Peer Review and Subject Matter Experts

Peer Review

Senior K&C staff have performed peer reviews of the work of others or provided expect testimony/studies pertaining to blast effects as well as design, analysis, and behaviors observed. Senior staff have also participated in lawsuits (as expert witnesses), where issues pertaining to blast or shock have been raised. Another important aspect of this work is to provide test and analytic studies to determine/evaluate the effective of blast and impact protection concepts and devices that are promoted for enhancing a site’s protection.

Litigation

Because of the arcane nature of blast and impact effects engineering, there sometimes arises the need for expert advice during litigation. With regard to litigation, questions that arise generally include: what has occurred; how to conform to the governing criteria/regulations, good engineering practices, or conventions; whether a given assertion interpretation of events or practice is appropriate or supportable; and other similar concerns pertaining to the aspects of blast and shock physics that are not well understood.

Owners, GCs, and designers for a particular facility often have questions pertaining to the effectiveness of a particular design or the manner of its implementation. K&C works closely with these people to help them understand the issues involved and assist them in making decisions that will best support their needs.

Media

K&C staff members have provided information to the media so as to bring some of this specialized knowledge to the attention of the public and apprise them of the Government's efforts to increase their protection from terrorist attacks as well as inform them as to how the types of protection can be obtained.

Description of Services

• Expert witness
• Review of other's work
• Litigation studies
• Ensure A&E performing structural or architectural design work for Government agencies pertaining to blast and anti-terrorist threats adhere to the design criteria or wishes of the agency involved.
• Evaluate claims concerning blast and shock effects as to accuracy and merit.
• Prepare documentation in the form of graphics, renderings, physics based equations, and results that illustrate the issue involved and substantiate the position taken.
• Respond to media requests for subject matter experts
• Provide design/construction support pertaining to our expertise in blast, shock, and impact threat