63 Hesse Hall
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720
David Rich is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. He is currently working on a project to convert woody biomass to bio-oil, which can be refined to produce green diesel.
Dr. Rich;s primary area of expertise is development of experimental platforms for the study of combustion phenomena including research into causes of fire, internal combustion engine performance, and studies of vehicle emissions. Methods include IR thermometry, particle image velocimetry, laser induced fluorescence, continuous mass loss measurement, high speed and IR videography, engine dynamometers, gas sampling, and a range of analog and computer measurement techniques. Work in engine performance, emissions and alternative fuels includes measurements and mitigation of engine pollutants and particulate emissions using a number of innovative methods like ammonia treatment, water injection, bio-fuels, particle traps, afterburning, and radio isotope tracing of particulates. NASA sponsored work on fire safety includes research into flame propagation rates of a plug-flow flame through porous media in microgravity and experimental investigation of the mechanisms governing ignition delay and flame spread of materials, particularly composites, intended for use in the micro-gravity conditions of spacecraft.
Fire expert witness requests are handled through Reax Engineering.