Professors Sofronis and Tortorelli honored at investiture ceremony

Petros Sofronis (left) and Daniel A. Tortorelli

James W. Bayne Professor Petros Sofronis and George B. Grim Professor Daniel A. Tortorelli were honored with their named professorships at an investiture ceremony November 21, 2013. The ceremony took place in the auditorium of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, with a reception immediately following. The professorships for both MechSE professors became effective August 16, 2013.

Petros Sofronis is the director of the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I²CNER), a joint project on energy between Kyushu University and the University of Illinois, with a large number of participating institutions from all over the world. Sofronis’ education and research orientation are in the area of mechanics of materials. His research methodology involves solid mechanics and computational techniques, and in particular, linear and nonlinear finite element analysis. Sofronis and his I²CNER team are currently developing and verifying a lifetime prediction methodology for failure of materials used in gaseous hydrogen environments. This work, coupled with strategies to avoid material degradation, is essential for the rapid assessment of using the available alloy systems and for the development of new alloys tailored for use in hydrogen related applications. His collaborators include Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and companies such as ExxonMobil Research and Engineering. Sofronis holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in theoretical and applied mechanics from the University of Illinois and a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Aristotelian University in Greece.

The professorship's namesake, Professor James W. Bayne, instructed, inspired, and led students of mechanical and industrial engineering for more than 50 years. He was a beloved member of the department because of his ability to instruct in the classroom and for his personal dedication and interest in the lives of so many students.

Daniel A. Tortorelli conducts research in continuum solid mechanics and computational mechanics. Much of his work concerns the efficient computation of sensitivities for various systems including those which are nonlinear and transient. These capabilities allow engineers to optimize designs via systematic nonlinear programming strategies, rather than by costly and inferior trial-and-error methods. Recent applications of these methods have been used to design the microstructure of composite materials with optimal impact resistance for the Army, zero thermo-expansion materials for space antenna applications and minimal weight engine components for the transportation industry. He has also applied these methods to optimize casting, welding and metal forming manufacturing processes. As a co-principal investigator of a College of Engineering sponsored Strategic Instructional Initiatives Program grant, he is incorporating the latest evidence-based pedagogy practices and technological developments into the department’s largest undergraduate lecture courses. This effort affects approximately 1,500 undergraduates each year. Tortorelli holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame du Lac.

The professorship's namesake, George Grim, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1915. Before attending Illinois, he had a four-year apprenticeship in machinery, enabling him to work as a machinist for the Physics Department while earning his degrees. He received a BSME degree in 1940 and an ME degree in 1952. After graduating, he joined Caterpillar and spent 39 years with them conducting engine research. He became an expert in engines, tribology, and bearing development.