Dr. Kennett brings deep experience with a wide range of applications and industries. He has investigated engineering problems in most types of large industrial facilities around the world, including power generation (boilers, steam turbines, gas turbines), desalination, offshore platforms, oil and gas upstream activities (including downhole), pipelines, refineries, chemical processing, open pit mining, mineral processing, and steel production. Outside of his industrial facility work, he has been extensively involved in analyzing automotive components, assessing large scale automotive recalls (airbag inflators, steering components, suspension components), off-road vehicles, and various product defect issues. In these industries, Dr. Kennett specializes in applying fundamental engineering principles along with industry best engineering practices to direct- and root-cause failure analyses. Routinely in these investigations, a range of industry standards must be considered and applied to help provide an independent finding that can be used to support dispute resolution between multiple parties.
Many of Dr. Kennett’s investigations are focused on weldments in pressurized systems (pipes, vessels, pipelines) and structural steel systems. He has extensively investigated the performance of the steel weldments under in-service conditions. Dr. Kennett is a mechanical engineer, metallurgical engineer, and Certified Welding Inspector; using these skills, he often applies an inspection-based background to his investigations.
Dr. Kennett has extensive experience with many major industry standards and codes related to welding and/or pressure equipment, including AWS D1.1, API 570, API 574, API 579, API 650, API 653, API 1104, ASME B31.1, ASME B31.3, ASME BPVC Sections, as well as other international standards published by the DNV, NZS/AS, ISO, DIN, and ESO.
Before joining Secretariat, Dr. Kennett was a Principal Engineer in a large engineering and scientific consulting firm’s Materials and Corrosion Engineering practice as well as the Office Director for the Denver, Colorado location where he helped grow the office into a broad, multidisciplinary team. Before consulting full time, Dr. Kennett conducted his PhD dissertation work at the Colorado School of Mines where he was a teaching assistant, research assistant, and worked on side projects consulting. Prior to his PhD, he attended the University of North Florida to obtain a Mechanical Engineering degree where he was also a teaching assistant, research assistant, and worked as an estimator for a construction company for underground utilities.