Andrew Alarcon Email & Phone Number

Kent, WA, US

Kent, WA, US

• Provide rocket component (avionics, fluids, mech sys, etc.) random vibration and shock environments for various stages of the mission.
• Updating forcing functions, connections, and subsystems Wave6 SEA models followed by post-processing of results.
• Data analysis of flight pressure transducers and accelerometers--pwelch filters, narrowband and octave band RMS processing, Hanning windows, PSD and SRS generation, SPL and OASPL calculations, etc.
• Data collection during test firings of shock sources.
• Troubleshoot shock and vibe testing--interface with test engineer, fixture design, stress analyst.
• Wrote main script for automating most aspects of environments analysis. Used by all analysts.

Kent, WA, US

• Fracture Mechanics: using classical techniques and FEM for determining stress intensity values and contour integrals to predict component capability.
• Fracture Mechanics: Designing tests to validate fracture models.

Stamford, CT, US

• Structural analysis of large, high-temperature composite tools for aerospace applications.
• Determined tests required for validation of stress analysis methods for multi-material composite laminates and complex joints.
• Spring back analysis of carbon composite laminates.
• Fracture Mechanics: Cohesive Zone Modeling using both cohesive elements and cohesive surfaces for EDS (Edge Delamination Strength) tests.
• Fracture Mechanics: X-FEM of various composite coupons and sub-elements such as EDS and DCB specimens.
• Modeling of viscoelastic and nonlinear material models for method validation.

East Hartford, CT, US

• Design engineer responsible for designing rotating carbon composite fairings—specifically fan blade platforms (spacers) for use in Geared Turbo Fan engines.
• Created novel seal design for fan blade platforms and blade interface by performing non-linear, finite element (FE) analysis using Ogden material models in MSC Marc/Mentat 2007 and 2011 (some preprocessing in.
• Worked with drafting, manufacturing engineers, structures engineers, and suppliers to create designs that were simple, producible (minimal to no non-conforming hardware), weight-optimized, balanced, and structurally.
• Responsible for designing floating fan case liner—acoustic treatment, abradable section, and anti-torsion system—for A320 Neo engines.
• Coordinated with other teams to generate and maintain part-to-part interface agreement documents to define bolted joints, clearances, and interference fits.
• Performed: tolerance stack-up, fiber volume, and ply lay-up analyses.

• Primary Function: Maintained, upgraded, and modified fuel cell experiment test stands. This included updating and modifying P&I Diagrams, electrical schematics, specifying components (electrical and mechanical), tuning.
• Secondary Function: Designed custom fixtures for laboratory experiments using 3D CAD software (Pro-E/Wildfire) to be used in high temperature/acidic environments.
• Tertiary Function: Project Engineer for experimental test rigs for accelerated life testing. Oversaw the technical and project development of the rig and had a hand in every-day activities such as electrical/software.
• Expertise: Pumps (centrifugal, positive displacement, peristaltic, etc.), Valves, Mass Flow Controllers (MFC), Pressure Regulators, Mechanical Design (polymer and metal components), Electrical Circuit Design (wiring.

Le Roy, New York, US

• Evaluated past sealing techniques and proposed new sealing strategies for critical, high tolerance areas.
• Investigated high-power electrical busbar bolted joints (thermal expansion, fretting, thermal ratcheting, load distribution frustum, a-spots, etc.) through testing and reviewing IEEE technical papers. Recommended and.
• Designed and performed plastic creep and thermal load cyclic testing (including the calibration of load washers, setting up a DAq system, and writing Matlab code to parse and analyze the data) for GM’s E-Flex battery.
• Conceptualized, prototyped, and tested several battery module retention systems, performing fundamental stress calculations while consulting with metallurgists and fabricators to ensure viability, for GM’s E-Flex.
• Designed and analyzed a low profile, low mass, serviceable, corrosion-resistant, and low-cost in-stack stack lifting/extraction system that could withstand 5x the stack weight.
• Performed extensive testing and analysis on the stack sideplate bolted joint to determine specifications for the bolt, torque, and surface finish for a required load retention safety factor.

Le Roy, New York, US

• Managed more than 30 projects simultaneously: some of which were long term, multi-year projects and about half were high to highest priority.
• Designed direct gas delivery system for 12kW FCAT.
• Designed water balance system for 12kW FCAT, performing stress/strain analysis (using MathCAD) and applying failure criteria on cylindrical pressure vessels.
• Designed high altitude simulation cart, specifying all parts, overseeing construction, and writing 90% of the LabVIEW code needed to perform the test while working closely with software personnel to complete the.
• Packaged compressor simulator cart for a Thermally Optimized Module.
• Designed improved stainless steel insert for dewpoint water knockout/setting vessel.

London, GB

• Developed an in-depth understanding of sonic nozzles, pumps, flow measurement techniques, RH measurement and calculation, and test standards and procedures required for the success of various diverse projects.
• Developed a compressor and refrigerated-compressed-air dryer system for CAGI (www.cagi.org).
• Conceptualized, designed, and fabricated a corrosive fluid test apparatus to determine the life of paradensers by utilizing a flexible design that gives the customer a simple, reliable, and safe system.
• Updated drawings (mechanical and electrical) for refrigeration calorimeter rooms.
• Fabricated electrical control panels (relays, transformers, etc.) and programmed its DAq systems (Yokogawa Darwin) and control output systems (Opto 22).
• Adjusted proprietary core programs written in LabVIEW to add, remove, or modify functionality.

Zurich, Zurich, CH

• Provided recommendations for improving the likelihood of clean dies through both experimentation and data analysis (Statistical Process Control, SPC).
• Identified problems or potential mechanical and process problems and provided solutions.
• Worked both individually and as part of a team to design experiments for the purpose of understanding and improving the die-cleaning process.
• Developed the first successful method for removing microscopic debris from (Ultra Thin Wall) die-pin walls.
• Developed, designed, and tested a prototype of a die-clamping system that allowed die-handlers to easily rotate and lift dies.

• Developed a low-flying (5-7 nm) ABS (air bearing surface) for hard drive read-write heads through iteration, research, novel thinking, and observation.
• Analyzed the validity of the single-degree-of-freedom model of disk-drive read/write sliders by comparing the frequency response and fly-height modulation of a slider simulation in a range of disk-waviness frequencies.
• Performed simulations and provided general research assistance to the various graduate students in the laboratory.

• Conceptualized and designed developmental as well as manufacturing fixtures with SolidWorks by identifying the objective, culling extraneous features, and imparting constraints accordingly.
• Executed product reliability and durability studies by inspecting both the physical state of the product's composite housing and the accuracy of its Class 2 laser diode after various combinations of thermal.
• Suspending a system of two weighted springs in a high-temperature environment, I proved the movement of the soldered joint between the springs to be negligible.

Ms, Material Science

Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Education record