Packer Engineering: Engineers with Answers

James Salmon, Ph.D.

Senior Director

Dr. Salmon specializes in the dynamic simulation of mechanical and electromechanical systems and elements. His focus is on the use of rigid or compliant body analysis to estimate the forces, stresses and dynamic response of components in the system. Dr. Salmon has 23 years of experience applying finite element structural and dynamic modeling methods to analyze the performance of advanced mechanisms and structures. As a practicing engineer he has verified his methods with supporting physical tests of naval ship, military aircraft and vehicle systems.

Before joining Packer Engineering, Dr. Salmon divided his career between Ford Motor Company, General Electric Aircraft Engines and Newport New Shipyard where he performed static and dynamic analysis of vehicle systems, advanced military aircraft and naval ship systems. He has demonstrated expertise at rigid and compliant body kinematic and dynamic analysis of complex mechanisms applied to high performance military aircraft thrust vectoring mechanisms and vehicle structures and mechanisms. He has created and validated computer aided prototyping methods that can be used to predict loads, estimate dynamic event timing, collision impact locations, and design performance of complex systems.

He has recognized expertise in the creation of accurate analytical prototypes of mechanical systems to characterize design performance, illustrate problems and define solutions. His analysis methods are used for robust design optimization prior to the availability of physical prototypes using analytical Design of Experiments and Design for 6-Sigma. He has expertise in simulation of mechanism behavior in the inertia fields associated with vehicle crash, or transient inertia analysis vehicle systems. His developed analysis techniques are used to predict the time dependent response of mechanical systems to the accelerations associated with vehicle impacts. He has years of experience in creating instrumentation plans for military aircraft prototype flight test systems and prototype crash test vehicles.

Dr. Salmon is a Level II certified 6-Sigma Master Black Belt with expertise in teaching and applying the six-sigma problem solving methodology. He has demonstrated expertise in the application of statistical methods to enhance production quality operating systems.