Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2017
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 2012
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, California, #41768
  • Professional Engineer, Connecticut, #PEN.0038994
  • Professional Engineer, Maryland, #65637
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Maine, #PE19138
  • Professional Engineer, North Carolina, #059586
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, New Hampshire, #20340
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Nevada, #033507
  • Blasting Certificate of Competency (MA)
  • Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
  • Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI)
Professional Honors
  • Kavanaugh Translational Innovation Fellowship, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2021
  • George and Marie Vergottis Presidential Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012-2013
  • Onassis Foundation Scholar, 2012-2016
  • National Hellenic Research Foundation Scholar, 2007-2012
Professional Affiliations
  • National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
  • - Member of the ISO Technical Committee 197, Working Group 34 that develops the ISO/FDIS 22734-1 Standard, “Hydrogen generators using water electrolysis - Part 1: Safety”.
Languages
  • English
  • French (France)
  • Greek

Dr. George Dimitrakopoulos is a mechanical engineer with deep technical expertise in thermal sciences, combustion, and complex energy and mechanical systems, with a strong focus on failure analysis and litigation support. At Exponent, he applies his multidisciplinary background to assist clients in the legal, insurance, and industrial sectors with a broad range of technical investigations and evaluations. 

His consulting work spans:

  • Fire and Explosion Investigations
    Origin and cause, gas explosions, vehicle fires, residential and industrial incidents.
  • Consumer Product Evaluations
    Failure analysis, root cause investigations, safety and performance testing, design FMEAs, and regulatory/CPSC matters.
  • Combustible Dust Hazards
    Facility inspections, combustible dust testing per NFPA and ASTM standards, and Dust Hazard Analyses (DHA).
  • Energy Systems & Technologies
    Specialized expertise in hydrogen/ammonia safety, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and battery energy storage systems (including thermal runaway analysis and testing).
  • Intellectual Property Disputes
    Technical support in patent litigation and IP matters involving mechanical and thermal systems, chemical processes, and energy technologies.
  • Carbon Monoxide Cases
    Investigations related to carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • HVAC Matters
    HVAC system failures, and mechanical system performance.
  • Chemical Reactors & Catalysis
    Extensive experience with catalytic processes and solid oxide systems for energy and chemicals production.

Dr. Dimitrakopoulos earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he focused on the design and optimization of ceramic membrane reactors for the production of high-value chemicals. His research combined experimental work, material science, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to improve the performance of complex energy and chemical systems.

Following his Ph.D., he continued at MIT as a Postdoctoral Associate and later a Research Scientist, leading projects aimed at improving solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cells for green hydrogen and ammonia production. His work involved cutting-edge material development (including catalyst exsolution techniques), cell fabrication, and electrochemical testing.

In 2021, he was awarded the Kavanaugh Fellowship by MIT's Department of Materials Science & Engineering, where he led a cross-disciplinary project on the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) using electrochemical and thermochemical methods. His work also included techno-economic analyses of alternative chemical production technologies.