Graham Lake (cricketer)

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.

Graham Lake
Born(1935-04-13)13 April 1935
Croydon, Surrey, England
Died15 February 2023(2023-02-15) (aged 87)
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of London
Known forRubber fatigue
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPolymer science
InstitutionsBRPRA
Graham Lake
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast-medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1956–1958Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 13
Runs scored 106
Batting average 7.57
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 18
Balls bowled 1,017
Wickets 17
Bowling average 27.29
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/39
Catches/stumpings 6/–
Source: Cricinfo, 1 August 2011

Scientific career

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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]

Cricket

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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]

References

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  1. ^ "Graham Lake - 1935-2023". Gloucestershire CCC. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Remembering Dr. Graham Johnson Lake (1935–2023)". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 96 (4): G1–G2. 22 November 2023. doi:10.5254/rct-23.498080. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ Lake, G. J.; Thomas, A. G. (1967). "The strength of highly elastic materials". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 300 (1460): 108–119. doi:10.1098/rspa.1967.0160.
  4. ^ Gent, Alan. "Graham Lake - Goodyear Medalist 2003 - Biography". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 76 (3): G2. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  5. ^ Lake, Graham J. (2003). "Fracture mechanics and its application to failure in rubber articles". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 76 (3): 567–591. doi:10.5254/1.3547761.
  6. ^ Lake, G. J.; Yeoh, O. H. (1978). "Measurement of rubber cutting resistance in the absence of friction". International Journal of Fracture. 14 (5): 509–526. doi:10.1007/BF01390472. S2CID 136856301. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Colwyn Medal award winners". iom3. IOM3. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  8. ^ "'Fracture Mechanics and Elastomers seminar: 50 not out'". RubberConsultants.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  9. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Graham Lake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  10. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Graham Lake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  11. ^ "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Graham Lake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
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