Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 2014
  • B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, 2008
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, California, #38378
Professional Affiliations
  • Society for Experimental Mechanics

Dr. Davis specializes in fracture mechanics, structural mechanics, mechanics of materials and computational mechanics. He has expertise in finite element analysis (FEA). Dr. Davis applies this expertise across a wide range of projects and industries, including industrial equipment, pipelines, consumer products, oil and gas, vehicles, biomedical devices and other structural/mechanical systems. 

A major focus of Dr. Davis' work is failure analysis where his capabilities include collecting and integrating complex data sets (e.g., material test data and detailed geometry characterization), analysis of structural behavior, stress analysis, damage initiation and damage evolution. This breadth of analysis experience covers a variety of structural materials, including metals, composites, and polymers. Dr. Davis has been involved in projects where he has analyzed damaged pipelines and pressure vessel equipment, evaluated fatigue and fracture of pipelines, assessed integrity of welded-connections, and performed high-cycle fatigue analysis of turbomachinery.

Dr. Davis has project experience preforming fitness for service analysis (e.g., API 579, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code), providing design review and support, evaluating structural systems with respect to safety and regulation, and supporting product development. He also has experience developing custom analysis code and data management systems. Dr. Davis collaborates across various practices within Exponent, including Materials & Corrosion Engineering, Thermal Sciences, Biomedical Engineering & Sciences. This versatile network uniquely positions Dr. Davis to build teams to solve highly multidisciplinary problems. Dr. Davis is interested in developing approaches to leverage advanced materials characterization techniques to improve simulation fidelity, as well as utilizing methodologies to account for uncertainty and probability in simulated real-world applications, including using data driven approaches, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Davis was a member of the Cornell Fracture Group, where his doctoral research aimed to develop computational tools to simulate and predict fracture and damage in structural components. His novel simulation technique included generating complex cracked models, computing accurate fracture mechanics parameters, and employing a new formulation to calculate explicitly 3-D, crack-front evolution. Dr. Davis has extensive experience with commercial finite element software (Abaqus) and fracture analysis software (FRANC3D).

While at Cornell, Dr. Davis served as a Teaching Assistant for structural modeling and behavior classes, as well as providing formal mentorship for undergraduate research related to damage tolerance of composite materials. He also collaborated with the Durability, Damage Tolerance and Reliability Branch at NASA Langley Research Center. He continues to collaborate with the Cornell Fracture Group.