Alan G. Thomas (scientist)
Alan G. Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1927 |
| Died | 23 April 2019 |
| Nationality | |
Alan G. Thomas (1927-2019) was an international authority on the mechanics of rubbery materials, in particular their
Griffith's energy release rate criterion
to the analysis of rubber's strength and fatigue behavior.
Thomas attend Brasenose College, Oxford to study physics, graduating in 1948. He then accepted a position at the
Ronald S. Rivlin
, who suggested that he study the strength of rubber.
He developed the theories of strength and crack growth in rubber, starting from the work of
strain energy release rate
provided a useful way to characterize the conditions at a crack tip, a problem that previously had been thought intractable due to the finite straining and nonlinearly elastic stress-strain behavior of rubber.
Thomas has been recognised with many prizes and medals. Most notable of these are the 1978
MRPRA
, received the Prince Philip award in 1990 for his pioneering work on earthquake bearings.
He was a visiting professor in the Materials Department at Queen Mary University of London since 1975.
Prof Alan Thomas died in his sleep on 23 April 2019.[8]
References
- ^ "Colwyn Medal award winners". iom3. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ Rivlin, R. S., & Thomas, A. G. (1953). Rupture of rubber. I. Characteristic energy for tearing. Journal of Polymer Science, 10(3), 291-318.
- .
- .
- ^ "The phenomenon of rupture and flow in solids", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Vol. A221 pp.163-98
- ^ "IOM3 Awards website"
- ^ "CHARLES GOODYEAR MEDALISTS, 1941-2014". Rubber and Plastics News. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "Prof Alan Thomas (1927 – 2019)".