STAFF
Peter C. McKeighan, Ph.D., P.E.
Principal Engineer
Professional Profile
Dr. Peter C. McKeighan is an expert in mechanical and structural integrity, fatigue and fracture mechanics, failure analysis and material and mechanical behavior testing.
Dr. McKeighan is a broadly trained mechanical engineer and has performed numerous design assessments of mechanical systems with a focus on life prediction, damage tolerance and durability and component integrity. He has both developed and extensively used material lifing and fracture models for transient and time dependent degradation mechanisms (fatigue and creep). He has been involved with new material and alloy development, specifically as related to fracture behavior and design optimization. As a mechanical design engineer with a strong materials background, he has been involved with numerous multidisciplinary failure analyses of complex systems and components ranging from consumer products to mechanical equipment to aboveground storage tanks. Dr. McKeighan has managed and coordinated numerous research programs concerning a variety of different end-product uses including USAF trainer jets, railroad tank cars, offshore structures in oil and gas, chemical reactor pressure vessels, sport utility vehicles, transport aircraft, medical devices and space structures.
Dr. McKeighan has performed numerous failure analyses (principally while employed at Exponent, formerly known as Failure Analysis Associates). The range of these failure analyses spanned simple component failure to large, complex multidisciplinary investigations. These investigations focused on identifying the causal factors involved in the accident and, where possible, identification of the root-cause of failure. These investigations often included litigation and the required engineering support and testimony associated with the process.
Early in his career, Dr. McKeighan managed the Solid and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory at Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, TX). This laboratory focused on assessing the structural integrity (most notably fatigue and fracture behavior) of a variety of structural components and materials in both lab air and aggressive environments. Much of the structural integrity work performed in this laboratory was under variable amplitude, spectrum loading conditions. The laboratory specialized in unusual and unique experimental methods to evaluate component integrity and life. Prior to joining Southwest Research Institute, Dr. McKeighan was a researcher and lecturer at the University of Bristol (Bristol, England) focused on life prediction of dynamically loaded submarine and aircraft structures.
Dr. McKeighan has been extensively involved in ASTM International for nearly thirty years. He holds several national leadership positions within the organization, most particularly Subcommittee Chairman of the Automation and Apparatus Subcommittee of ASTM E08.03. His extensive contributions to the organization were recently recognized with his selection and elevation to Fellow of the organization.
Academic Credentials and Professional Honors
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1991
M.S.M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1988
B.S.M.E., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 1985
Fellow, ASTM International, 2008
Chairman, Automation and Apparatus (Fatigue and Fracture) Subcommittee ASTM E08.03
Best Paper Award, ASTM Committee E9, 1989
Best Student Paper Award, ASTM Committee E24, 1992
Pi Tau Sigma; Tau Beta Pi; Phi Eta Sigma
Licenses and Certifications
Licensed Professional Engineer, Illinois, #062065238
Patents
U. S. Patent: 8,800,650: Expandable Tubulars for Use in Geologic Structures, August 12, 2014 (with Spray JA, Svedeman S, Walter D, McKeighan P, Siebanaler S, Dewhurst P, Hobson S, Foss D, Wirz H, Sharpe A, Apostal M).
Publications
Authored and co-authored 48 peer-reviewed publications, two book chapters and edited (or co-edited) five books.