Ray W. Clough
Encyclopedia
Ray William Clough, was Byron L. and Elvira E. Nishkian Professor of Structural Engineering
in the department of Civil Engineering
at the University of California, Berkeley
and one the founders of the Finite Element Method
(FEM). His article in 1956 was one of the first applications of this computational method. He coined the term “finite elements” in an article in 1960.
Fall, 2008 Dr. Ray Clough was recognized as a “Legend of Earthquake Engineering” at the World Conference of Earthquake Engineering
in China. Dr. Clough is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of earthquake engineering, and credited with the development and application of a mathematical method, finite element analysis, that has revolutionized numerical modeling of the physical world. Dr. Clough extended the method to enable dynamic analysis
of complex structures and co-authored the definitive text on structural dynamics
. Three decades later, this text is still in wide use. He also transformed the field through the development of fundamental theories, computational techniques, and experimental methods. Dr. Clough’s accomplishments are not, however, limited to engineering research. During his almost 40 years at Berkeley he taught, advised, and mentored numerous students, providing them the education, inspiration, and opportunities needed to make their own significant contributions.
Dr. Clough is professor emeritus
of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is credited with developing the Earthquake Engineering Research Center at Berkeley, a hub for analytical engineering research, information resources, and public service programs. Dr. Clough’s many honors include the Prince Philip Medal from the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
, the National Academy of Engineering
, the Royal Norwegian Scientists Society, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. In 1994, President Clinton
presented Clough with a National Medal of Science
and in 2006 he received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Civil Engineering from The Franklin Institute.
Ray Clough resides in Bend, Oregon
with his wife Shirley. He has two daughters, a son, five grandchildren and has one great-grandchild.
Structural engineering
Structural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right....
in the department of Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and one the founders of the Finite Element Method
Finite element method
The finite element method is a numerical technique for finding approximate solutions of partial differential equations as well as integral equations...
(FEM). His article in 1956 was one of the first applications of this computational method. He coined the term “finite elements” in an article in 1960.
Fall, 2008 Dr. Ray Clough was recognized as a “Legend of Earthquake Engineering” at the World Conference of Earthquake Engineering
Seismic retrofit
Seismic retrofitting is the modification of existing structures to make them more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion, or soil failure due to earthquakes. With better understanding of seismic demand on structures and with our recent experiences with large earthquakes near urban centers,...
in China. Dr. Clough is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of earthquake engineering, and credited with the development and application of a mathematical method, finite element analysis, that has revolutionized numerical modeling of the physical world. Dr. Clough extended the method to enable dynamic analysis
Dynamic scoring
Dynamic scoring predicts the impact of fiscal policy changes by forecasting the effects of economic agents' reactions to policy. It is an adaptation of static scoring, the traditional method for analyzing policy changes....
of complex structures and co-authored the definitive text on structural dynamics
Structural Dynamics
Structural dynamics is a subset of structural analysis which covers the behaviour of structures subjected to dynamic loading. Dynamic loads include people, wind, waves, traffic, earthquakes, and blasts. Any structure can be subject to dynamic loading. Dynamic analysis can be used to find dynamic...
. Three decades later, this text is still in wide use. He also transformed the field through the development of fundamental theories, computational techniques, and experimental methods. Dr. Clough’s accomplishments are not, however, limited to engineering research. During his almost 40 years at Berkeley he taught, advised, and mentored numerous students, providing them the education, inspiration, and opportunities needed to make their own significant contributions.
Dr. Clough is professor emeritus
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is credited with developing the Earthquake Engineering Research Center at Berkeley, a hub for analytical engineering research, information resources, and public service programs. Dr. Clough’s many honors include the Prince Philip Medal from the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, the Royal Norwegian Scientists Society, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. In 1994, President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
presented Clough with a National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
and in 2006 he received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Civil Engineering from The Franklin Institute.
Ray Clough resides in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
with his wife Shirley. He has two daughters, a son, five grandchildren and has one great-grandchild.