What is Experimental Mechanics?

Objectives of JSEM

• Background
  On January 1, 1979, Japan Society for Photoelasticity, forerunner of JSEM was established based on the Photoelasticity Research Group set up by the late Ph. D. Masataka Nishida (ex-president of the Japan Society for Photoelasticity, President emeritus). Japan Society for Photoelasticity had engaged in science focusing on Photoelasticity technology. They conducted many activities that met the needs of the times and put experimental stress analysis method to practical use in industry. However, the studies on Experimental Stress Analysis Technique in recent years, especially, Applied Optical Electromagnetic Wave Measurement, Applied Wave Propagation Measurement, and Applied Heat Transfer Measurement have been making surprising progress. As a matter of fact, now it seems impossible for the society to focus on Photoelasticity only, gathering people sharing the same interest. Also, we cannot avoid noticing that analyzing techniques for various matters need to be developed and practiced immediately.
  
  
• Objective
  The objective of JSEM is to expand its target field so that the society is in time with rapidly progressing research and technology, to construct and maintain the system of the society, to bring together budding researchers, to enlarge the number of regular members to expand the society, and to progress the researches in this field and apply the techniques to the industries.
  
  
• Purpose
  The purposes of this society are described in broad outlines as following two points.
  
  1)An integrated society needs to be organized based on a global trend in the field of Experimental Mechanics.　Regardless of a static or a dynamic matter (including impact and vibration), solid, gas, or fluid, in the fields of Stress and Strain Measurement and Fragmentation Analysis, a various physical phenomena have been used as the main experimental technique for a long time. Those are electromagnetic waves, (ultra) sound wave, or heat transfer. Using those techniques including optical technique, noncontact measurement is possible and image processing with the computer is of great utility. The techniques of Ultra sound wave technique and Thermoelasticity, which are physical phenomena, are adopted in great measure as well as optical method such as analog/digital Photoelasticity, moire, holography, speckle, and shearography. These kinds of experimental techniques are often discussed as single analytical techniques. However a hybrid technique will be definitely established in the near future, where different techniques are combined organically and rationally. There is no doubt that we will be required to develop the technique for matters in the laboratory and the practical technique for industries, too. From this point of view, it is essential to establish and organize a society that handles the field of Experimental Mechanics comprehensively.
  
  2) Active cooperation with the societies and the associations that handles "analytical technique on Experimental Mechanics" is required.
  When "Experimental Mechanics" is explained that it is to analyze mechanical phenomenon based on experiments and to apply the techniques to related industries, the target field needs to be expanded. Because it should not include only the field of Material Mechanics in Mechanical Engineering such as Stress, Strain, and Displacement Analysis of solid, but also Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering, Medical Science, Biomechanics, Construction, and Engineering to elucidate all mechanical phenomena. To make it come true, JSEM and other societies and associations should cooperate. JSEM should have them understand the objective of its establishment. There are so many societies and associations to cooperate with. They are, for example, The Japanese Society for Non-Destructive Inspection, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, The Japan Society of Applied Physics, Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Architectural Institute of Japan, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, The Visualization Society of Japan, Japanese Association of Medical Sciences, and dental societies. JSEM needs people from those societies and associations to let them play key roles in JSEM. JSEM has to call for the researchers who participate in JSEM and work on having them cooperate actively in JSEM.
  
  
• References
  a) Present SEM (Society for Experimental Mechanics) started from Eastern Photoelastic Society that was established about 60 years ago. Afterwards, in the latter half of the 1960's, the society was renamed to Society for Experimental Stress Analysis. About ten years later, in addition, it was renamed to the present name, Society for Experimental Mechanics, (about 3000 memberships) and it has continued till now. The name change of Japan Society for Photoelasticity is not imitation of it. Same things seem to be happening everywhere as the trend of the academic society and industries are changing.
  
  b)At the outset of magazine of SEM, Experimental Techniques (Jan/Feb, 2000), the president at the time who was Prof. Igor Emri at Univ. of Ljbljana, Slovenia mentioned that Umbrella Organization in the global scale on Experimental Mechanics might be going to be constructed. This organization brings following things into view as well as information exchanges at society activities in the related field on Experimental Mechanics; educational cooperation, support for industries, people exchanges. The name, Internet Society of Experimental Mechanics, has been suggested and sounded out for the pros and cons through the associations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. As an additional remark, this name change has been suggested considering such a global trend.