| Graham Lake | |
| Birth Date: | 13 April 1935 |
| Birth Place: | Croydon, Surrey, England |
| Nationality: | British |
| Field: | Polymer science |
| Work Institution: | BRPRA |
| Alma Mater: | University of London |
| Known For: | Rubber fatigue |
| Country: | England |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Club1: | Gloucestershire |
| Year1: | 1956–1958 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 13 |
| Runs1: | 106 |
| Bat Avg1: | 7.57 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 18 |
| Deliveries1: | 1,017 |
| Wickets1: | 17 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 27.29 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 4/39 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 6/– |
| Date: | 1 August |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16433.html Cricinfo |
Graham Johnson Lake (13 April 1935 – 15 February 2023)[1] was an English scientist known for his contributions to understanding rubber's fatigue limit,[2] [3] and a former professional English cricketer.
Lake began his scientific career as a research assistant in 1958 at the British Rubber Producer's Research Association.[4] During his employment at BRPRA, he attended evening classes at the University of London, achieving a B.Sc. in Physics in 1962, and a Ph.D. in 1967. He undertook fundamental studies of the fatigue properties of elastomers, and established the principle that fatigue cracks develop from pre-existing features of rubber's microstructure, in accordance with the expectations of Fracture Mechanics.[5] Together with doctoral student Oon Hock Yeoh he also studied the mechanics of cutting of rubber with a blade, thereby establishing the principle that rubber's intrinsic strength and fatigue limit are the same and that they can be measured via cutting experiments.[6]
Lake received the 1995 Colwyn Medal.[7] In 2003, he received the Charles Goodyear Medal in recognition of the significance of his contributions to rubber science.
A symposium was organized in 2003 to honor the 50th anniversary of the development of Fracture Mechanics for rubber, and the symposium title was chosen as 'Fracture Mechanics and Elastomers: 50 not out', in reference to Lake's past career as a professional cricketer.[8]
Lake was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed tail-end batsman.
Lake made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Sussex in the 1956 County Championship. He made 12 further first-class appearances, the last of which came against Oxford University in 1958.[9] In his 13 first-class matches, he scored 106 runs at an average of 7.57, with a high score of 18.[10] With the ball, he took 17 wickets at a bowling average of 27.29, with best figures of 4/39.[11]