Bernard Budiansky
Encyclopedia
Bernard Budiansky was a renowned scholar in the field of applied mechanics
, and made seminal contributions to the mechanics of structures and mechanics of materials. He was a recipient of the Timoshenko Medal
.
on March 8, 1925, to Russian immigrant parents. Upon obtaining a Bachelor of Civil Engineering
degree from City College of New York
in 1944 when he was barely over 19, he became an aeronautical research scientist at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA
, forerunner to NASA
) at Langley Field, Virginia.
He took an educational leave from NACA to enroll in 1947 in the graduate program in Applied Mathematics
at Brown University
, completing his Ph.D. in 1950. He returned to Langley in 1950 and, in 1952, was appointed Head of the Structural Mechanics Branch. He joined the faculty of Harvard in 1955.
He made widely cited contributions on the way that fissures and joints in rocks affect the propagation of seismic waves, which has become a standard basis for inferring rock properties in the Earth, and contributed to understanding stressing and deformation in the inflation of the human lung.
His work of the later years was focused on problems in the domain of materials science
, explaining mechanical properties of solids in terms of microscopic mechanisms. He referred to this important area as "micromechanics
". He was one of its pioneers, and contributed to explanation of the fracture
of ductile metals and the toughening of normally brittle ceramic
s and composite materials.
Budiansky won many honors including the AIAA 1970 Dryden Research Lecturer; CCNY 1974 Townsend Harris Medal; ASCE 1982 von Karman Medal; Society of Engineering Science 1985 Eringen Medal; ASME 1989 Timoshenko Medal
. He received honorary doctorates from Northwestern University
1986 and Technion Israel Institute of Technology. In addition he was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
, the National Academy of Engineering
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
; the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science; and the Danish Center for Applied Mathematics and Mechanics. Professional affiliations included: ASCE, ASME, AIAA, and AGU.
Bernard Budiansky died January 23, 1999, at his home in Lexington, Massachusetts
, aged 73.
Applied mechanics
Applied mechanics is a branch of the physical sciences and the practical application of mechanics. Applied mechanics examines the response of bodies or systems of bodies to external forces...
, and made seminal contributions to the mechanics of structures and mechanics of materials. He was a recipient of the Timoshenko Medal
Timoshenko Medal
The Timoshenko Medal is an award given annually by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to an individual"in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of applied mechanics."...
.
Biography
Budiansky was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 8, 1925, to Russian immigrant parents. Upon obtaining a Bachelor of Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
degree from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1944 when he was barely over 19, he became an aeronautical research scientist at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA
NACA
- Organizations :* National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the forerunner of the U.S. federal agency NASA* National Association for Campus Activities, an organization for programmers of university and college activities...
, forerunner to NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
) at Langley Field, Virginia.
He took an educational leave from NACA to enroll in 1947 in the graduate program in Applied Mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, completing his Ph.D. in 1950. He returned to Langley in 1950 and, in 1952, was appointed Head of the Structural Mechanics Branch. He joined the faculty of Harvard in 1955.
He made widely cited contributions on the way that fissures and joints in rocks affect the propagation of seismic waves, which has become a standard basis for inferring rock properties in the Earth, and contributed to understanding stressing and deformation in the inflation of the human lung.
His work of the later years was focused on problems in the domain of materials science
Materials science
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
, explaining mechanical properties of solids in terms of microscopic mechanisms. He referred to this important area as "micromechanics
Micromechanics
Micromechanics is the analysis of composite or heterogeneous materials on the level of the individual constituents that constitute these materials.- Aims of micromechanics of materials :...
". He was one of its pioneers, and contributed to explanation of the fracture
Fracture
A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two, or more, pieces under the action of stress.The word fracture is often applied to bones of living creatures , or to crystals or crystalline materials, such as gemstones or metal...
of ductile metals and the toughening of normally brittle ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s and composite materials.
Budiansky won many honors including the AIAA 1970 Dryden Research Lecturer; CCNY 1974 Townsend Harris Medal; ASCE 1982 von Karman Medal; Society of Engineering Science 1985 Eringen Medal; ASME 1989 Timoshenko Medal
Timoshenko Medal
The Timoshenko Medal is an award given annually by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to an individual"in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of applied mechanics."...
. He received honorary doctorates from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
1986 and Technion Israel Institute of Technology. In addition he was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
; the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science; and the Danish Center for Applied Mathematics and Mechanics. Professional affiliations included: ASCE, ASME, AIAA, and AGU.
Bernard Budiansky died January 23, 1999, at his home in Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
, aged 73.
Doctoral degree
- Brown University, 1950
- Title of thesis: Fundamental Theorems and Consequences of the Slip Theory of Plasticity
- Advisor: William PragerWilliam PragerWilliam Prager was a German-born US applied mathematician.He was a lecturer at Darmstadt, a deputy director at University of Göttingen, professor at Karlsruhe, University of Istanbul, the University of California, San Diego and Brown University, where he advised Bernard Budiansky.The Society of...