Charles  William Smith (January 1, 1926 — July 30, 2012) was an American engineer and professor.[1][2]

C. W. Smith
Born(1926-01-01)January 1, 1926
DiedJuly 30, 2012(2012-07-30) (aged 86)
Alma materVirginia Tech (MS)
Virginia Tech (BS)
Scientific career
FieldsMechanics
photoelasticity
fracture mechanics
InstitutionsVirginia Tech

Education

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Smith 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

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Smith 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Charles William Smith Obituary (2012) Roanoke Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  2. ^ "Bill Smith - View Obituary & Service Information". Bill Smith Obituary. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  3. ^ a b "C. William Smith". eng.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "History of the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  6. ^ a b "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  7. ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "C. William Smith". eng.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  9. ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  10. ^ a b "In memoriam: C.W. Smith, Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Engineering Science and Mechanics". vtx.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  11. ^ "In Remembrance | American Academy of Mechanics". Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  12. ^ a b "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  13. ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  14. ^ "Fellows". www.asme.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  15. ^ "Academy of Engineering Excellence". eng.vt.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  16. ^ "Society for Experimental Mechanics". sem.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.