In recognition of his outstanding contribution to tribological research and application especially in the field of fluid film lubrication.
Born in 1931 in Bucharest, Romania, Professor Constantinescu graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest in 1952. His PhD work, completed in 1955 at the Institute of Applied Mechanics of the Romanian Academy of Sciences, dealt with the theory of gas lubrication. From then onwards the majority of Professor Constantinescu’s activities have been directly related to tribological research and application.
In 1956 he became Head of the Gas Lubrication Laboratory of the Institute of Applied Mechanics of the Romanian Academy of Science, and in 1971 professor of the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest.
His work in the USA and Russia was recognised internationally at an early stage. He spent two periods in the USA (1969-70 as a visiting Scientist with Mechanical Technology Inc., Latham NY and 1972-74 as a visiting Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY); more recently he has been Visiting Professor at the University of Poitiers and INSA-Lyon, in France. He became a Member of the Romanian Academy in 1991 and elected as its President in 1994.
Whilst primarily and internationally known as the specialist for his contributions in the fluid film lubrication and gas lubrication, Professor Constantinescu’s work extended to other areas of engineering and included fluid mechanics and aerodynamics.
His contributions have been particularly notable in: gas lubrication (hydrostatic and hydrodynamic, externally pressurised bearings, journal bearings, bi and tri-dimensional bearings, unsteady bearing lubrication), lubrication in turbulent conditions, transition from laminar to turbulent flow in bearings and seals, thermal effects, and lubrication at large Reynolds numbers.
As a Consultant to industry he has had the satisfaction of seeing his work find practical application in the design and manufacture of machines, notably in the aerospace, power and computer industries. The results of his work on turbulent lubrication have been used by a number of companies in conventional and nuclear power generation and his exploration of the effect of inertial forces in seals for liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen turbo pumps has been widely applied in the aerospace industry.
His activities have yielded numerous publications including more than 200 papers and several books; he also has a number of patents to his name in several countries. Key books have been translated into English and Russian.
Professor Constantinescu’s contributions and achievements are even more remarkable in hindsight, since he had the determination and persistence and, indeed courage, to pursue his activities during some of the more difficult phases in his country’s history.
Within the broad scope of his research and development activity he has also found time for teaching and has, indeed, exerted a profound influence on tertiary education in engineering in Romania through his work in the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, the Ministry of Education, and the Romanian Academy. He has set up and organised laboratories for under-graduate and post-graduate work. He currently teaches under-graduate courses in several subjects including tribology at the School of Aerospace engineering of the Polytechnic Institute and has taught doctorate students in mechanical engineering, in particular fluid mechanics, aerodynamics and tribology, for the last twenty years.
His influence on the development of tribology has been considerable, especially during the last two decades. His turbulence model and his method of tackling the influence of the inertia forces have been globally accepted. His influence on science and technology were immense and on a global dimension.
Professor Constantinescu has received many national and international honours. Amongst them: in 1974 by the honorary degree of Dr.Sc. by the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest and the Romanian Ministry of Education; an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Poitiers; State Prize of Romania 1964, and the honorary title “Distinguished Professor” conferred by the Romanian Ministry of Education. He was appointed an Officier de l’Ordre la Legion d’Honneur in 1995.
The award of the Tribology Gold Medal for 1996 to Professor Constantinescu recognises 45 years of dedicated and continuing activity in, and influence upon, tribological research and application, a field to which the vast majority of his working life has been directly related.
An outstanding tribologist, Professor Constantinescu is indeed a worthy recipient of the 1996 Tribology Gold Medal.