DANIEL S. MERRICK, P.E.
17350 RINGEL DRIVE
MORGAN HILL, CALIFORNIA  95037
(408) 778-9272    FAX: (408) 778-9168
dan@danielmerrick.com

Licensed Professional Engineer

EDUCATION

August 1986:

Master of Science in Civil Engineering
San Jose State University
Concentration in Structures and Applied Mechanics 

May 1981:     

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
San Jose State University
Concentration in Structures and Applied Mechanics

May 1975:     

Surprise Valley High School
Cedarville, California

CONSULTING, 1980 TO PRESENT

TEST ENGINEERING:

·        Destructive and non-destructive testing services to determine the physical properties of materials, structural elements and assemblies.

·        The investigation of the laws, phenomena and forces of nature.

·        Specialties include test instrumentation, data acquisition and analysis.

·        Services provided include strain measurement, fatigue testing, measurement of vibration, strength, stiffness, force, pressure, temperature, acceleration, velocity, rotation, coefficient of friction, etc.

·        Design and fabrication of unique laboratory test apparatuses, development of test procedures and supervision or observation of tests.

·        As a member of the faculty at San Jose State University, extensive laboratory, support facilities and personnel are available by contract with the University. Portable test and measurement equipment is available.

FORENSIC ENGINEERING: 

·        Expert services for both the defense and the plaintiff provided in construction defect, structural design error, and personal injury litigation.

·        Testimony at trial in cases related to design, construction defect, automobile accident, and slip/trip and fall cases.

·        Testimony in regard to gait and fall mechanics, national standards and code interpretation and application, etc.

·        Testimony in regard to the forces and phenomena of nature.

·        Safety engineering in regard to constructed works, construction sites, railings, walkways, ramps and stairways.

ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION:

·        Static and dynamic engineering analysis.

·        Reconstruction, technical support, documentation and instrumentation services related to vehicle/object dynamics.

·        Human gait mechanics.

REVIEW: 

·        Examination for code compliance of plans, specifications and calculations for proposed and existing construction.

·        Review of forensic engineering calculations.

DESIGN:

·        Design services are provided for new construction and renovation of residential and commercial structures. Design of wood, concrete, steel, and masonry structures.

·        Design of temporary and permanent repairs for damaged structures.

·        Design of pre-cast concrete and glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) architectural elements.

INSPECTION:

·        Inspection services are provided for the evaluation of existing constructed works for compliance with building codes, applicable standards and safety.

·        Examination of existing structures for compliance with design drawings and specifications.

·        Inspection services provided during construction and fabrication.

·        Evaluation of damaged and failing structures for causation and responsibility.

EMPLOYMENT

1984 - PRESENT: San Jose State University, San Jose, California; Lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and in the Department of General Engineering.  Supervision of research in the Civil Engineering Advanced Structures Laboratory.

Courses taught:

Upper Division:  

CE 112 Mechanics of Materials
CE 113 Mechanics of Materials Laboratory
CE 133 Construction Structures
CE 162 Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures
CE 164 Design of Wood Structures
CE 165 Earthquake Engineering                           

Lower Division:  

GE 070 Descriptive Geometry
CE 099 Statics

1980 - 1984: Scientific Service, Inc., Redwood City, California: Staff Engineer.  Research, development and testing.

1978 - 1979: Testing Engineers, Inc., Santa Clara, California: Construction Inspector and Laboratory Technician.

  Other experience includes Civil Engineering survey crewman and Mechanical Engineering energy auditor

MEMBERSHIPS

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
International Code Council (ICC)
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society
Chi Epsilon, Civil Engineering Honor Society

REGISTRATION

Licensed Professional Engineer
California, Civil, # C 44862

Scholarly Publications and Research

Journal Publications

"Seismic damage thresholds for gypsum wallboard partition walls" Scheduled for publication March 2007 
Journal of Architectural Engineering.

“Performance of Repaired Gypsum Wallboard During Lateral Loading.”  Wood Design Focus, Forest Products Society.  Submitted for review.  McMullin, K.M. and Merrick, D.

Conferences

“In-Situ Vibration Characteristics of Precast Cladding Panels.”  Abstract submitted for review for May 2003 Structures Congress and Exposition.  Seattle, WA.  Merrick, D., McMullin, K., Hildebrand, M. and Kwong, A.

“Damage Thresholds and Repair Costs for Gypsum Wallboard Partition Walls.”  2

“Seismic Testing of Light Frame Shear Walls.”  World Conference on Timber Engineering.  Whistler, British Columbia.  July 2000.  McMullin, K. M. and Merrick, D. 

“Fragility Curves of Woodframed Walls for Residential Construction”
Mcmullin, Kurt; Merrick, Dan; Karim, Sajitha; Davis, Rhine
13 WCEE: 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering Cosnference Proceedings. 2004

Reviewed and Awarded External Proposals

“Seismic Performance of Gypsum and Stucco Walls – Testing.”  Proposal funded by the CUREe-Caltech Woodframe Project in September 1999.  Grant amount of $68,000 for 15-month testing program.

Engineering Reports

McMullin, K.M. and Merrick, D., 2001. “Seismic Performance of Gypsum Walls-Experimental Test Program,” CUREE Publication No. W-15,.CUREE, Richmond, CA.

 “Cyclic Comparison Testing of Light Wood Framed Shear Walls” Merrick, D., 1999 (self funded research)

Please contact me for my current fee schedule

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