- Email: [email protected]
In Memorium Professor Maurice GODET 1930-1993
3
In Memoriam
Professor Maurice GODET 1930-1993 The international community of mechanical engineers and tribologists were deeply saddened by the news, just after the 20th LeedsLyon Symposium on Tribology held in Lyon, of the untimely death of our dear friend and colleague Professor Maurice Godet, on October 9th 1993. This 21st Symposium is dedicated to his life. Maurice Godet was born on January 22nd 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland, from an English mother and a French father. He was first educated in his native land, the Bugey, between Lyon and Geneva, in the french schools and, at home, in English, music and arts within his own family tradition. He received his education in Engineering Science in the United States of America, where he obt&ed a Bachelor of Engineering degree from New York University in 1951, followed by Master and Doctor of Engineering degrees from Yale University in 1952 and 1957. He started his carreer in 1958 when he joined the Shell Development Company in Emeryville, California. His work on lubricant testing and load-carrying capacity of gears was his first contact with tribology. Maurice Godet returned to France where he founded in 1962 the Laboratoire de MCcanique des Contacts at the Institut National des Sciences AppliquCes (INSA) de Lyon, at a time when friction, lubrication and wear were only partly recognized as scientific subjects by the french university community. The first years were spent setting up teams in both low pressure and high pressure lubrication, temperature investigation and lubricant testing. This approach, together with the laboratory results in hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, appeared to be useful to industrial applications such as gears and bearings. He was awarded Docteur-&-Sciences from the University of Paris in 1967 and he was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering at INSA of Lyon in 1968. Maurice Godet then turned his attention to dry friction, especially
4
5
examining the conditions of contact mechanisms and the role of interfacial films. In a series of papers, he attempted to transpose to dry friction problems the continuum approach developed in the hydrodynamic lubrication theory. This idea became the basis of the third body concept and a line of thought to identify some of the mechanical parameters which govern friction and wear. In 1988, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the leading french research governmental organisation, evaluated the Godet's Laboratory and noted that it appreciated the vitality of the Laboratory, the significance of the work undertaken and the attention given to industrial problems and its applications. Maurice Godet and his Laboratory has had a considerable influence on industry, more specifically on the projects involving gear and bearing components for the Ariane rocket engine and the Airbus. At INSA, Professor Maurice Godet, which has been a teacher of classical Mechanical Engineering Science, offered the first compulsory course in Tribology in France. He trained scientists in Tribology for INSA and other french universities and industries and largely contributed to the creation of Tribology courses in France. He aided in the development of high standing mechanics and technology in Lyon and in France and he was the first prime mover in the estabishment of a new Department of Mechanical Engineering in INSA of Lyon, Maurice Godet participated in many french government bodies where he strongly promoted tribology in general, multidisciplinary research and tribology laboratories in particular which a strong UniversityIndustry relationship. He was Chairman of the mechanical engineering section of the National University Council. His election as Vice-President of the Scientific Council of INSA showed the thrust of his colleagues on his judgement in research and education. Maurice Godet's work has been presented at numerous Tribology conferences and meetings mainly in the United States of America and in Great Britain. He encouraged his students and colleagues to do likewise. Maurice Godet is the author of more than 150 papers written in both French and English. He has gained a well-deserved international reputation
6
as an eminent researcher in Tribology. In 1974, Professor Maurice Godet was co-founder with Professor Duncan Dowson of the now renowned Leeds-Lyon Symposium on Tribology. This annual event, alternatively held in Leeds and in Lyon, which is recognized by the tribology community as a leading forum for discussion of tribological topics, will remain associated with his name. Maurice Godet's outstanding achievements were recognized by an impressive number of international distinctions, including Officer of Palmes AcadCmiques; 'the Letort Medal of the Society for Encouragement of Industry, and the Jacob Wallenberg Foundation Laureate of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Tribology Gold Medal, the highest international award in Tribology. In 1992 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers honoured him with the distinctive Mayo D Hersey Award . In January 1993 he achieved the status of Officier dans 1'Ordre National du M6rite and in July 1993 he received the Degree of Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, of the University of Leeds. Professor Maurice Godet was also the initiator of, and advocate for, the recently establised European Institute of Tribology (EIT). He desired to become involved with the European Community to promote the recognition of tribology as a science, to propose to research organizations multidisciplinary studies and to participate in technology transfer. He presented in January 1993 the ambitious EIT project supported by INSA, Ecole Centrale de Lyon and CNRS for the French pole and by the University of Leeds and Imperial College for the English pole. He became the President Father of EIT. Maurice Godet was much more than his outstanding achievements in Tribology and his tireless enthusiasm for international links. He was a wonderful person with an enchanting warm personality and was able to communicate his enthusiasm in both cultural and scientific fields. Maurice Godet is survived by his wife Jacqueline and their two daughters Sophie and Laure-Marine. We shall miss him very much. Lyon, September, 1994, GCrard DALMAZ
In Memoriam
Professor Maurice GODET 1930-1993 The international community of mechanical engineers and tribologists were deeply saddened by the news, just after the 20th LeedsLyon Symposium on Tribology held in Lyon, of the untimely death of our dear friend and colleague Professor Maurice Godet, on October 9th 1993. This 21st Symposium is dedicated to his life. Maurice Godet was born on January 22nd 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland, from an English mother and a French father. He was first educated in his native land, the Bugey, between Lyon and Geneva, in the french schools and, at home, in English, music and arts within his own family tradition. He received his education in Engineering Science in the United States of America, where he obt&ed a Bachelor of Engineering degree from New York University in 1951, followed by Master and Doctor of Engineering degrees from Yale University in 1952 and 1957. He started his carreer in 1958 when he joined the Shell Development Company in Emeryville, California. His work on lubricant testing and load-carrying capacity of gears was his first contact with tribology. Maurice Godet returned to France where he founded in 1962 the Laboratoire de MCcanique des Contacts at the Institut National des Sciences AppliquCes (INSA) de Lyon, at a time when friction, lubrication and wear were only partly recognized as scientific subjects by the french university community. The first years were spent setting up teams in both low pressure and high pressure lubrication, temperature investigation and lubricant testing. This approach, together with the laboratory results in hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, appeared to be useful to industrial applications such as gears and bearings. He was awarded Docteur-&-Sciences from the University of Paris in 1967 and he was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering at INSA of Lyon in 1968. Maurice Godet then turned his attention to dry friction, especially
4
5
examining the conditions of contact mechanisms and the role of interfacial films. In a series of papers, he attempted to transpose to dry friction problems the continuum approach developed in the hydrodynamic lubrication theory. This idea became the basis of the third body concept and a line of thought to identify some of the mechanical parameters which govern friction and wear. In 1988, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the leading french research governmental organisation, evaluated the Godet's Laboratory and noted that it appreciated the vitality of the Laboratory, the significance of the work undertaken and the attention given to industrial problems and its applications. Maurice Godet and his Laboratory has had a considerable influence on industry, more specifically on the projects involving gear and bearing components for the Ariane rocket engine and the Airbus. At INSA, Professor Maurice Godet, which has been a teacher of classical Mechanical Engineering Science, offered the first compulsory course in Tribology in France. He trained scientists in Tribology for INSA and other french universities and industries and largely contributed to the creation of Tribology courses in France. He aided in the development of high standing mechanics and technology in Lyon and in France and he was the first prime mover in the estabishment of a new Department of Mechanical Engineering in INSA of Lyon, Maurice Godet participated in many french government bodies where he strongly promoted tribology in general, multidisciplinary research and tribology laboratories in particular which a strong UniversityIndustry relationship. He was Chairman of the mechanical engineering section of the National University Council. His election as Vice-President of the Scientific Council of INSA showed the thrust of his colleagues on his judgement in research and education. Maurice Godet's work has been presented at numerous Tribology conferences and meetings mainly in the United States of America and in Great Britain. He encouraged his students and colleagues to do likewise. Maurice Godet is the author of more than 150 papers written in both French and English. He has gained a well-deserved international reputation
6
as an eminent researcher in Tribology. In 1974, Professor Maurice Godet was co-founder with Professor Duncan Dowson of the now renowned Leeds-Lyon Symposium on Tribology. This annual event, alternatively held in Leeds and in Lyon, which is recognized by the tribology community as a leading forum for discussion of tribological topics, will remain associated with his name. Maurice Godet's outstanding achievements were recognized by an impressive number of international distinctions, including Officer of Palmes AcadCmiques; 'the Letort Medal of the Society for Encouragement of Industry, and the Jacob Wallenberg Foundation Laureate of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Tribology Gold Medal, the highest international award in Tribology. In 1992 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers honoured him with the distinctive Mayo D Hersey Award . In January 1993 he achieved the status of Officier dans 1'Ordre National du M6rite and in July 1993 he received the Degree of Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, of the University of Leeds. Professor Maurice Godet was also the initiator of, and advocate for, the recently establised European Institute of Tribology (EIT). He desired to become involved with the European Community to promote the recognition of tribology as a science, to propose to research organizations multidisciplinary studies and to participate in technology transfer. He presented in January 1993 the ambitious EIT project supported by INSA, Ecole Centrale de Lyon and CNRS for the French pole and by the University of Leeds and Imperial College for the English pole. He became the President Father of EIT. Maurice Godet was much more than his outstanding achievements in Tribology and his tireless enthusiasm for international links. He was a wonderful person with an enchanting warm personality and was able to communicate his enthusiasm in both cultural and scientific fields. Maurice Godet is survived by his wife Jacqueline and their two daughters Sophie and Laure-Marine. We shall miss him very much. Lyon, September, 1994, GCrard DALMAZ