William Robinson (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Bill Robinson was a scientist and seismic engineer who invented the lead rubber bearing (LRB) seismic isolation device. Bill grew up in West Auckland
, New Zealand
. He earned a Masters at the Ardmore School of Engineering
, then a PhD in Physical Metallurgy
at the University of Illinois. Bill was Director of the DSIR's Physics and Engineering Laboratory (1985-91). He continued to invent and develop seismic isolation devices, travel and lecture until his early 70s.
Buildings. Most significant bridges in NZ utilise base isolation technology.
LRBs are also under the Bhuj Hospital (India) and the C-1 building (Tokyo) - the largest building in the world that is protected by these devices. The Christchurch Women's Hospital is the only building in that city that utilises LRBs and it was able to continue operating without any problems throughout the devastating earthquakes that occurred between September 2010 and June 2011.
During the severe 1994 Los Angeles earthquake the LRB-protected University of Southern California Teaching Hospital remained operational while the ten other hospitals in the area were so badly damaged that they had to be evacuated.
The William Clayton building in Wellington (NZ) was the first in the world to be base isolated with LRBs. It was built by the then Ministry of Works and Development.
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunciations Computer Centre came through the 1995 Kobe quake unscathed and remained fully operational.This significant building is one that is pointed to as an example of how the lead rubber bearing technology saves a building and its contents. Following the Kobe quake there was a large uptake of seismic isolation technology and in particular the Lead Rubber Bearing in Japan.
The second region in which these devices have been well utilised is California, following the Los Angeles and Northridge earthquake in 1994. The first use of an LRB in the USA was in 1984. Base isolators have since been inserted under more than 100 bridges and 70 buildings in the USA. Building codes in that country require all new hospitals to implement base isolation techonology to ensure that they can continue functioning after a major quake.
In more recent years severe earthquakes in India and Turkey have generated interest in seismic isolation technology and many new buildings and bridges are being fitted with seismic isolation.
The costs of using base isolation for large structures have been found to be recouped in only a few years as insurance premiums are reduced so dramatically.
Bill Robinson also invented the RoGlider and Lead Extrusion Damper, among other seismic isolation devices (the full range of devices can be seen at www.rslnz.com). Bill was founder, director and chief engineer of the world-leading seismic engineering company Robinson Seismic Ltd http://www.rslnz.com, which continues to test and manufacture his devices.
(1966-7).
After returning to New Zealand in 1967 he joined the DSIR Physics and Engineering Laboratory (PEL) as a scientist. Bill's work included developing experimental techniques using ultrasonics in solid state physics and initiating a research programme in the Antarctic on sea ice (where he spent a few summers between 1978-89). He also worked at the Scott Polar Research Institute
in 1981-2 (Cambridge, UK). Bill later became Director of PEL (1985-91) and showed particular foresight in giving his full support to the new field of the High Temperature Superconductivity programme.
At the age of 52 Bill suffered from a near-fatal stroke, spending 4 1/2 months in hospital rehabilitation. He re-learnt how to walk, write and drive, but within six months of the stroke was back at work as a scientist. In 1995 he founded Robinson Seismic Ltd to promote, develop and manufacture his seismic protection devices. He semi-retired during his 60s, spending most of his time on a lifestyle farm overlooking the Pacific ocean, but continued to lecture, travel and develop his seismic engineering ideas part-time.
Bill married in his early 20s and had three children and four grandchildren.
. He was awarded: the Rutherford Medal (the Royal Society Gold Medal for Technology, 1999); an Honorary DSc from Victoria University of Wellington
(1995); the Hutton Medal (NZ Institue of Physics, 1992); the ER Coopers Medal for Engineering Research (NZ Royal Society, 1991); the Michaelus Medal for Physics (University of Otago, 1976). Bill was made a Companion of the Queens Service Order
(QSO), in 2007.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He earned a Masters at the Ardmore School of Engineering
University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering
The University of Auckland Faculty of Engineering is one of nine faculties that make up the University of Auckland. Located on Symonds Street, Auckland, it has been consistently rated as the best Engineering School in New Zealand for quality of research....
, then a PhD in Physical Metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
at the University of Illinois. Bill was Director of the DSIR's Physics and Engineering Laboratory (1985-91). He continued to invent and develop seismic isolation devices, travel and lecture until his early 70s.
Life's work
Bill Robinson is most well known for his invention of the lead rubber bearing (LRB) seismic isolation device. He designed the LRB in 1974 while working as a scientist for DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Zealand). As Bill was a public service employee when he invented the device, the LRB patent was owned by the state. The LRB is used under more than US$100 billion worth of structures around the world http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2011/08/18/tribute-to-dr-bill-robinson/, including New Zealand's Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum of New Zealand), the new Wellington Hospital, Victoria University Library and ParliamentNew Zealand Parliament Buildings
The New Zealand Parliament Buildings house the New Zealand Parliament and are on a 45,000 square metre site at the northern end of Lambton Quay, Wellington...
Buildings. Most significant bridges in NZ utilise base isolation technology.
LRBs are also under the Bhuj Hospital (India) and the C-1 building (Tokyo) - the largest building in the world that is protected by these devices. The Christchurch Women's Hospital is the only building in that city that utilises LRBs and it was able to continue operating without any problems throughout the devastating earthquakes that occurred between September 2010 and June 2011.
During the severe 1994 Los Angeles earthquake the LRB-protected University of Southern California Teaching Hospital remained operational while the ten other hospitals in the area were so badly damaged that they had to be evacuated.
The William Clayton building in Wellington (NZ) was the first in the world to be base isolated with LRBs. It was built by the then Ministry of Works and Development.
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunciations Computer Centre came through the 1995 Kobe quake unscathed and remained fully operational.This significant building is one that is pointed to as an example of how the lead rubber bearing technology saves a building and its contents. Following the Kobe quake there was a large uptake of seismic isolation technology and in particular the Lead Rubber Bearing in Japan.
The second region in which these devices have been well utilised is California, following the Los Angeles and Northridge earthquake in 1994. The first use of an LRB in the USA was in 1984. Base isolators have since been inserted under more than 100 bridges and 70 buildings in the USA. Building codes in that country require all new hospitals to implement base isolation techonology to ensure that they can continue functioning after a major quake.
In more recent years severe earthquakes in India and Turkey have generated interest in seismic isolation technology and many new buildings and bridges are being fitted with seismic isolation.
The costs of using base isolation for large structures have been found to be recouped in only a few years as insurance premiums are reduced so dramatically.
Bill Robinson also invented the RoGlider and Lead Extrusion Damper, among other seismic isolation devices (the full range of devices can be seen at www.rslnz.com). Bill was founder, director and chief engineer of the world-leading seismic engineering company Robinson Seismic Ltd http://www.rslnz.com, which continues to test and manufacture his devices.
Life
After completing a Masters in Mechanical Engineering at Ardmore (Auckland University, 1958-61), Bill did a PhD in Physical Metallurgy at the University of Illinois, titled "High Temperature Internal Friction (Damping) in Potassium Chloride" (1962-5). In spite of having no aptitude for languages, Bill spent a summer learning German so that he could do the course reading for his PhD. Following this he became a Research Fellow in Physics at the University of SussexUniversity of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
(1966-7).
After returning to New Zealand in 1967 he joined the DSIR Physics and Engineering Laboratory (PEL) as a scientist. Bill's work included developing experimental techniques using ultrasonics in solid state physics and initiating a research programme in the Antarctic on sea ice (where he spent a few summers between 1978-89). He also worked at the Scott Polar Research Institute
Scott Polar Research Institute
The Scott Polar Research Institute is a centre for research into the polar regions and glaciology worldwide. It is a sub-department of the Department of Geography in the University of Cambridge, located on Lensfield Road in the south of Cambridge ....
in 1981-2 (Cambridge, UK). Bill later became Director of PEL (1985-91) and showed particular foresight in giving his full support to the new field of the High Temperature Superconductivity programme.
At the age of 52 Bill suffered from a near-fatal stroke, spending 4 1/2 months in hospital rehabilitation. He re-learnt how to walk, write and drive, but within six months of the stroke was back at work as a scientist. In 1995 he founded Robinson Seismic Ltd to promote, develop and manufacture his seismic protection devices. He semi-retired during his 60s, spending most of his time on a lifestyle farm overlooking the Pacific ocean, but continued to lecture, travel and develop his seismic engineering ideas part-time.
Bill married in his early 20s and had three children and four grandchildren.
Honors
Bill Robinson was a Fellow of the Royal Society of New ZealandRoyal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
. He was awarded: the Rutherford Medal (the Royal Society Gold Medal for Technology, 1999); an Honorary DSc from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
(1995); the Hutton Medal (NZ Institue of Physics, 1992); the ER Coopers Medal for Engineering Research (NZ Royal Society, 1991); the Michaelus Medal for Physics (University of Otago, 1976). Bill was made a Companion of the Queens Service Order
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(QSO), in 2007.
External links
- Public Facebook page in memory
- Building for earthquake resistance at New Zealand government.