Jan Achenbach

Walter P. Murphy and Distinguished McCormick School Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Director, Center for Quality Engineering and Failure Prevention

Catalysis Building - Room 324
2137 Tech Drive
Evanston, IL 60208-3020

E-mail address: achenbach@northwestern.edu
Phone: (847) 491-5527
Fax: (847) 491-5227

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Technische Hogeschool, Delft, Aeronautical Engineering
Ph.D, Stanford University Major, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Minor: Mathematics

Research

Professor Achenbach's research involves the propagation of mechanical disturbances in solids. Current research activities are in ultrasonic methods for quantitative non-destructive evaluation.  He has developed methods for flaw detection and characterization by ultrasonic scattering methods. His work is both analytical and experimental in nature. Past work in fracture mechanics has been primarily on dynamic fracture, with an emphasis on the study of ductility effects. Professor Achenbach has also carried out research on earthquake mechanisms, on the mechanical behavior of composite materials under dynamic loading conditions and on the vibrations of solid propellant rockets. He is or has been Principal Investigator for projects sponsored by: NSF (Solid Mechanics Program, Earth Sciences Div.,RANN) Office of Naval Research, ARMY Office of Research (Durham), Air Force Office of Scientific Research, ERDA, Wright-Patterson AFB, DARPA, Rockwell International Science Center, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Ames Laboratory, Department of Energy (BED), Bandag, Inc., National Institute for Standards and Technology, Federal Aviation Administration.

Honors and Awards

• Winner of the 2003 National Medal of Technology. Details.
  
• Member National Academy of Sciences (1992)
• Member National Academy of Engineering (1982)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1994)
• Corresponding Member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (1999)
• ASME Timoshenko Medal (1992)

Selected Publications

Click here for a list of Prof. Achenbach's publications. Copies, in either electronic or paper format, are available upon request.

Professor Achenbach is the author of three books and more than 300 papers in technical journals.

Some of his current Editorial Activities include:

• Editor-In-Chief: WAVE MOTION, an International Journal Reporting Research on Wave Phenomena .  Jan. 1979-
• Editorial Board:  Research in Nondestructive Evaluation.  1989-
• Editorial Board:  Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation.     1989-