AKA Raymond David Mindlin

Born: 17-Sep-1906
Birthplace: New York City
Died: 22-Nov-1987
Location of death: Hanover, NH
Cause of death: Illness

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Engineer

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Mindlin's problem

Raymond D. Mindlin studied crystal lattice theories, electro-elasticity and piezoelectric crystal resonators, the mechanics of photoelasticity, strain-gradient and couple-stress theory, electrical, thermal, optical and acoustical phenomena, and wave propagation in rods and cylinders. He is the namesake of Mindlin's problem (classical three-dimensional elasticity) and Mindlin's Plate Theory (waves and vibrations in isotropic and anisotropic plates). During World War II he led the team at Johns Hopkins University which developed the firing element of the first proximity fuse, a crucial military technology. His students included Daniel C. Drucker.

Father: Henry Mindlin (businessman)
Mother: Beatrice Levy Mindlin
Brother: Eugene Mindlin (shopping mall developer)
Sister: Rosalind Mindlin Elbaum
Brother: Rowland Mindlin (physician)
Wife: Elizabeth Roth Mindlin (d. 1950)
Wife: Patricia Kaveney Mindlin (d. 1974)

    High School: Ethical Culture Fieldston School (1924)
    University: BS Civil Engineering, Columbia University (1928)
    University: MS Civil Engineering, Columbia University (1931)
    University: PhD Civil Engineering, Columbia University (1932)
    Scholar: Engineering, University of Michigan (1933-35)
    Teacher: Engineering, Columbia University (1936-42)
    Scholar: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University (1942-45)
    Teacher: Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University (1945-47)
    Professor: Applied Science, Columbia University (1947-75)

    ASME Medal 1976
    National Medal of Science 1979
    Bell Laboratories 1947-60
    American Academy of Arts and Sciences
    American Institute of Physics
    American Physical Society
    American Society of Civil Engineers
    American Society of Mechanical Engineers
    National Academy of Engineering
    National Academy of Sciences

Author of books:
The Collected Papers of Raymond D. Mindlin (1989)

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