J.E. Gordon
Encyclopedia
James Edward Gordon was one of the founders of materials science
and biomechanics
, and a well known author of three books on structures and materials, which have been translated in many languages and are still widely used in schools and universities.
he worked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
; here he studied composite materials, wooden aircraft, plastics and new materials of many types. He designed the rescue dinghies for most bomber aircraft used in the war, and studied the strength and behaviour of reinforcement fibers made of glass, carbon, boron and other materials.
From 1962 he was head of a new branch at Waltham Abbey dealing with completely new structural materials. Some of his discoveries are still applied in the construction of fiber-reinforced parts for aircraft and rockets.
Materials science
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
and biomechanics
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
, and a well known author of three books on structures and materials, which have been translated in many languages and are still widely used in schools and universities.
Biography
Gordon graduated in naval architecture at Glasgow University. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
; here he studied composite materials, wooden aircraft, plastics and new materials of many types. He designed the rescue dinghies for most bomber aircraft used in the war, and studied the strength and behaviour of reinforcement fibers made of glass, carbon, boron and other materials.
From 1962 he was head of a new branch at Waltham Abbey dealing with completely new structural materials. Some of his discoveries are still applied in the construction of fiber-reinforced parts for aircraft and rockets.
Titles and awards
- Industrial Fellow Commoner at Churchill College, Cambridge.
- Professor of Materials Technology at the University of Reading.
- British Silver Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society
- Griffith Medal of the Materials Science Club
Works
- The New Science of Strong Materials or Why You Don't Fall Through the Floor - ISBN 0691023808
- Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down - ISBN 0306812835
- The Science of Structures and Materials - Scientific American Library, 1988 - ISBN 0716750228