Robert H. Scanlan
Encyclopedia
Robert H. Scanlan was a civil and aeronautical engineer who came to be widely recognized as a leader in the analysis of wind effects on large structures. Scanlan created the concept of flutter derivatives to aid in the representation of self-excited forces in theoretical models. His research in the area of bridge aerodynamics
made possible the construction of larger, sturdier, and more cost-effective bridges. Scanlan worked in both industry and academia, and his employers included Republic Aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration
, the French agencies CNRS and ONERA, Schlumberger
, the Case Institute of Technology, Princeton University
, and Johns Hopkins University
. In the course of his life, Scanlan published two textbooks, "Aircraft Vibration and Flutter" and "Wind Effects on Large Structures," which are used by engineers worldwide.
, where he completed a bachelor's and a master's degree in mathematics. The next step in his education was to attend MIT, where he earned a doctorate in mathematics and physics. He was hired as an aeronautical engineer for Republic Aviation in New York, where he served as Chief of Aeroelasticity during World War Two. Following his wartime work, Scanlan was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration
, and later became a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
. During this time, his energy was devoted to research in aeronautics
and aeroelasticity
, and he published "Aircraft Vibration and Flutter," which is considered to be a fundamental textbook on concepts in elasticity.
Scanlan eventually travelled to France, where he studied at the Sorbonne
, completing a doctoral degree in mechanics. While in France, he was employed at CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) and ONERA (French National Aerospace Research Center).
, a leading oilfield services provider, and later became a member of the faculty at the Case Institute of Technology and Princeton University
. Finally, in 1984 he joined the Department of Civil Engineering at Johns Hopkins University
, where he stayed until his death. While at the latter two universities, Scanlan began to focus on what became known as wind engineering, and the rest of his career centered around this field. He began working on analyzing the aerodynamics
and aeroelasticity
of extensive structures like skyscrapers, bridges, and cooling towers. Along with former student Emil Simiu, Scanlan co-authored the book "Wind Effects on Structures," which is considered to be an essential reference concerning the dynamics of structures in response to air currents.
Robert Scanlan died at the age of 86 on May 27, 2001 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. His death was attributed to heart failure.
. These included the introduction of flutter derivatives, which became widely used to analyze the aeroelasticity
of bridges under wind loading, advances in the analysis of vortex
-induced vibrations, and buffeting of incomplete bridges experiencing yawed wind. During his lifetime, Scanlan served as the main aerodynamic consultant for the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge
, and the Kap Shui Mun Bridge
in Hong Kong.
(ASCE). Scanlan was active in the ASCE, of which he was an honorary member, and his other affiliations included the American Academy of Mechanics and the National Academy of Engineering
. As a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, Scanlan was given the title of Homewood Professor, an honor awarded to distinguished members of the faculty who are not tenured. Following his death, the ASCE established the Robert H. Scanlan Medal, which is awarded annually to a person who has made significant contributions in the field of engineering mechanics.
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
made possible the construction of larger, sturdier, and more cost-effective bridges. Scanlan worked in both industry and academia, and his employers included Republic Aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, the French agencies CNRS and ONERA, Schlumberger
Schlumberger
Schlumberger Limited is the world's largest oilfield services company. Schlumberger employs over 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities working in approximately 80 countries...
, the Case Institute of Technology, Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. In the course of his life, Scanlan published two textbooks, "Aircraft Vibration and Flutter" and "Wind Effects on Large Structures," which are used by engineers worldwide.
Early career
Robert Scanlan was born in Chicago in 1914. He attended the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he completed a bachelor's and a master's degree in mathematics. The next step in his education was to attend MIT, where he earned a doctorate in mathematics and physics. He was hired as an aeronautical engineer for Republic Aviation in New York, where he served as Chief of Aeroelasticity during World War Two. Following his wartime work, Scanlan was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, and later became a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
. During this time, his energy was devoted to research in aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
and aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity is the science which studies the interactions among inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces. It was defined by Arthur Collar in 1947 as "the study of the mutual interaction that takes place within the triangle of the inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces acting on structural...
, and he published "Aircraft Vibration and Flutter," which is considered to be a fundamental textbook on concepts in elasticity.
Scanlan eventually travelled to France, where he studied at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, completing a doctoral degree in mechanics. While in France, he was employed at CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) and ONERA (French National Aerospace Research Center).
Later career
After his time in France, Scanlan came back to the U.S. and accepted a job at SchlumbergerSchlumberger
Schlumberger Limited is the world's largest oilfield services company. Schlumberger employs over 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities working in approximately 80 countries...
, a leading oilfield services provider, and later became a member of the faculty at the Case Institute of Technology and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Finally, in 1984 he joined the Department of Civil Engineering at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, where he stayed until his death. While at the latter two universities, Scanlan began to focus on what became known as wind engineering, and the rest of his career centered around this field. He began working on analyzing the aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
and aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity is the science which studies the interactions among inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces. It was defined by Arthur Collar in 1947 as "the study of the mutual interaction that takes place within the triangle of the inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces acting on structural...
of extensive structures like skyscrapers, bridges, and cooling towers. Along with former student Emil Simiu, Scanlan co-authored the book "Wind Effects on Structures," which is considered to be an essential reference concerning the dynamics of structures in response to air currents.
Robert Scanlan died at the age of 86 on May 27, 2001 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. His death was attributed to heart failure.
Contributions to Bridge Aerodynamics
Some of Robert Scanlan's most important contributions in the field of engineering were in the area of bridge aerodynamicsAerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
. These included the introduction of flutter derivatives, which became widely used to analyze the aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity is the science which studies the interactions among inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces. It was defined by Arthur Collar in 1947 as "the study of the mutual interaction that takes place within the triangle of the inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces acting on structural...
of bridges under wind loading, advances in the analysis of vortex
Vortex
A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
-induced vibrations, and buffeting of incomplete bridges experiencing yawed wind. During his lifetime, Scanlan served as the main aerodynamic consultant for the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
, and the Kap Shui Mun Bridge
Kap Shui Mun Bridge
The Kap Shui Mun Bridge in Hong Kong is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world that transports both road and railway traffic, with the upper deck for motor vehicles, and the lower deck for both vehicles and the MTR. It has a main span of 430 metres and an overall length of 750 metres...
in Hong Kong.
Awards, Honors, and Memberships
Scanlan was a well-respected engineer and was awarded many honors during his life. These included the James Croes Medal, the Nathan Newmark Medal, the von Karmen Medal, and the Wellington Prize of the American Society of Civil EngineersAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
(ASCE). Scanlan was active in the ASCE, of which he was an honorary member, and his other affiliations included the American Academy of Mechanics 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...
. As a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, Scanlan was given the title of Homewood Professor, an honor awarded to distinguished members of the faculty who are not tenured. Following his death, the ASCE established the Robert H. Scanlan Medal, which is awarded annually to a person who has made significant contributions in the field of engineering mechanics.