Dirk Smith, Ph.D., P.E.
ACTAR Number 985
Dr. Smith completed his Ph.D. in 1993 at Purdue University, where his research area was vehicle dynamics and control. Dr. Smith has taught courses in machine design, vibrations, and vehicle dynamics. Prior to returning to Purdue in 1989, he worked for Hughes Aircraft Company designing satellite structures. While at Louisiana State University, Dr. Smith was the Faculty Advisor for the SAE Mini-Baja Team. He supervised the design, fabrication, and testing of the off road vehicle.
Dr. Smith’s research, engineering, and consulting backgrounds have provided him with experience in machine design, vibration analysis, vehicle dynamics, accident reconstruction (including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and construction vehicles), and event data recorders. He also has experience evaluating trailer loading/unloading accidents. Dr. Smith is an avid motorcycle rider giving him special insight regarding motorcycle accidents and rider actions.
Dr. Smith has reconstructed accidents involving: commercial tractor/trailers, high-speed fatality collisions, daytime and nighttime pedestrian accidents, car-bicycle and car-motorcycle collisions, vehicle rollovers, low-speed collisions for biomechanical analysis and construction vehicles/machines. Dr. Smith evaluates traffic signal timing relating to intersection collisions. He has also worked on product liability cases involving: vehicle systems, motorcycles, scaffolds, ladders, forklifts, aerial lifts and machine components. Dr. Smith has testified in state and federal courts.
Dr. Smith’s research, engineering, and consulting backgrounds have provided him with experience in machine design, vibration analysis, vehicle dynamics, accident reconstruction (including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and construction vehicles), and event data recorders. He also has experience evaluating trailer loading/unloading accidents. Dr. Smith is an avid motorcycle rider giving him special insight regarding motorcycle accidents and rider actions.
Dr. Smith has reconstructed accidents involving: commercial tractor/trailers, high-speed fatality collisions, daytime and nighttime pedestrian accidents, car-bicycle and car-motorcycle collisions, vehicle rollovers, low-speed collisions for biomechanical analysis and construction vehicles/machines. Dr. Smith evaluates traffic signal timing relating to intersection collisions. He has also worked on product liability cases involving: vehicle systems, motorcycles, scaffolds, ladders, forklifts, aerial lifts and machine components. Dr. Smith has testified in state and federal courts.