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HERBERT H
.
1 931-1 989
BY JOHN P. MIRTH
JOHNSON
HERBERT H. JOHNSON, a national leader in the materials
field, died October I, 1989, after a lengthy illness. A long-
time member of the faculty at Cornell University, Herb
Johnson had been at the forefront of research in materials
for thirty years and tract been one of the prime movers in
the United States in organizing and managing interdisci-
plinary materials research. In addition to a number of
awards, his excellence was recognized by his election to the
National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 1987.
Herb Johnson was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1931 and
received his early education there. He attended Case Institute
of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University) for
both his undergraduate and graduate education, achieving
a B.Sc. in physics in 1952, an M.S. in physical metallurgy in
~954, and a Ph.D. in physical metallurgy in ~957. He mar-
ried his wife, Marguerite (Marnie), a charming lady who
supported him throughout his career, and together they
raised a family of two sons and three daughters.
At Case he worked with A. R. Troiano, also a member of
the NAE. Herb's thesis on hydrogen embrittlement in high-
strength steels was a seminal achievement that provided
the basis for our present understanding of hydrogen
embrittIement of steels. His later research work included
studies of fracture, fatigue, diffusion, phase transformations,
151
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152
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
and dislocation mechanics. However, the study of hydro-
gen effects in metals remained one of his major interests
throughout his career.
Upon graduating from Case, he joined Lehigh University
as an assistant professor of metallurgy for the period 1957-
1960. Herb then moved to Cornell University, where he
remained throughout his career except for a period as vis-
iting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(1967-1968~. While at Cornell he served as chairman of
the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (1970-
1974) and as director of the Materials Research Laboratory
(MRL) ~ ~ 974-1984) .
His research work was characterized as being thoughtfully
conceived, innovative, carefully performed, and significant.
He was consistently productive, including his periods of
administrative responsibility, and proclucec3 a truly classic
paper every five or ten years. One of his papers on fracture
mechanics has been designated a citation classic. In recognition
of his research accomplishments, he was named a Case scholar,
a fellow of the American Society for Metals, and a council-
lor of the Materials Research Society. Also, he delivered
the Campbell Lecture of the American Society for Metals.
He was invited to present numerous keynote/plenary lectures
as well.
In his work he had a keen sense of seeking the fundamental
mechanisms for processes. As a consequence, his work has
withstood the test of time and remains valid today. Particularly
noteworthy was his work on the decohesion mechanics of
hydrogen embrittiement, mentioned earlier, where hydrogen
accumulates in the stressed region ahead of crack tips and
there promotes crack propagation; on hydrogen permeation
and trapping in metals; and more generally on environmental
degradation. In his last few years, he innovatively used
techniques from the semiconducting processing industry
to make nanoscale particles to test size effects on mechanical
properties, a contribution to the new field of ultrafine mi-
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HERBERT H. JOHNSON
153
crostructures. In some of this work he collaborated with
others in a most helpful and thoughtful manner.
In addition to his research achievements, Herb Johnson
made unique contributions to research management that
effectively set the standard! for university-based interdisciplinary
laboratories. Under his leadership the size and funding of
the Cornell MRL grew, making it the largest such laboratory
in the National Science Foundation program. One of his
major achievements was in the development of state-of-the-
art central facilities with a heavy emphasis on networked
applications of computers. Another major contribution was
in the judicious use of seed funding for new programs and
facilities. The many successes included the High Energy
Synchrotron Source; the Rutherford back-scattering facility;
the MicroKeIvin low-temperature facility; and programs in
polymer crazing, nonlinear optical materials, and high-pressure
effects. He insisted that a significant portion of the program
be in support of graduate education, with about one hundred
students receiving their Ph.D. degrees during his tenure.
He was extremely effective in governmental en c} societal
committees and boards and was widely sought as a participant.
He served with distinction on NAE/National Academy of
Sciences panels, was chairman of the solid state sciences
committee of the National Research Council, and chaired
a number of committees for both the Metallurgical Society
and the American Society for Metals. Herb was instrumental
in defining and initiating the Center for Materials Science
at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and he provided continued
advice and collaboration for many years as a member of
the External Advisory Committee of the Center. He was
incisive in cutting through a discussion with a logical solu-
tion and wouic] enliven a debate with his dry humor. On
several occasions he was complimented by chairs and others
on his ability to resolve complex issues. He could be somewhat
stubborn in adhering to his views, but was not adamant
when sound alternatives were presented.
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
For many of us in the materials field, Herb Johnson was
a warm friend, a reliable critic, a valuable collaborator, and
a respected colleague. He will be greatly missed, though
his influence through his lasting contributions will be with
us for many years.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
materials research
