Research

Sponsored research has been an increasingly important source of strength reinforcing all of the School's instructional efforts since World War II. The design and testing of a model of an unusual type of highway bridge by Professor John Minnich '27 in 1947-48 constituted the first significant research to be supported by outside funds. This first step was followed in the 1950's by other projects including ionospheric propagation research by Professor Millett Morgan and combustion research by Professor James Browning '44. During the 1960's, Dean Tribus and many other members of the faculty engaged in a much-expanded research program. Professors Laaspere and Sonnerup and Associate Professor Strohbehn, together with Professor Morgan, have made Radiophysics the largest area of continuing research in the School. Dean Tribus conducted research on information theory and related subjects and on sea water demineralization. Professor Colligan conducts research on solidification of metals and alloys and on related properties and behavior of materials. In addition, noteworthy research has been conducted by many other members of the faculty in such fields as fluid mechanics and processing; decision theory, optimization and statistical design; engineering mechanics and structures; and bio-engineering.