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Of all the projects
I've worked on over the past 20 years, the Pioneers of Shock
and Vibration text book has been the most rewarding. What
started out as a simply tribute to early innovators in the field
of dynamic test, turned into a research project that lasted over
four years. |
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| Pioneers
of Shock and Vibration Shock and Vibration Analysis Center (SAVIAC), SVM-14, 1996 ISBN No. 0-9646940-1-8 Pages: 238 Click Here to visit the SAVIAC website. |
In
the end, it was well worth every moment I spent on the project. The
book clearly touched the lives of the men profiled, most of which
were deeply honored to be considered a pioneer. The book also served
as a commemoration to several individuals that passed away during
the course of preparing the publication . One of my most prized possessions is the autographed copy of the text that I had signed by many of the pioneers at the SAVIAC Shock & Vibration Symposium in 1996. |
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PREFACE Throughout the fifty years following the end of World War II (WWII), many individuals have written retrospective views on the subject of dynamic environmental testing. Most have focused on the significant equipment developments and technology advances in the field, but few have ever focused directly on the individuals who made these progressions possible -- the pioneers. Some notable publications written in the past that have dealt with historical dynamic testing events were ones written by Dwight C. Kennard, Jr., Henry C. Pusey, and Dr. Allen J. Curtis. Kennard, an early random vibration experimentalist and supporter, wrote the publication "A Quarter Century of Progress" in 1970, which brought to light the technology advancements during the twenty-five year period following the end of WWII. The main focus of the paper was the Shock and Vibration Centralizing Activity of the U.S. Navy, initiated by the later Dr. Elias Klein of The Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC. Pusey, a great informationalist and symposium organizer of the modern ere, presented a historical paper at the IES Dynamics Testing and Environmental Reliability Workshop in August 1976 entitled "An Historical View of Dynamic Testing," that detailed the progress in the dynamic test field over a period of three decades. The publication also gave considerable insight to the scientific developments made in areas of shock, vibration, acoustics and combined environments. It concluded with a list of "food for thought" questions for the reader, that made for interesting discussion in following years. Dr. Curtis, the originator of sine-on-random vibration testing, presented the publication "Dynamic Testing- How Far We've Come- How Much Further To Go" at the 50th Shock and Vibration Symposium in October, 1979. The paper discussed vibration test equipment limitations and test requirements shortcomings of the times, as they related to the testing of avionics. He later revisited the subject in 1986 with the publication "Dynamic Testing-Seven Years Later," only to conclude that much of what was wrong with the test industry seven year earlier remained virtually unchanged. The following publication gets its point of departure from a publication written by Henry Pusey in 1989, for the Department of Defense Interagency Committee for the 60th Shock and Vibration Symposium. The publication was entitled "Two Generations of Shock and Vibration Technology - Progress Over Sixty Symposia," and highlighted the progress in shock and vibration technology over 60 symposia. Of particular interest in the "Six Men" section of Pusey's publication, in which he states "If there were a Shock and Vibration Hall of Fame, these men would be among those I would nominate." Pusey was referring to the following six individuals: Dr. Robert O. Belsheim, Charles E. Crede, Dr. Elias Klien, Dr. Robert M. Mains, Dr. Charles T. Morrow, and Dr. Irwin Vigness. This text is an extension of the aforementioned list generated by Pusey. The objective was to expand this list to make it a more comprehensive record of the founding fathers of dynamic testing. Also, the intent was to go beyond the mere mention of these pioneers and notation of some of their contributions to the profession, and present a more detailed look at their professional careers in a perspective worthy of their significance. In addition, the author felt a distinct need to focus on the contributions of some the later-day pioneers (i.e., John D. Favour, David O. Smallwood, Charles Heizman, etc.), who arrived on the scene many years after their legendary predecessors, but whose achievements were still very significant to the advancement of the science. This special publication examines the lives and professional contributions of a group of distinguished pioneers in the field of dynamic environmental testing. The gentlemen to be presented made many outstanding contributions to the profession and have dedicated most of their lives to the advancement of the science. These "founding fathers" helped pave the way for many of today's dynamics engineers, and in many ways are responsible for the quality of life we all enjoy. Thus, it is for this reason that we pay honor and tribute to these individuals for their valued contributions, through a publication such as this. The publication also serves as a special dedication and commemoration to three distinguished pioneers -- John A. Dickie, Dr. William H. Hoppmann, and Dr. Robert M. Mains, who passed away during the course of preparing this publication. A very respected and distinguished pioneer in the field of dynamics was selected to write the Foreword for this book --Dr. Robert . Mains, late Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Bob Mains was one of the early advocates of random vibration testing and played a key role in the historical First Reliability Symposium held in Corona, California in 1951. During his professional career that spanned for over 50 years, Dr. Mains utilized an unique, practical approach to dynamic structural analysis and shock and vibration problems, that has changed the thinking and methodology of many of the practitioners and theoreticians in the technical community. He has also been a valued participant in the technical society by chairing and serving on many technical committees, presenting numerous technical papers, lecturing and tutoring in many disciplines and conducting important pioneering research in the field. Dr. Mains has been close friends with several of the individuals featured in this publication, and has seen "eye to eye" on many of the dynamic concepts developed by these professionals. Thus, I felt Dr. Mains was extremely well qualified to provide a technical assessment of the professional works of many of the pioneers presented. Dr. Mains passed on February 26, 1992. However, before his death he took time to prepare the Foreword to this publication, without regard for his ailing health. This was Dr. Main's first attempt at writing a Foreword, and he was a little unsure of how his approach to the matter would be accepted by the reader. However, it was Dr. Main's hope (and also the author's) that the reader would find the publication as a whole to be enjoyable, informative, and a good appraisal of the technical achievements of the gentlemen presented. --Michael T. Freeman |
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Copyright
2005 Michael T. Freeman. All Rights Reserved.