George J. Simitses was born on 31 July
1932 in Athens, Greece. After receiving his high school
diploma, he came to the United States to study engineering.
He first attended the University of Tampa (1951–52) and then
the Georgia Institute of Technology (1952–56), where he
earned the degrees of Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering
and Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering. After a few
years, he attended Stanford University (1963–65), where he
earned a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics. His academic
career includes teaching and research at Georgia Tech
(Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and
Professor) in the Schools of Aerospace Engineering and
Engineering Science and Mechanics and at the University of
Cincinnati (Professor and Department Head of Aerospace
Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and Interim Dean of
Engineering). He retired in March 2000 from the University of
Cincinnati and he is presently Professor Emeritus at both
schools.
As a researcher, Professor Simitses has
made pioneering and lasting contributions in the field of
Solid and Structural Mechanics. He has written three graduate
level text-books and several book chapters. He has authored
or coauthored over 160 refereed journal articles in archival
engineering journals. He has advised 23 Ph.D. students to
completion as well as dozens of M.Sc. students, and he has
hosted ten post-doctoral fellows, visiting scholars and
faculty from throughout the world during the past three
decades. His research publications include works in
structural stability, dynamic stability, structural
optimization, delamination buckling and growth, analysis of
thick composite shells and structural similitude. In his
research, he has dealt with beams, bars, plates and shells of
various constructions, metallic structures with and without
stiffeners, laminated composites, sandwich systems and simple
mechanical models.
Professor Simitses has served and is
still serving the scientific and engineering profession
through journal editing, organization and participation in
professional meetings, membership in professional societal
committees and chairing sessions at national and
international conferences. He has been invited to deliver
Keynote Addresses and Plenary Lectures at several
professional meetings. He has also participated in many
panels and workshops. He has been a frequent seminar lecturer
to many universities and industrial companies and he has
participated in numerous continuing education courses.
Professor Simitses is the recipient of many awards and
honors. He is a Fellow of the AIAA, the ASME, and the
American Academy of Mechanics, and an Honorary Member of the
Hellenic Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and
Member of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied
Mechanics. He has also been elected Corresponding Member of
the Academy of Athens (the Greek equivalent of the US
National Academy of Science). Professor Simitses has been
married to Nena Athena Economy for 49 years. They have three
children, John, William and Alexandra, and six grandchildren,
Michael, Christina, George and Matthew Simitses, Athena and
Marian Zaden, with one more on the way.
We, the guest editors of this volume,
have been happy to enjoy collaboration and friendship with
Professor Simitses. Professor Simitses is renowned for his
ability to quickly understand and assess a scientific
problem. His vision and readiness to share and discuss ideas
are admirable. Both of us immensely benefited from joint
research and long conversations, in which we would solicit
Professor Simitses's opinion and advice. Besides our
collaboration, it is a real pleasure and honor to associate
with Professor Simitses. His wisdom, erudition, optimism and
sincere personal interest have always been an inspiration to
us. We are happy to dedicate this volume to Professor
Simitses as a modest token of our appreciation, respect and
recognition of his lifetime contributions.
