Specialties & Experience
General Specialties:
Engineering - Forensic
Specialty Focus:
Mechanical Engineering, design
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland, 1999 Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical - 1st Class Hons.), The University of Queensland, 1994
Years in Practice:
27
Number of Times Deposed/Testified in Last 4 Yrs:
195
Additional Information
Dr Raymond Hope is the Founder and Chief Engineer of ANH Forensic Engineers and specialises in Forensic Engineering Failure Analysis and providing Professional Expert Witness services to the legal profession.
Dr Hope is a highly experienced Expert Witness. He has investigated more than 1000 incidents over the last 27 years and prepared expert engineering evidence for the legal profession of Australia. This evidence has ranged from detailed failure analysis of major industrial accidents, machinery failure, including numerous engine failures, patent and copyright actions, motor vehicle accident investigation and re-construction and personal injury cases.
As well as providing expert reports for the Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Supreme Courts, Magistrates Courts, District Courts and the High Court of New Zealand, Dr Hope has appeared to give evidence in Supreme Courts, District Courts, and Magistrates Courts in Australia. Matters for which Dr Hope has presented evidence to the Court in person include cases involving charges of manslaughter; dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death; machinery fit for purposes matters, class actions, and various civil matters.
Noteworthy cases include Parliament House, Canberra, where he inspected and analysed the cause of approximately one million dollars’ worth of accidental water damage to the Cabinet Room and the Prime Minister’s office, and a crane failure that led to the destruction of the crane and major damage to a mining dragline boom.
Areas of Expertise/Special Interests
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accident analysis and reconstruction, of incidents involving a single vehicle or multiple vehicles, including passenger cars, prime movers and trailers, trucks, motorcycles, marine vessels, or buses.
• Pre-incident speed analysis
• Head-on impacts
• Vehicle rollover
• Skid mark analysis
• Headlight and taillight on/off analysis
• Pedestrian impacts
• Determination of seat belt use
• Stopping distances calculation
• Position of vehicle pre-impact
• Motorcycle and Bicycle impacts
• Tyre, suspension, brakes, steering and other component failures
Machinery Failure / Forensic Engineering
Inspection, failure analysis, and root cause analysis of significant machinery failures and cracking.
• Large engines: trucks, plant, marine vessel, generators
• SAG and ball mills: cracks, bearing failures, design audits
• Nuclear facility component failure
• Drill rig damage
• Rock hammer failure
• Conveyors
• Haul trucks
• Excavators
• Dozers
• Tractors
Cranes & Elevating Work Platforms
Cranes, Elevating Work Platforms (EWP) and lifting equipment failures and root cause analysis.
• Cranes dropping load
• Near misses from dropped loads
• Mobile crane crashes
• Crane collapse
• Injuries and fatalities
• Operator error
• EWP collapse
• Failing from EWP bucket
• Lifting equipment failures
Personal Injury
Occupational health & safety, system of work assessments and investigation and analysis of injuries and fatalities from;
• Workplace incidents
• Cumulative trauma disorders
• Lifting, pushing, pulling injuries
• Slip & falls
• Crushing impacts
• Amusement rides
• Ergonomics
• Noise and vibration effects
• Ladder failures and falls
• Garage door and sliding door injuries
Patents & Copyright
Review and assessment of IP claims, including patent and copyright disputes.
• Electric vehicle systems patents
• 4WD recovery equipment patents
• Fish harvesting machine patent
• Industrial conveyor belt system
• Heavy haul trailer design copyright
• Heavy vehicle suspension performance patent
• Building product patent infringement
• Sunshade and umbrella patents
• Playground products
• Engineering comparisons of technology
Fit For Purpose Assessment
Forensic Engineering reviews and assessments of machinery and products where legal claims have arisen over fitness for purpose.
• Farming machinery
• Industrial and mining machinery
• Building lifts and machinery
• Vehicle modifications
• Heating and air-conditioning systems and building insulation
• Consumer products
Product Liability
Consumer and industrial product analysis, testing and assessment of compliance with standards. Assessment of products involved in personal injury matters or property loss.
• Chair failures
• Power tools: Angle grinder, drills and drill presses, nail guns
• Ladder failures
• Kitchen appliances
• Hot water systems
• Heating devices
• Liquid Nitrogen storage tank
Fire & Explosions
Building, plant, machinery, and motor vehicle fires & explosions. Analysis and ignition source identification.
• Crane engine fire
• Haul truck fire
• Gas well explosion
• Excavator fire
• Underground mine explosion
• Hotel/backpacker fire
• Car engine fire
• Arson investigations
Crime Scene Forensic Engineering
Forensic Engineering reviews and assessments of crime scene evidence.
• Murder / manslaughter investigations
• Death by shootings
• Death by carbon monoxide poisoning
• Death from impacts
• Death from machinery failure
Aircraft Crashes
Helicopter and Aeroplane accident reconstruction and analysis of component failures.
• Helicopter bearing failure
• Aeroplane engine failure
• Helicopter drive train failure
Product Design, Analysis, and Testing
Turning ideas and innovations into successful products.
• Concept review, generation, and development
• Detailed design and 3D modelling
• Design to Australian or International Standards
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) computational load testing
• Physical testing of prototypes or production parts
Dr Hope is a highly experienced Expert Witness. He has investigated more than 1000 incidents over the last 27 years and prepared expert engineering evidence for the legal profession of Australia. This evidence has ranged from detailed failure analysis of major industrial accidents, machinery failure, including numerous engine failures, patent and copyright actions, motor vehicle accident investigation and re-construction and personal injury cases.
As well as providing expert reports for the Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Supreme Courts, Magistrates Courts, District Courts and the High Court of New Zealand, Dr Hope has appeared to give evidence in Supreme Courts, District Courts, and Magistrates Courts in Australia. Matters for which Dr Hope has presented evidence to the Court in person include cases involving charges of manslaughter; dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death; machinery fit for purposes matters, class actions, and various civil matters.
Noteworthy cases include Parliament House, Canberra, where he inspected and analysed the cause of approximately one million dollars’ worth of accidental water damage to the Cabinet Room and the Prime Minister’s office, and a crane failure that led to the destruction of the crane and major damage to a mining dragline boom.
Areas of Expertise/Special Interests
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accident analysis and reconstruction, of incidents involving a single vehicle or multiple vehicles, including passenger cars, prime movers and trailers, trucks, motorcycles, marine vessels, or buses.
• Pre-incident speed analysis
• Head-on impacts
• Vehicle rollover
• Skid mark analysis
• Headlight and taillight on/off analysis
• Pedestrian impacts
• Determination of seat belt use
• Stopping distances calculation
• Position of vehicle pre-impact
• Motorcycle and Bicycle impacts
• Tyre, suspension, brakes, steering and other component failures
Machinery Failure / Forensic Engineering
Inspection, failure analysis, and root cause analysis of significant machinery failures and cracking.
• Large engines: trucks, plant, marine vessel, generators
• SAG and ball mills: cracks, bearing failures, design audits
• Nuclear facility component failure
• Drill rig damage
• Rock hammer failure
• Conveyors
• Haul trucks
• Excavators
• Dozers
• Tractors
Cranes & Elevating Work Platforms
Cranes, Elevating Work Platforms (EWP) and lifting equipment failures and root cause analysis.
• Cranes dropping load
• Near misses from dropped loads
• Mobile crane crashes
• Crane collapse
• Injuries and fatalities
• Operator error
• EWP collapse
• Failing from EWP bucket
• Lifting equipment failures
Personal Injury
Occupational health & safety, system of work assessments and investigation and analysis of injuries and fatalities from;
• Workplace incidents
• Cumulative trauma disorders
• Lifting, pushing, pulling injuries
• Slip & falls
• Crushing impacts
• Amusement rides
• Ergonomics
• Noise and vibration effects
• Ladder failures and falls
• Garage door and sliding door injuries
Patents & Copyright
Review and assessment of IP claims, including patent and copyright disputes.
• Electric vehicle systems patents
• 4WD recovery equipment patents
• Fish harvesting machine patent
• Industrial conveyor belt system
• Heavy haul trailer design copyright
• Heavy vehicle suspension performance patent
• Building product patent infringement
• Sunshade and umbrella patents
• Playground products
• Engineering comparisons of technology
Fit For Purpose Assessment
Forensic Engineering reviews and assessments of machinery and products where legal claims have arisen over fitness for purpose.
• Farming machinery
• Industrial and mining machinery
• Building lifts and machinery
• Vehicle modifications
• Heating and air-conditioning systems and building insulation
• Consumer products
Product Liability
Consumer and industrial product analysis, testing and assessment of compliance with standards. Assessment of products involved in personal injury matters or property loss.
• Chair failures
• Power tools: Angle grinder, drills and drill presses, nail guns
• Ladder failures
• Kitchen appliances
• Hot water systems
• Heating devices
• Liquid Nitrogen storage tank
Fire & Explosions
Building, plant, machinery, and motor vehicle fires & explosions. Analysis and ignition source identification.
• Crane engine fire
• Haul truck fire
• Gas well explosion
• Excavator fire
• Underground mine explosion
• Hotel/backpacker fire
• Car engine fire
• Arson investigations
Crime Scene Forensic Engineering
Forensic Engineering reviews and assessments of crime scene evidence.
• Murder / manslaughter investigations
• Death by shootings
• Death by carbon monoxide poisoning
• Death from impacts
• Death from machinery failure
Aircraft Crashes
Helicopter and Aeroplane accident reconstruction and analysis of component failures.
• Helicopter bearing failure
• Aeroplane engine failure
• Helicopter drive train failure
Product Design, Analysis, and Testing
Turning ideas and innovations into successful products.
• Concept review, generation, and development
• Detailed design and 3D modelling
• Design to Australian or International Standards
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) computational load testing
• Physical testing of prototypes or production parts