industry as a wireline field engineer.

Dr. Davies applies his expertise to the investigation and prevention of equipment failures, fires, and explosions. He has conducted fire origin and cause investigations involving appliances, electrical systems, consumer products, and other combustion equipment. Dr. Davies also performs design reviews and analysis of heat exchangers, consumer products, and oil and gas equipment. Dr. Davies' work includes both laboratory testing and analytical modeling.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Davies was a research assistant in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). His work focused on reducing water use in power plants. He designed and built facilities to test air-cooled condensers, including measurements of heat transfer, pressure drop and two-phase void fraction. He also designed and built an anemometer calibration facility. 

Prior to graduate school, Dr. Davies was a General Field Engineer for Schlumberger Wireline. In this role, he led crews in acquiring petrophysical well and geotechnical reservoir data on both land and offshore rigs. He designed and led data-acquisition operations using seismic, pressure-testing, coring, and other well-testing equipment. He was certified and led operations with radiation and explosives for international clients. 

Dr. Davies' additional experience includes analysis of water hammer using the AFT Impulse software, analysis of flow-induced vibration in both single- and multi-phase flows, analysis of automotive radiators, analysis of injection wells, pressure testing, analysis of plate heat exchangers, and analysis and testing of kitchen appliances.