Rafael Silva

420 S. Green Valley Drive,
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 357-9025
mechanical_engineer@wowway.com
http://home.fnal.gov/~rafael



SUMMARY

Mechanical engineer with Master's degree in 
Materials, dedicated, versatile, organized,
creative, efficient and able to convey technical 
concepts to non-technical audiences. More than 
18 years of professional experience, including 
14 years in mechanical design and 2 years in 
technical inspections. Responsible for many 
successfully completed projects, totaling more 
than $2 million. 



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Fermilab - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
IL, USA
Mechanical Engineer
Sep 91 - present

Responsible for:
* Mechanical design of equipment for high-
energy physics research, including 
sub-atomic particle detectors, ranging in size 
from inches to yards, with design tolerances 
of thousandths of an inch, constantly 
interfacing with multi-disciplinary personnel, 
dealing with limited resources, shifting 
priorities, and tight schedules.
* Design, construction, and installation of: 36 
structures (including supports, stands, frames, 
and lifting fixtures, with weights from pounds 
to tons); 10 mechanisms (including assembly, 
soldering, and gluing fixtures); 1 pneumatic 
system; 4 electromechanical systems 
(including positioning systems); 3 water 
systems; 2 gas systems; 2 pressure vessels; 
12 pressure vessel safety relief systems; and 
10 gas bags.
* Performed analyses of: 26 structures 
(including 4 "below-the-hook" lifting 
devices); 1 vacuum vessel; 4 small diameter 
piping systems; and 1 IC board water cooling 
system.
* Conducted reviews of: 6 structural analyses 
(including 3 "below-the-hook" lifting 
devices); and 16 pressure vessels safety relief 
analyses.

Experience in all phases of a project, from 
conception to commissioning: 
* Supervised the work of engineers, 
designers, drafters, technicians, and co-ops.
* Coordinated efforts of affiliates from 
different collaborating institutions.   
* Developed procedures, formal technical 
reports, specifications, timelines, costs and 
manpower estimates.
* Planned assembly, testing, inspection, 
installation, and alignment of mechanical 
equipment.
* Conducted research work on plastic sheets, 
metal plates, as well as welded and bolted 
connections. 
* Designed, constructed, tested, and evaluated 
prototypes.
* Checked and approved layouts, fabrication 
drawings, and P&ID's.
* Researched, tested, and selected several 
fabrication techniques, including milling, 
plasma cutting, water jet machining, 
electrical discharge machining, thread rolling, 
injection molding, and extrusion.
* Specified several surface finishes including 
nickel plating, hard coating, and powder 
coating. 
* Selected fabricators; specified and 
purchased off-the-shelf and custom 
components. 

Volunteer work: 
* Coordinated cultural events for Fermilab's 
Art and Lecture Series.


BV - Bureau Veritas
RJ, Brazil
Mechanical Engineer
Apr 86 - Feb 88

* Verified compliance with contractual 
technical specifications for materials and 
fabrication of industrial equipment, pressure 
vessels, vehicles, and structures.
* On-site inspections of off-shore platforms, 
refineries, chemical plants, shipyards, 
factories, and shops, performed in more than 
60 companies. 
* Conducted mechanical, hydrostatic, 
pneumatic, flow, explosion, combustion, and 
performance tests.
* Qualified welding procedures and welders; 
performed and evaluated results of NDT.


Carbrasmar
RJ, Brazil
Mechanical Engineer
Dec 85 - Mar 86

* Designed and selected components for 
fiberglass fire-proof lifeboats.

* Conducted fire-proof certification process.

* Prepared lifeboat and successfully completed
tests for the fire-proof certification process.


Montreal Engenharia
RJ, Brazil
Engineer Trainee
Mar 85 - Nov 85

* Supervised construction and installation of 
pipelines and reservoirs in a petrochemical 
plant.
 

Shell Petroleum
RJ, Brazil
Co-op
Jun 84 - Jan 85

* Assisted on supervision of construction and 
installation of reservoirs in refineries.



EDUCATION

M.S., Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
Mar 88 - Aug 91
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro,
COPPE/UFRJ
Brazil

* Emphasis in mechanical properties of 
materials. 
* Thesis in Fracture Mechanics involving 
methodology of CTOD and JIc tests by multi-
specimen and unloading compliance 
methods. 
* Developed software interfacing a PC with 
an INSTRON mechanical test machine to 
perform data acquisition and analysis of the 
CTOD and JIc tests performed.
* Award: M.S. fellowship, 
Department of Education of Brazil, 
full-time student.


B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Mar 80 - Feb 85
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 
UFRJ
Brazil

* Emphasis in fluid and thermal sciences.

Both degrees accredited by World Education 
Services, New York, NY.



TRAINING

* University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI:
Structural Steel Design course
* College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL:
Machine Shop course.
* HSB Global Standards, Hartford, CT:
Pressure Vessels.
* SDRC I-DEAS, Oak Brook, IL: 
Parts Design (3D), Pre and Post Processing, 
and Linear Solvers (FEA) training.
* FERMILAB, Batavia, IL:
I-DEAS; crane, forklift, and scissors lift 
operation; ODH and radiation training.



SKILLS

* Experienced in designing according to AA, 
AISC/ASD, AWS, ASME sec.VIII Div.1, 
and ASME B30.20.
* Familiar with various international 
standards such as BV, ASTM, ASME 
sec.VIII Div.2 and sec.IX, UL, SOLAS, 
AFNOR, ISO, ABNT, and PETROBRAS.
* Versed in ANSI Y14.5, Geometric 
Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
* Skilled user of I-DEAS CAD software: 2D 
drafting, 3D solid modeling and FEA 
simulation. 
* Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, 
Mathsoft Mathcad, and Roark & Young on 
TKsolver.



LANGUAGES

* Portuguese, English: 	
fully fluent; excellent oral and written 
communication skills.
* Spanish:
very good reading, understanding, and 
speaking skills.
* French, Italian:
technical reading.