The Structural Engineering Institute and the Engineering Mechanics Institute have chosen Dr. George Z. Voyiadjis to receive the prestigious 2008 Nathan M. Newmark Medal for his "outstanding" contributions to the fields of structural mechanics and geomechanics, his fundamental research in constitutive modeling and characterization of damage mechanisms in metals, composites, and soils, and his pioneering contributions in multi-scale modeling and localization problems." The selection committee particularly noted Voyiadjis' development of a number of widely used nonlinear constitutive models for steel as well as ceramics and composite materials.

 

Former students of Nathan M. Newmark, Hon.M.ASCE, established this award in 1975 for the superior education they received while studying under Newmark at the University of Illinois and for his important contributions in structural engineering and mechanics.