Michael Ortiz won the first Rodney Hill Prize

Michael Ortiz, of the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, of the California Institute of Technology, has won the Rodney Hill Prize.  The newly established Prize is sponsored by Elsevier Limited, awarded under the auspices of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM).  The award of US$25,000 will be presented at the 22nd International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, taking place in Adelaide in August 2008.

Ortiz is awarded for a remarkable stream of achievements during the period 1998-2007, encompassing

• physical modeling, mathematical analysis and computational technique, including in particular development of the quasi-continuum method for multiscale modeling;
• formulation of new incremental variational methodology for plastic deformation, with non-convex dissipation functions leading naturally to the formation of dislocation sub-structures;
• development of a three-dimensional, finite deformation cohesive element model for simulation of fracture and fragmentation, and associated development of symplectic integrators;
• novel exploitation of tools from algebraic topology in the study of crystal lattices with defects.