Engineering Consulting & Expert Witness Services
Providing Failure Analysis, Forensic Engineering, and Expert Consulting Nationwide
Our clients span a variety of industries, including manufacturing, energy, aerospace, construction, and legal services. We serve clients locally in Minnesota and nationwide.
At Clarksean and Associates, we provide a range of engineering consulting, analysis, and expert witness services to help clients resolve their most challenging technical issues. From uncovering the root cause of system failures to supporting legal teams with expert witness testimony, our services are designed to deliver clear, science-based answers.
Our process ensures clarity and collaboration from start to finish:
Initial Consultation
We discuss your project needs and determine if we're the right fit.
Review of Technical Details
We analyze the technical aspects of your case.
Proposal Preparation
We develop a clear, written proposal outlining the scope and estimated costs.
Proposal Review Call
We meet with you to review the proposal and make any necessary adjustments.
Final Proposal & Authorization
We send the final proposal for you signature.
Project Launch
With your aproval, we get to work.
All initial consultations and proposal steps are 100% free of charge
Our Services - Tailored Engineering Solutions for Complex Problems
Failure Analysis
Uncover the Cause, Prevent Future Failures
When a system fails, equipment breaks down, or a process doesn’t perform as expected, you need to know why. Our failure analysis services go beyond surface-level inspection to identify the true root cause of the issue. Randy and select associates draws on years of experience to diagnose failures in turbines, heat exchangers, manufacturing equipment, and more.
What We Analyze:
- 🚧 Mechanical Failures — Investigating stress fractures, material fatigue, and componet degradation.
- 🔥 Thermal Failures — Understanding failures caused by heat transfer issues in systems like heat exchangers.
- ⚙️ Proces Failures — Diagnosing why industrial processes aren't functioning properly.
- 💥 Catastrophic Failures — Determinging causes of large-scale breakdowns, explosions, and accidents.
Why Failure Analysis Matters:
- Identify the root cause of failures to prevent recurrence.
- Reduce costly downtime and production delays.
- Ensure compliance with safety regulations.
If your system isn't working as expected or you've experienced a catastrophic failure, our team is ready to investigate.
Engineering Analysis
Complex Problems Need Data-Driven Solutions
When systems become too complex to analyze manually, it’s time to use computational engineering tools to visualize, simulate, and predict system behavior. Our team specializes in finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and computational heat transfer (CHT).
Our Capabilities Include:
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) — Used to analyze stress, strain, and deformation in components and structures. Learn More- 🌡️ Computational Heat Transfer (CHT) — Analyzing thermal performance, heat transfer, and temperature gradients in systems like heat exchangers.
- 🌬️ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) — Simulating airflow, gas flow, and liquid movement in complex engineering systems. Learn More
Why Choose Engineering Analysis?
- Test how a system behaves under stress, pressure, and thermal loads.
- Discover design flaws before they cause issues in production.
- Optimize system performance by predicting operational limits.
Our engineering analysis tools help companies design better products, improve manufacturing proesses, and redu
Forensic Engineering
Investigate Fires, Explosions & Mechanical Failures
When an unexpected event like a fire, explosion, or equipment failure occurs, a forensic investigation is essential to uncover the cause. Our team conducts on-site investigations and uses advanced tools like thermal models and simulations to find the truth.
Our Forensic Engineering Services Include:
- 🔥 Fire Investigation — Determining the ignition source, fuel load, and fire spread.
- 💥 Explosion Analysis — Pinpointing what caused the explosion and what could have prevented it.
- 🏭 Industrial Accidents — Investigating workplace accidents and determining who or what was responsible.
Why Forensic Engineering Matters:
- Support legal teams in litigation by offering expert witness testimony.
- Find the root cause of fires, explosions, and accidnets.
- Identify the responsible parties in insurance claims.
When the stakes are high, you need clear, evidence-backed answers. Our forensic engineering services provide legal teams, insurers, and corporations with the evidence they need to win cases and improve safety protocols.
Experimental Testing
Validate Products, Theories & Failure Hypotheses
Sometimes, the only way to prove a hypothesis is to test it in the real world. Our experimental testing services allow clients to validate product designs, test failure hypotheses, and evaluate performance in controlled environments.
Testing Capabilities Include:
- 🧪 Prototype Testing — Test products under various environmental conditions and loads.
- 📏 Custom Test Protocols — Develop testing protocols tailored to your industry needs.
- 🔧 Failure Validation — Verify the failure mechanism identified during analysis.
Why Choose Experimental Testing?
- Avoid costly product recalls by testing designs before mass production.
- Verify if a product meets industry regulations and safety standards.
- Ensure that failures can be replicated, studied, and fixed.
If you're developing a new product or working through a failure investigation, our testing protocols will help you make data-driven decisions.
Our Proven Process - What You Can Expect
Initial Consultation
We start with a discussion to understand your project, challenges, and goals.
Review Technical Details
We review technical files, drawings, and related documents.
Proposal Development
We draft a proposal with scope, timeline, and costs.
Proposal Review
We meet with you to review the proposal and make changes.
Approval & Project Launch
Once you approve, we begin the analysis, testing, or investigation.
From start to finish, we keep you informed and involved. Our goal is to provide clear, defensible answers backed by science.
Get Started NowIndustries We Serve
At Clarksean and Associates, we work with a variety of industries to address technical challenges, ensure compliance, and provide expert witness testimony.
Our Clients Include:
- 🏭 Manufacturing — Failure analysis for production equipment and systems.
- 🔥 Energy & Utilities — Analysis of heat exchangers, turbines, and power plant components.
- 🚀 Aerospace & Defense — Mechanical failure analysis for flight components and defense systems.
- ⚙️ Product Design & Development — Testing and validating product performance.
- ⚖️ Law Firms & Legal Teams — Providing expert witness support for litigation and insurance claims.
If you need assistance in any of these industries, we are ready to help.
Get in Touch - Speak With an Expert Today
Whether you need failure analysis, engineering analysis, or expert witness support, we are here to help. Our team of engineers provides fast, responsive support for local, national, and international clients.
Contact Us NowClarksean and Associates - Your Trusted Partner in Engineering Excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an engineering consultant do?
An engineering consultant helps diagnose and solve complex technical problems using science-based analysis. At Clarksean and Associates, this includes investigating failures, analyzing system performance, and supporting legal teams with expert reports and testimony.
When should I hire a forensic engineer?
You should hire a forensic engineer when a fire, explosion, mechanical failure, or accident has occurred and the cause is unclear. Our team conducts in-depth investigations to determine what happened, why it happened, and how it could have been prevented—often supporting legal or insurance proceedings.
Can Clarksean and Associates act as an expert witness in court?
Yes. Dr. Randy Clarksean regularly provides expert witness services for cases involving product liability, personal injury, patent disputes, industrial failures, and insurance subrogation. His testimony is backed by decades of engineering experience and detailed forensic analysis.
What types of failures do you investigate?
We investigate mechanical failures (like stress fractures and fatigue), thermal failures (such as heat exchanger breakdowns), process failures in industrial systems, and catastrophic events including fires and explosions. If something broke, malfunctioned, or caused harm, we can likely help.
How do I get started with Clarksean and Associates?
We offer a free initial consultation where we discuss your project or case, review any technical documentation you have, and determine whether we’re a good fit. From there, we’ll prepare a detailed written proposal outlining scope, tasks, and estimated costs—so you know exactly what to expect before we begin.
