Rafael Silva
mechanical_engineer@wowway.com ●
http://home.fnal.gov/~rafael
Summary
Mechanical
engineer with Master’s degree in Materials, dedicated, versatile, organized,
creative, efficient and able to convey technical concepts to non-technical
audiences. More than 18 years of professional experience, including 14 years in
mechanical design and 2 years in technical inspections. Responsible for many
successfully completed projects, totaling more than $2 million.
Professional
Experience
Fermilab - Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory - IL,
Responsible
for:
· Mechanical design of
equipment for high-energy physics research, including sub‑atomic particle
detectors, ranging in size from inches to yards, with design tolerances of
thousandths of an inch, constantly interfacing with multi-disciplinary
personnel, dealing with limited resources, shifting priorities, and tight
schedules.
· Design, construction,
and installation of: 36 structures (including supports, stands, frames, and
lifting fixtures, with weights from pounds to tons); 10 mechanisms (including
assembly, soldering, and gluing fixtures); 1 pneumatic system; 4
electromechanical systems (including positioning systems); 3 water systems; 2
gas systems; 2 pressure vessels; 12 pressure vessel safety relief systems; and
10 gas bags.
· Performed analyses of:
26 structures (including 4 “below-the-hook” lifting devices); 1 vacuum vessel;
4 small diameter piping systems; and 1 IC board water cooling system.
· Conducted reviews of: 6
structural analyses (including 3 “below-the-hook” lifting devices); and 16
pressure vessels safety relief analyses.
Experience
in all phases of a project, from conception to commissioning:
·
Supervised
the work of engineers, designers, drafters, technicians, and co-ops.
·
Coordinated
efforts of affiliates from different collaborating institutions.
·
Developed
procedures, formal technical reports, specifications, timelines, costs and
manpower estimates.
·
Planned
assembly, testing, inspection, installation, and alignment of mechanical
equipment.
· Conducted research work
on plastic sheets, metal plates, as well as welded and bolted connections.
· Designed, constructed, tested,
and evaluated prototypes.
·
Checked
and approved layouts, fabrication drawings, and P&ID’s.
·
Researched,
tested, and selected several fabrication techniques, including milling, plasma
cutting, water jet machining, electrical discharge machining, thread rolling,
injection molding, and extrusion.
·
Specified
several surface finishes including nickel plating, hard coating, and powder
coating.
·
Selected
fabricators; specified and purchased off-the-shelf and custom components.
Volunteer
work:
·
Coordinated
cultural events for Fermilab’s Art and Lecture Series.
BV - Bureau Veritas -
RJ,
·
Verified
compliance with contractual technical specifications for materials and
fabrication of industrial equipment, pressure vessels, vehicles, and
structures.
·
On-site
inspections of off-shore platforms, refineries, chemical plants, shipyards,
factories, and shops, performed in more than 60 companies.
·
Conducted
mechanical, hydrostatic, pneumatic, flow, explosion, combustion, and
performance tests.
·
Qualified
welding procedures and welders; performed and evaluated results of NDT.
Professional
Experience
(continued)
Carbrasmar - RJ,
·
Designed
and selected components for fiberglass fire-proof lifeboats.
·
Supervised
construction and installation of pipelines and reservoirs in a petrochemical
plant.
Shell Petroleum - RJ,
·
Assisted
on supervision of construction and installation of reservoirs in refineries.
Education
M.S., Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Mar
88 - Aug 91
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, COPPE/UFRJ, Brazil
·
Emphasis
in mechanical properties of materials.
·
Thesis
in Fracture Mechanics involving methodology of CTOD and JIc tests by multi-specimen and unloading compliance
methods.
·
Developed
software interfacing a PC with an INSTRON mechanical test machine to perform
data acquisition and analysis of the CTOD and JIc tests performed.
·
Award:
M.S. fellowship, Brazil Department of Education, full-time student.
B.S., Mechanical
Engineering Mar
80 - Feb 85
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Brazil
·
Emphasis
in fluid and thermal sciences.
Both
degrees accredited by World Education Services,
Training
·
·
·
HSB
Global Standards,
·
SDRC
I-DEAS,
·
FERMILAB,
Skills
·
Experienced
in designing according to AA, AISC/ASD, AWS, ASME sec.VIII Div.1, and ASME
B30.20.
·
Familiar
with various international standards such as BV, ASTM, ASME sec.VIII Div.2 and
sec.IX, UL, SOLAS, AFNOR, ISO, ABNT, and PETROBRÁS.
·
Versed
in ANSI Y14.5, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
·
Skilled
user of I-DEAS CAD software: 2D drafting, 3D solid modeling and FEA simulation.
·
Proficient
in Microsoft Office Suite, Mathsoft Mathcad, and Roark & Young on TKsolver.
Languages
· Portuguese, English: fully fluent; excellent oral and written
communication skills.
· Spanish: very good reading,
understanding, and speaking skills.
· French, Italian: technical reading.