Dr. Luis San Andrés, the Mast-Childs Chair and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, will receive the 2023 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Mayo D. Hersey Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made distinguished and continued contributions over a substantial period of time to the advancement of lubrication science and engineering.
Dr. Ali Erdemir, Professor and Halliburton Chair in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University nominated Dr. San Andrés for the award. Erdemir noted the impact of Dr. San Andrés’s research stating, “his experimental results and model predictions continue to be a reference for the academic community.” He also highlighted industry recognition of Dr. San Andrés’s work, referring to it as “the world’s most relevant during the past 20 years”.
San Andrés will receive the 2023 ASME Mayo D. Hersey Award for his “sustained and innovative research that has significantly enhanced the rotordynamic performance of gas bearings and their application to oil-free turbomachinery”. For over 20 years, San Andrés has researched gas bearings for oil-free turbomachinery (OFM), with the aim of increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. With financial aid from various industry and government institutions, San Andrés and his team have developed predictive software licensed worldwide, as well as metal mesh bearings as a low-cost alternative to traditional surface gas bearings.
Dr. San Andrés received a Summa Cum Laude BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Ecuador. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his MS at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1985, he earned his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Three years later, San Andrés joined Texas A&M as an assistant professor, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in dynamics, sound and vibrations, and lubrication theory.
San Andrés is a fellow of ASME, the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, and the Global Power and Propulsion Society. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Industrial Advisory Committee for the esteemed Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia in Houston, along with its sister symposia in Asia. San Andrés has written over 300 papers for peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Notably, 20 of his works have been acknowledged as the best in their respective fields at different conferences.
The award will be presented during the ASME Turbo Expo 2023 Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exhibition in Boston, Massachusetts on June 26-30. San Andrés is retiring in May of this year and is honored to receive this prestigious award as recognition of his significant impact on the industry. Throughout his career, San Andrés has made numerous contributions to the field, played a crucial role in many significant projects, and his legacy will continue to inspire and influence generations of industry professionals.
Author: Kristen Clayton
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