F. Zandman
In May 1989 the SEM Executive Board formally established the Felix Zandman Award. The award honors Dr. Zandman for his extensive work with photoelastic coatings and his support of SEM. The recipient receives an award plaque. Also, a donation is given in the recipient’s name to the SEM Education Foundation.
The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of measurements or applications utilizing photoelastic coatings or strain measurement techniques. The selection will be based upon the best paper published by SEM or any other recognized journal which publishes photoelastic coatings or strain measurement techniques papers. Alternatively, a person who may not have published an outstanding paper, but has distinguished him or herself in other ways in the use of photoelastic coatings or strain measurement techniques may also be nominated. The first recipient to be recognized in 1990 was Alex S. Redner.
2025 Recipient

Outstanding contributions to the development and practical implementation of strain measurement techniques for evaluating residual stresses.
Adrian DeWald
Dr. Adrian DeWald is the President of Hill Engineering; a global leader in improving the performance of materials – delivering expertise in residual stress measurement, mechanical design, material testing, structural integrity, and service life extension. Adrian is a technical expert in residual stress measurement and simulation of residual stress effects on...
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2021 - Fabrice Pierron | 2020 - Veronica Eliasson | 2019 - Venkitanarayanan Parameswaran |
2018 - Michael B. Prime | 2017 - Ryszard Pryputniewicz | 2016 - Peter Ifju |
2015 - Wei-Chung Wang | 2014 - Robert E. Rowlands | 2013 - James P. Hubner |
2012 - Krishnamurthi Ramesh | 2011 - Emmanuel Gdoutos | 2010 - Philippe Brailly |
2009 - Terry Yuan-Fang Chen | 2008 - Michel R. Taroni | 2007 - B. (Bob) Ziv |
2006 - John Curtis | 2005 - Jon Lesniak | 2004 - Eann A. Patterson |
2003 - Ian J. Jones | 2001 - Nathalie Plouzennec | 2000 - Loic M. Dejardin |
1999 - T.W. Corby, Jr. | 1998 - Jose L.F. Freire | 1997 - Samuel C. Gambrell, Jr. |
1996 - Ronald Slaminko | 1994 - Samuel C. Gambrell, Jr. | 1993 - Jacek Stupnecki |
1992 - Edward W. O’Brien | 1991 - Wayne E. Nickola | 1990 - Alex S. Redner |