NCKU Civil Engineering Professor Jiun-Shyan (J. S.) Chen Receives John von Neumann Medal from U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics
Written ＆ Image credit to Jiun-Shyan Chen
Following his receipt of the Raymond D. Mindlin Medal from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) last year, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Yushan Scholar Professor Jiun-Shyan Chen of the Department of Civil Engineering has been awarded the John von Neumann Medal, the highest honor from the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM), in recognition of his contributions to computational mechanics. While maintaining long-term collaborations with the domestic academic community, he expressed that Taiwan places great emphasis on hardware development, but there is still room for growth in software and scientific computing.
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the oldest and most prestigious civil engineering organization in the United States and the largest civil engineering publishing institution in the world. Last year, ASCE awarded Professor Chen the Raymond D. Mindlin Medal, which is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the research of applied solid mechanics. To date, there have been 12 recipients from around the world, and Professor Chen is the second recipient born in Taiwan. The other scholar from Taiwan is Professor Yih-Hsing Pao, the founding director of the Institute of Applied Mechanics at National Taiwan University, who received the award in 2012.
The association stated that the award primarily recognizes Professor Chen's pioneering contributions to the development and application of advanced finite element methods and meshfree methods, as well as the application of mechanics in solids and structures under extreme conditions.
Professor Jiun-Shyan Chen, Yushan Scholar Visiting Chair Professor at the NCKU Department of Civil Engineering, received the Raymond D. Mindlin Medal in Engineering Mechanics from the American Society of Civil Engineers last year.
Professor Chen's research focuses on computational mechanics and machine learning-enhanced data-driven computational methods for applications in materials, solids, and coupled physical problems. His research contributions include developing the mathematical foundations and numerical methods for multiscale materials modeling, large deformation and contact mechanics, strain localization and material instability, microstructure evolution of polycrystalline materials, multiscale simulation of material defects, and, in recent years, model reduction and machine learning-enhanced data-driven computational methodologies.
Professor Chen mentioned that, especially after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, there has been a focus on the ability of buildings to resist blast events. Additionally, under extreme weather conditions, challenges arise regarding whether critical infrastructure such as dams can withstand natural disasters like earthquakes. In the past, large-scale experiments were required for testing, but with the assistance of computational mechanics and AI, analysis and design can be more efficient, leading to optimized buildings with better resilience.
The U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics presents the John von Neumann Medal, its highest honor, once every two years to an individual in the United States who has made significant contributions to the field of computational mechanics. This year, the award was given to Professor Chen, recognizing his long-term contributions in computational mechanics, particularly in the development of advanced computational methods and the multiscale modeling of materials, solids, and coupled systems. Professor Chen will receive the award at the U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics biannual meeting held in Chicago, USA, from July 20 to 24 this year. Professor Chen is the only recipient of this award who was born in Taiwan.
Professor Jiun-Shyan Chen, Yushan Scholar Visiting Chair Professor at the NCKU Department of Civil Engineering, giving a speech at the award ceremony after receiving the Raymond D. Mindlin Medal in Engineering Mechanics from the American Society of Civil Engineers last year.
NCKU stated that Professor Chen received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from National Central University in Taiwan, followed by a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Northwestern University. In 2013, he joined the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) as the William Prager Endowed Chair Professor in the Department of Structural Engineering, where he is also a Distinguished Professor, as well as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Professor Chen also founded the Center for Extreme Events Research at UCSD and served as its director from 2014 to 2022, dedicated to the scientific computation and related research on the impact of extreme events on buildings.
Professor Chen was awarded the Yushan Scholar by the Ministry of Education last year, and his Yushan research project in collaboration with NCKU is titled "Infrastructure Digital Twins for Natural Disaster Protection." This project aims to develop an integrated computer simulation and machine learning algorithm, along with advanced sensor materials and monitoring technologies, for predicting and assessing damage to critical infrastructure subjected to natural disasters, and to mitigate potential damage to structural and geological systems. The proposed technology will also provide a reference for local governments to establish responsive early warning systems and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for enhanced safety design, to rapidly respond to the destruction caused by natural disasters.
The research team also co-organized the "UCSD-NCKU Workshop on Infrastructure Digital Twins for Natural Disaster Protection" with UCSD from January 15 to 16 this year at UCSD, which yielded fruitful results. A signing ceremony was also held during the workshop, where a memorandum of understanding was signed by Albert Pisano, Dean of the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering, and Chyan-Deng Jan, Dean of the NCKU College of Engineering.
Professor Chen currently serves as a Visiting Chair Professor at the NCKU Department of Civil Engineering for three months each year, hoping to promote the research development of computational mechanics and digital twins in NCKU and Taiwan.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2025-04-02
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