Charles William Smith (January 1, 1926 — July 30, 2012) was an American engineer and professor.[1][2]
C. W. Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1926 |
| Died | July 30, 2012 (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | Virginia Tech (MS) Virginia Tech (BS) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mechanics photoelasticity fracture mechanics |
| Institutions | Virginia Tech |
Education
editSmith earned a BS in Civil Engineering in 1947 and an MS in Applied Mechanics in1950 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.[3]
Research and career
editSmith became a full-time instructor in 1948 while working on his master's degree. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1950 upon completing his degree. At the time Virginia Tech was strictly a teaching institution and Smith pushed for a stronger role of performing research. Following a seminar from George Rankine Irwin, Smith became interested in fracture mechanics and applying photoelasticity.[4] He was one of the investigators on the 1969 Department of Defense Themis grant that served as the genesis of Virginia Tech's international leadership in composite and advanced materials.[5] He retired in 1992 and became an Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus.[3] Smith was named an Honorary Member of the Society for Experimental Mechanics in 2002, a position held until his death in 2012.[6]
Awards and recognition
edit- Society for Experimental Mechanics Fellow (1977)[7]
- Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Excellence in Research (1977)[8]
- Society for Experimental Mechanics Frocht (1983)[9]
- NASA's Langley Research Center Scientific Achievement Award (1986)[10]
- American Academy of Mechanics Fellow (1991)[11]
- Dan Pletta Engineering Educator of the Year Award from the Virginia Schools of Engineering (1991)[10]
- Society for Experimental Mechanics Murray Lecture and Award (1993)[12]
- Society for Experimental Mechanics Lazan (1995)[13]
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow (1997)[14]
- Society for Experimental Mechanics Tatnall (1997)[12]
- Society for Experimental Mechanics Honorary Member (2002 to 2012)[6]
- Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering Excellence (2006)[15]
- Society for Experimental Mechanics Taylor (2010)[16]
References
edit- ^ "Charles William Smith Obituary (2012) Roanoke Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "Bill Smith - View Obituary & Service Information". Bill Smith Obituary. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ a b "C. William Smith". eng.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "The Old and New…: A Narrative on the History of the Society for Experimental Mechanics". IEEE. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "History of the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ a b "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
- ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ "C. William Smith". eng.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ a b "In memoriam: C.W. Smith, Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Engineering Science and Mechanics". vtx.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "In Remembrance | American Academy of Mechanics". Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ a b "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "Fellows". www.asme.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "Academy of Engineering Excellence". eng.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
- ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.