A. J. Durelli Award

A.J. Durelli was one of the most outstanding experimental stress analysts in the world during the second half of twentieth century.Known primarily for his work in brittle lacquer techniques, photoelasticity, and moiré methods, throughout his career, Dr. Durelli consistently sought out new methods to solve problems rather than to solve new problems with existing methods. He often challenged his students and colleagues to view the world from a different perspective, and bestowed on our Society some of its greatest gifts – productive, caring, and competent people.

The purpose of this award is to recognize a young professional who has introduced, or helped to introduce, an innovative approach and/or method into the field of experimental mechanics. The individual’s contribution shall be distinguished in that it departs from the norm and/or challenges the existing train of thought in the Society.

The award in question is designed to recognize a relatively young individual for distinguished, innovative work in experimental mechanics; one of the qualities that A.J. recognized and instilled so well in others.

(1) The recipient should be recognized for a contribution early in their career. 

(2) S/he must have introduced, or helped to introduce, an innovative approach and/or method into the field of experimental mechanics. Any area qualifies.

(3) The individual’s contribution shall be distinguished in that it departs from the norm and/or challenges the existing train of thought in the Society.

(4) The recipient should be a member of SEM but need not have held any prior leadership position in the Society. 

Initially, this award was intended to be presented every two years.  In 2009 the Honors Committee recommended that this award be presented annually and this change was approved by the Executive board in June 2009.

Professor Chasiotis is a Willett Faculty Scholar of Engineering, an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, and an affiliate of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology in 2002 and 1998, respectively, and a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece in 1996.

His research focuses on the experimental deformation and fracture mechanics of thin films, and nanoscale structures and their composites. He has developed high resolution methods to capture full-field strains in heterogeneous materials at the micro and the nanoscale, and MEMS-based methods to investigate strain rate dependent mechanisms of inelastic material behavior in nanocrystalline metal films and polymeric nanofibers.

He is a recipient of a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the SES Young Investigator Medal, the ASME Thomas J.R. Hughes Young Investigator Award, the Journal of Strain Analysis Lecture from the Society for Experimental Mechanics, the NSF-CAREER Award, the ONR Young Investigator Award, the Xerox Award for Faculty Research from the University of Illinois, several journal and conference best paper awards, the Founder's Prize from the American Academy of Mechanics, and the Charles Babcock Memorial Award from the California Institute of Technology.