Experimental Techniques Nov/Dec 1999, Vol. 23, No. 6
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| Benjamin J. Lazan, SESA President 1959-1960 | |
Ben Lazan was one of the most
influential people in the Society’s history. It seems politically correct (PC) in the
late 1990s to rewrite history, but no one ever accused me of being PC. Instead, I am going to call your
attention to some articles about (or by) Ben that have already appeared in SESA
publications. Most of these were
written from 33 to 43 years ago and are reproduced here without changes. No changes are needed. I am sure that the older SESA/SEM
members remember Ben fondly and will appreciate reading about their friend. Newer SEM members should know who Ben Lazan was.
My earliest memory of Ben Lazan was
when he gave his famous 1956 William Murray Lecture at the annual meeting of the
SESA in Columbus, Ohio. In that
lecture Ben quickly got our attention by quoting an excerpt from one of my
favorite poems, “The Deacon’s Masterpiece”, by Oliver Wendell Holmes. (Every stress analyst should know that
poem). Space limitation does not
permit us to reprint Ben’s Masterpiece in its entirety here, but we will include
a small part of his introduction.
1. INTRODUCTION
By way of introduction, and before
proceeding to the main theme of this lecture, I should like to restate a
principal aim of this society and its membership as I see it. Starting with Dr. Murray’s outstanding
pioneering work in experimental stress analysis and reviewing the S.E.S.A.
proceedings and former Murray lectures from Timoshenko in 1953 to Ruge last
year, I believe that one common denominator presents itself. The generalized concept is well stated
by one of Dr. Murray’s fellow New Englanders of another generation, Oliver
Wendell Holmes. I shall merely
transmit his text.
I believe all of us in this society
are trying to facilitate the design of a “wonderful one-hoss shay”. In case some of you do not recall
Holmes’ wonderful poem, “The Deacon’s Masterpiece” {1}*, appropriate excerpts
are quoted below with some liberties and underlining to bring out phrases which
deal with the justification for experimental stress analysis.
That was built in such a logical way
It ran a hundred
years to a day,
And then, of a sudden, it – ah, but stay,
I’ll tell you what happened without delay.”
“Now in building of chaises, I tell
you what,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot, -
”
“And that’s the reason, beyond a doubt,
That a
chaise breaks down, but doesn’t wear out”
Thut the weakes’ place mus’ stan’ the strain;
‘N
the way t’ fix it, uz I maintain, is only jest
T’ make that place
uz strong uz the rest”.
There are traces of age in the one-hoss shay,
A general flavor of mild decay,
But nothing local, as one may say.
There
couldn’t be, - for the Deacon’s art
Had made it so like in
every part
That there wasn’t a chance for one to
start.
For the wheels were just as strong as the thills,
And the floor was just as strong as the sills, -”
“And
yet, as a whole it is past a doubt
In another hour it will be
worn out!”
“Just the hour of the Earthquake
shock!
What do you think the parson found,
When he
got up and stared around?
The poor old chaise in a heap or
mound,
As if it had been to the mill and ground!
You see, of course, if you’re not a
dunce,
How it went to pieces all at once, -
All at once, and
nothing first, -
Just as bubbles do when they burst.
End of the wonderful one-hoss
shay.
Logic is logic.
That’s all I say”.
The next two segments were
editorials that first appeared in the January 1966 issue of Experimental
Mechanics. They need no
explanation.
LAZAN HONORED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION
TO E/M
Over a half decade ago, the SESA
began implementing changes designed to provide additional service to its
membership and to relieve the increasingly heavy burden then being shouldered by
volunteers and, especially, by Honorary President W. M. Murray, one of the
founders and, at that time, Secretary-Treasurer of the Society. As a direct result of these changes, a
full-time staff was established and, in January 1961, the first issue of the
Society’s Journal, Experimental Mechanics, was published.
This month, on the occasion of the
Fifth Anniversary of E M, the society has sought to honor those clairvoyant,
perspicacious men who, by their labors, were the architects of a new maturity
for the SESA. In particular, an Ad
Hoc Committee consisting of several past presidents and present officers of the
Society has selected one individual who “through his leadership, dedication and
wisdom, is the man most responsible for the launching of the Journal of
Experimental Mechanics – Past-President and Murray Lecturer Benjamin J.
Lazan.”
Dr. Lazan, or “Ben,” as he is known
to his many friends, was president of the Society during the 1959-60 term. Thus, it was under his direct guidance
that the major realignments took place.
In reporting on its choice, the
Committee has emphasized that “Past-President Lazan is a man to whom the SESA
owes a debt of gratitude, a debt that will increase without bound as the Society
continues to grow in size and stature.
He saw with clear far-sightedness that the future of the SESA lay in
expanding service to its membership, while, at the same time, adding to its
sound, professional image in both the scientific and engineering
communities. He has always,
graciously and unhesitatingly, given of his time and good counsel.”
To SESA Members and Friends
With this issue of Experimental
Mechanics, we are celebrating the Fifth Anniversary of the first publication of
our Journal. As we reach this
milestone, it is fitting and proper that we pause momentarily to review the
progress we have made and to pay tribute to those who worked so hard to make
that progress possible. With the
establishment of the Westport Headquarters and the initial publication of
Experimental Mechanics in January of 1961, the Society entered a new era of
increased growth and prestige. Over
the past five years, the stature of the Society has increased to the point where
the SESA is now regarded as the leading experimentally oriented society in the
world. This enhanced stature is due
primarily to the effectiveness of Experimental Mechanics in serving the
engineering community and in providing a focal point for all Society
affairs.
Many people have contributed greatly
to the success of the Journal, and I would like to express the Society’s
appreciation to all of them. As I
contemplate this long list, two names stand out especially strongly. Dr. B. J. Lazan was president of the
Society during the period when the hard decisions were made which culminated in
that historic first issue of Experimental Mechanics. To a considerable extent, it was his
vision and determination which launched the Journal on its course. Ben was also a member of the group that
was instrumental in bringing Bonney Rossi to the Society as editor and executive
secretary. Bonney immediately
grasped the essence of what was envisioned and turned it into reality through
his extraordinary talents and untiring effort. As Ben was largely responsible for the
birth of Experimental Mechanics, so Bonney brought it to successful maturity
with the aid of his staff and all other contributors. On behalf of the Society, I salute Ben
Lazan and Bonney Rossi, and I acknowledge the great debt of gratitude we owe
them.
What is past is prologue. The future lies before us with all its
opportunities for greater service and achievement. Following the lead of those who pointed
the way, both the Society and Experimental Mechanics will reach new heights of
which we only dream today.
Roscoe Guernsey
President SESA (1965-66)
Sadly, the next segment is Ben’s
obituary as it appeared in the Experimental Mechanics in September
1966.
Benjamin J. Lazan
On June 29 in Minneapolis, Minn.,
Benjamin J. Lazan, 49, SESA past-president and Murray Lecturer, died following a
long illness. He is survived by his
widow and two sons, Gilbert and Douglas.
Born in New York City, Dr. Lazan
graduated with a BSME from Rutgers University in 1938. He continued his education at Harvard
University where he obtained a MS degree in applied mechanics. Then, in 1939, he became an instructor
in the department of engineering mechanics at the Pennsylvania State
College. It was at Penn State, in
1942, that he earned his doctorate and was appointed to an assistant
professorship of engineering. While
at Penn State, he had been in charge of research projects in the dynamic testing
of materials.
In 1942, Dr. Lazan became associated
with the Sonntag Scientific Corp., a Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton affiliate, as a
project engineer. He quickly rose
to chief engineer and by 1944 was an executive vice-president. While with Sonntag, Dr. Lazan developed
several types of machines now used for static and dynamic testing. He was also responsible for a government
research project on jet-propulsion engines.
After joining Syracuse University in
1946 as an associate professor and director of the materials laboratory, he soon
became head of the department of materials engineering. At Syracuse, he directed research
projects for the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Air Force and private
industry.
In 1951, he went to the University
of Minnesota as professor of materials engineering. Later, he became director of the
engineering experimental station, head of the department of mechanics and
materials, associate dean of the Institute of Technology and was, until last
year, head of the department of aeronautics and engineering mechanics.
He authored over 60 papers and
continued his writing endeavors until shortly before his death, completing a
book which is to be published this year.
Dr. Lazan was the recipient of many
medals and honors for his scientific achievements. In 1943, he was awarded the A. Noble
Prize by the ASME. Six years later
he received the Charles Dudley medal from the ASTM, and, in 1951, he was given
the Henry Howe medal by the ASM.
The SESA chose to honor Dr. Lazan by inviting him to be the 1956 Murray
Lecturer. He accepted and then
presented his much-acclaimed paper on “Fatigue under Resonant Vibrations
Considering both Material and Slip Damping.”
A long-time member and dedicated
participant in the Society, Dr. Lazan served as SESA president during a time
when broad changes were wrought in the Society’s structure. He provided the leadership which led to
the organization of a full-time staff and to the publication of the first issue
of E M in January 1961. For this
and for his many other contributions, Dr. Lazan was honored in E M’s fifth
anniversary issue, January 1966.
When his term as president expired,
he continued to serve on the Executive Committee for two more years, and on the
Journal Advisory Committee for another three. In the last few years, he had served as
a session chairman at a number of national meetings, always giving generously of
his counsel and time.