Richard J. Fay, M.S., P.E.

President/Mechanical Engineering

  • B.S. (Mechanical Engineering) University of Denver, 1959
  • M.S. (Mechanical Engineering) University of Denver, 1970

Professional Status

  • Registered Professional Engineer in Colorado
  • Registered Professional Engineer in Nebraska

Society Memberships

  • Member - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
    (Past Vice President - Region XII)
    (Past Chairman, Colorado/Wyoming Section)
  • Member - National Society of Professional Engineers
  • Member - Society of Automotive Engineers
    (Past Chairman Colorado Section)
  • Member - Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
  • Member - International Traffic Medicine Association
  • Member - La Societe des Ingenieurs de L' Automobile (France)

Consulting Activities

Application of vehicle dynamics and computer science in the analysis of complex vehicle, railroad and pedestrian accidents. Uses computer simulation and computer graphics in the solution and visualization of vehicle, pedestrian and rail accidents. Areas of interest include vehicle handling associated with tire disablements, computer simulation of vehicle dynamics and driver inputs and the integration of computer simulation and computer graphics into real time video. Has developed methods for using video to record nighttime visibility situations related to pedestrian and vehicular accidents.

Uses communication skills developed as an engineering educator and presenter of many scientific papers in conjunction with 2D and 3D computer graphics to aid in the clear and concise presentation of complex analytical results to non-technical audiences.

Has developed methods for incorporating testimony and exhibits into the paperless courtroom of the future.

Academic Activities

  • Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering, University of Denver, 1970-74
  • Assistant Professor, Basic Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1974-75, 1978-79
  • Adjunct Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Denver, 1980. Subjects taught include:
    • Engineering Graphics Engineering Analysis and Design
    • Machine Design Thermodynamics
    • Hydraulics Senior Mechanical Engineering Project
    • Fluids and Heat Transfer Laboratories
    • Projects Laboratory
    • Topics in Heating Ventilation
    • Air Conditioning Engineering
  • Faculty Advisor for the Student Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and entry of winning vehicle in University of California Clean Air Race

Research Accomplishnments

  • Testing of vehicle handling characteristics with tire disablements
  • Use of Vehicle Event Data Recorder data in vehicle accident reconstruction
  • Evaluation of the application of accident reconstruction and simulation software including:
    • HVE 2D and 3D
    • EDVAP series
    • LARM 2
    • PC Crash
    • AR98
    • CRASH3
    • SMAC
  • Study of acceleration pulses in human activities including staged vehicle collisions and amusement park rides
  • Application of aerial photography to the study of vehicle accidents
  • Application of computer graphics and computer simulation in the analysis of vehicle accidents
  • 3D analysis of vehicle rollover events
  • Comparison study of computer simulation software for vehicle accidents
  • Development of methods for video imaging in nighttime vehicle and pedestrian accidents
  • Testing of seals for Wankle Engines
  • Development of mechanical energy absorbing devices and their application in auto and aircraft safety and in industrial and transportation equipment protection
  • Development of prototype vehicle with fuel economy, low emissions
  • Development of scale modeling techniques for use in studying automobile crashes
  • Development of an energy absorbing highway barrier to protect autos from impacts with fixed highway structures
  • Study of the feasibility of using explosive energy in the autofrettage of thick-walled tubes
  • Development of an air bag to reduce cranial accelerations on military aircraft crews during emergency landings
  • A study of solid/gas reactions in closed vessels and the development of a means for predicting the reactivity of solid fuels
  • A study of gaseous combustion in a confined vortex leading to the discovery that vortex flow is laminar rather than turbulent as was previously believed
  • Development of a means for producing colored flames
  • Development of methods for predicting the vulnerability of complex military targets to various damage mechanisms using principles of high energy mechanics, fracture mechanics, system analysis and digital computer solutions

Other Experience

  • SAE TOPTEC Seminars
  • Rollovers
  • Side impacts
  • Passive restraints
  • Vehicle accident reconstruction using 3D modeling
  • AAAM Seminar
  • Biomechanics of Impact Trauma
  • GM Training Center
  • Truck brakes
  • Truck drive trains
  • Traffic Institute, Northwestern University
  • Motorcycle accident reconstruction
  • Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), class A, with endorsement for passengers

Awards and Recognition

  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers-Distinguished service award
  • Society of Automotive Engineers- Membership award
  • American Association of Engineering Societies
  • Who’s who in engineering
  • Listed in:
    • Who's Who in Science and Engineering
    • Who’s Who in the West
    • Who’s Who in the World
    • Who’s Who in Finance and Industry

Engineering Design Experience

Design of research equipment including:

  • High speed dynamic impact testing machines operated by compressed air
  • Sled for simulating aircraft crash environments
  • Facility for conducting scale model auto crash tests
  • A confined vortex gas burner for producing extremely high temperatures
  • A burner for producing colored flames with a gelled pyrotechnic composition
  • An optical temperature measuring instrument
  • A cosmic ray telescope
  • Design of machinery for use in the mining and sugar industries (Silver Engineering Works, Denver, Colorado 1960-63) including:
    • Heat exchangers
    • Materials handling equipment
    • Fluids handling equipment
    • Fluidized dryers
    • Fluidized retorts
    • Combustion systems
    • Mechanical dust collectors
    • Hydraulic components and systems
    • Control systems
  • Design of high temperature equipment (Denver Fire Clay Co. 1957-60) including:
    • Combustion Systems
    • Melting furnaces
    • Heat treating furnaces
    • Ceramic kilns
    • Incinerators
    • Control systems

Patents

  • U.S. Patent No. 3,461,006 - Gelled Pyrotechnic Flare Composition
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,447,881 - Flame Coloring Device
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,749,205 - Metal Shearing Energy Absorber

Patents Applied for

  • Improvements to an Existing Mechanical Energy Absorbing Device
  • A Confined Dual Vortex Gas Burner