The ASCE Raymond D. Mindlin Medal
04/12/2008
The Raymond D. Mindlin Medal has recently been established by the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The Medal is awarded
through the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI, previously known as
the Engineering Mechanics Division of the ASCE). The award recognizes
an individual on his/her outstanding research contributions to applied
solid mechanics.
Prof. Alex Cheng, the Vice President of EMI, embarked on a campaign to
solicit funds for the medal. Prof. Younane Abousleiman (a former CEEM
alumnus, The Director for the Poromechanics Institute, Oklahoma
University), Chevron, and Madame M. A. Biot, among several other
individuals, made major contributions to the fund. http://www.olemiss.edu/sciencenet/mindlin/donor.htm
Prof. Mindlin (1906-1987) made pioneering contributions to the field of
applied mechanics during his tenure at Columbia University, such as
- Photoelasticity and experimental mechanics
- Classical three-dimensional elasticity (e.g., Mindlin's problem)
- Generalized elastic continua (Strain-gradient and couple-stress theory)
- Frictional contact and granular media
- Waves and vibrations in isotropic and anisotropic plates (Mindlin's Plate Theory)
- Wave propagation in rods and cylinders
- Theory of electro-elasticity and piezoelectric crystal resonators
- Crystal lattice theories
The Department of CEEM established the Mindlin Lecture a few years ago to honor his contribution to Applied Mechanics.