Professor Norman A Fleck FREng, FRS#

Research Interests

The mechanics of materials, including the role of microstructural evolution during processing and use upon material performance. Sintering of thermal barrier coatings,and the dependence of toughness and erosion resistance upon the morphology of microstructure. The mechanics of failure of lattice materials under extreme environments.

Current position

• Professor of Mechanics and Materials
• Director of the Cambridge Centre for Micromechanics at Cambridge University Engineering Department, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK

• 1976-1979 Jesus College Cambridge. Engineering 1st Class with distinction. Received the Baker prize and the IMech E project prize by the Department and awarded the Keller prize by the College for the top academic performance in the College over the three years.
• 1980-1983 Pembroke College Cambridge. PhD - conducted research into variable amplitude fatigue and crack closure. In second year of PhD, awarded a 3 year Research Fellowship at Pembroke College.

• Sept 1979- Sept 1980: IMI Titanium Limited Process Engineer.

• 1983-1985 Pembroke College Cambridge. Research Fellow. Delveloped a theory of cold rolling foil with Prof K L Johnson.
• 1984-1985 Harvard University Cambridge, USA. Visiting Scholar. Examined theorectically the creep response of voided materials with Prof J W Hutchinson; funded by a Lindemann Fellowship.
• 1985 July-Oct NASA Langley Virginia, USA. Research Fellow. Worked with Dr J C Newman on finite element modelling of fatigue crack closure. Funded by the US National Research Council.
• 1985-1994 Cambridge University Department of Engineering. University Lecturer in Engineering. Fellow of Pembroke College. Nuffield Science award for newly-appointed Lecturers, 1986. Esso Centenary Education Award 1989.
• 1994-1997 Cambridge University Department of Engineering. Reader in Mechanics of Materials.
• 1997 to present Cambridge University Department of Engineering. Professor of Mechanics of Materials.
• 1989, 1993 and 1995 Harvard University. Visiting Scholar during 3 periods of sabbatical leave. Conducted research with Professors J W Hutchinson and B Budiansky.

• 1996 - 2008 Head of Mechanics, Materials and Design Division of the Cambridge University Engineering Department.
• 1990 - Founder Director of the Cambridge Centre for Micromechanics.

• 1987 - 1 day school on Multi-axial yield of polymers for 60 participants.
• 1993 - 1 day international workshop for 30 participants on Compressive Failure of Composites.
• 1996 - Chairman of IUTAM Symposium on Mechanics of Granular and Porous Materials : 100 participants, 15-17 July, 100 participants.
• 1999 - Metfoam 99, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Advanced Materials, Bremen, 14-16 June 1999, ed. by J. Banhart, M. F. Ashby and N. A. Fleck. Verlag MIT Publishing.
• 2000 - Chairman of the conference Engineering Materials - a forward look, 26-28 June, Cambridge University Engineering Dept. 100 participants. The proceedings will appear as a special issue of Progress in Materials Science.
• 2000 - Congress Committee of ICTAM 2000, ran a Mini-Symposium on Foams.
• 2001 - Metfoam 2001, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Advanced Materials, Bremen, 18-20 June 2001, ed. by J. Banhart, M. F. Ashby and N. A. Fleck. Verlag MIT Publishing.
• 2002 - International Workshop on Thermal Barrier Coatings, 5-7 June, Pembroke College, Cambridge.
• 2003 - Metfoam 2003, Technical University of Berlin, 23-25 June 2003, ed. by J. Banhart, N. A. Fleck and A. Mortensen. Verlag MIT Publishing.
• 2004 - Congress Committee of ICTAM 2004 in Warsaw, Poland, organising a session on mechanics of composites.
• 2004 - A 2 day discussion meeting on Discrete Dislocation Plasticity, sponsored by ONR, Cambridge University Engineering Dept., 1-2 July 2004. organised by V S Deshpande, M F Ashby, N A Fleck and J R Willis.
• 2010 - 2012 Secretary of the UK delegation of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM).

• Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
• International Journal of Solids and Structures
• Acta Mechanica Sinica
• Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials
• International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education
• Associate Editor of European Journal of Mechanics during 1999-2008

• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Netherlands Institute of Metals Research, an international committee to steer academic and industrial research in metals across all disciplines, 2000-2006.
• Chair the Materials, Manufacturing and Structures Scientific Advisory Board of Rolls-Royce, 2011 - .
• Chair of the Royal Society's Industry Fellowship Scheme Joint Panel 2013-2016.
• Member of the Royal Society's Awards Committee 2015-2017.
• Member of the Royal Society's Research Grants Scheme Committee 2012-2017.

• Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, and Chartered Engineer in August 1997.
• Member of Academia Europaea, June 2001.
• Fellow of the Royal Society, London, May 2004.
• Member of the European Academy of Sciences, February 2005.
• Fellow of the European Mechanics Society, May 2006. The first of 3 Fellows in Solid Mechanics since the inception of Fellows in 2006.
• Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, July 2008.
• Humboldt Research Award 2011.
• ASME Koiter medal for International Leadership in Mechanics, 2013.
• Foreign Member of the National Academy of Engineering, 2014.
• Honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causea) from Eindhoven University of Technology, 2014. One given each year.
• Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, 2014. AA Griffith medal in recognition of distinguished work to any branch of Materials Science.
• Distinguished Professor of the Eindhoven University of Technology, 2015- 2018.
• EUROMECH Solid Mechanics Prize 2015 (given every 4 years).
• ISI Highly cited researcher in Engineering, 2001.