The Grainger College of Engineering

Rudolph Earl Peterson

Rudolph Earl Peterson
Rudolph Earl Peterson
To Rudolph Earl Peterson, engineer, research director, professor, for his outstanding contributions to knowledge in the field of mechanical design, especially the prevention of failure of machine and structural parts, and for his meritorious achievements in the development of young engineers.

Manager, Mechanics Department, Westinghouse Research and Development Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, 1925
  • MS, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 1926

Mr. Peterson, as the manager of the Mechanics Department, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, from 1931 to date has directed applied mechanics research for that firm. He has made many outstanding contributions in the field of mechanical design leading to the prevention of failure in machine and structural parts that are subject to fatigue loading and brittle fracture.

Through his work for Westinghouse and in his position on the faculty of the Pittsburgh-Westinghouse Graduate Program, he has had a major part in the development of young engineers and scientists.

Mr. Peterson has had a distinguished career of service to the profession of engineering though his work in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Testing Materials, and the Society for Experimental Stress Analysis. All of these societies have recognized his meritorious service by bestowing upon him some of their highest honors.

Current as of 1966.