Jan D. Achenbach Explained

Jan D. Achenbach
Birth Date:	20 August 1935
Birth Place:	Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Citizenship:	U.S.
Field:	Solid mechanics
Work Institution:	Columbia University Northwestern University
Alma Mater:	Delft University of Technology Stanford University
Doctoral Advisor:	Chi-Chang Chao
Known For:	Wave Motion
Prizes:	William Prager Medal National Medal of Technology National Medal of Science Theodore von Karman Medal ASME Medal Timoshenko Medal

Jan Drewes Achenbach (20 August 1935 – 22 August 2020)^[1] was a professor emeritus (Walter P. Murphy Professor and Distinguished McCormick School Professor) at Northwestern University. Achenbach was born in the northern region of the Netherlands, in Leeuwarden. He studied aeronautics at Delft University of Technology, which he finished with a M.Sc. degree in 1959. Thereafter, he went to the United States, Stanford University, where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1962. After working for a year as a preceptor at Columbia University, he was then appointed as assistant professor at Northwestern University.^[2]

Achenbach has developed methods for flaw detection and characterization by using contact transducers, imaging techniques and laser-based ultrasonics. He has also developed methods for thin-layer characterization by acoustic microscopy. Work is both analytical and experimental in nature, with extensive cooperation with investigators from other universities and from industrial organizations on theoretical experimental projects. Work in fracture mechanics has been primarily on dynamic fracture. He also carried out research on structural acoustics and on the mechanical behavior of composite materials.

Achenbach is the founding editor-in-chief of Wave Motion. He was editor in chief from the journal's establishment in 1979, until 2012.

Honors and awards

Awards

• 2012 – ASME Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers^[3]
• 2010 – Theodore von Karman Medal by the American Society of Civil Engineers^[4]
• 2005 – National Medal of Science^[5]
• 2003 – National Medal of Technology^[6]
• 2001 – William Prager Medal by the Society of Engineering Science^[7]
• 1997 – Outstanding Service Award by the American Academy of Mechanics^[8]
• 1996 – McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace Model of Excellence Award by McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace^[9]
• 1992 – Timoshenko Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers^[10]
• 1975 – Curtis W. McGraw Research Award by the American Society of Engineering Education^[11]

Memberships and fellowships

• Member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Honorary Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1994)^[12]
• Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
• Corresponding Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (1999)^[13]
• Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America
• Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics

Books

• Book: Achenbach , J. D. . Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-81734-9. Reciprocity in elastodynamics. 2003.
• Book: Pitman Advanced Pub. Program. 0-273-08453-4. 2. Achenbach. J. D.. Gautesen. A. K.. McMaken. H. . Ray methods for waves in elastic solids. 1982.
• Book: Achenbach , J. D. . Springer. 978-3-211-81234-1. 2. A theory of elasticity with microstructure for directionally reinforced composites. 1975.
• Book: Achenbach , J. D. . North-Holland. 0-7204-0325-1. 2. Wave propagation in elastic solids. North-Holland Series in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics . 1973.

References

Other

• 10.1016/S0165-2125(02)00026-4 . Wave Motion . 36 . 4 . 307–309. 2002 . J. G. . Harris . Editorial – A biographical note on Jan D. Achenbach with a foreword to the special issue.
• 10.1016/S0020-7683(02)00353-0 . 39 . 21–22 . 5375–5378 . Bazant . Zdenek P. . Jianmin . Qu . Preface . International Journal of Solids and Structures . 2002 . – A volume in honour of Jan D. Achenbach
• IEEE Transactions on Sonics and Ultrasonics . SU-27 . 3 . 137–138 . Contributors . 1980 . 10.1109/T-SU.1980.31164.

External links

• • Web site: Jan D. Achenbach . Northwestern University . Mechanical Engineering – Department directory . 10 December 2010.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Professor Emeritus Jan D. Achenbach Passes Away. McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University. Brian Sandalow. 2020-08-25. en.
2. Web site: Professor Achenbach, Research . Northwestern University . 2 February 2013 . 10 June 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100610192450/http://www.mech.northwestern.edu/fac/achenbach/ . dead .
3. Web site: ASME Medal . ASME . 16 November 2012.
4. Web site: Theodore von Karman Medal . ASCE . 15 December 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100705025238/http://www.asce.org/AwardsContent.aspx?id=18762 . 5 July 2010 .
5. Web site: President to Award 2005–2006 National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology Honoring Nation's Leading Researchers, Inventors and Innovators . National Science Foundation . 15 December 2010.
6. Web site: Achenbach Awarded National Medal of Technology by President Bush . Northwestern University . 15 December 2010.
7. Jan D. Achenbach receives William Prager Medal . Journal of the Acoustical Society of America . 110 . 5 . 2001 . 2238 . 2001ASAJ..110.2238. . 10.1121/1.4734372 . 2020-01-31 . https://archive.today/20120709163907/http://link.aip.org/link/?JAS/110/2238/ . 2012-07-09 . dead .
8. Web site: AAM outstanding service award recipients . American Academy of Mechanics . 15 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720031437/http://www.aamech.org/fellows/serviceaward.html . 20 July 2011 . dead .
9. Team Wins Model of Excellence Award . Center for Nondestructive Evaluation News . 7 . 2 . 1996 . 8 . 15 December 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100612121629/http://www.cnde.iastate.edu/cnde_news/Jun96_CNDEnews.pdf . 12 June 2010 .
10. Web site: Timoshenko Medal . ASME . 15 December 2010.
11. Web site: Past National Award Winners – Curtis W. McGraw Research Award . American Society of Engineering Education . 15 December 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110213061111/http://www.asee.org/member-resources/awards/full-list-of-awards/awards-archive/past-national-award-winners-1 . 13 February 2011 .
12. Web site: Book of Members, 1780-2010: Chapter A. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 1 April 2011.
13. Web site: Jan Achenbach . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808001748/https://www.knaw.nl/en/members/correspondents/3785 . Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences . 8 August 2020.