UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) has recognized Martin W. Trethewey, professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State, with the 2019 M.M. Frocht Award for “outstanding achievement as an educator in the field of experimental mechanics."
He has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in three Penn State academic programs: Mechanical Engineering, The Graduate Program in Acoustics, and Quality and Manufacturing Management. Course topics include experimental vibrations, acoustical data measurement and analysis, machine dynamics, noise control, mechanical design, and product design.
He has led a number of innovative educational program development efforts. One noteworthy activity created a global educational platform for Penn State students to team with their counterparts in other countries. The teams mimic the operation of a multi-national corporate engineering team to produce engineered solutions to an industry sponsored project. A professional engineering environment is created by having the international student teams report directly to their industry sponsor. The global teaming delivers an in-depth international experience in an engineering context. Global teams have been developed with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China), National University of Singapore (Singapore), Seoul National University (Korea), Chonnam National University (Korea), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), and the University of Melbourne (Australia).
He was the recipient of the Penn State College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award and Penn State's Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Excellence in Teaching. The international student team program he spearheaded received a National Academy of Engineering – Real World Engineering Education Citation—"Infusing Capstone Design Projects with Real World Experiences Using Global and Cross-College Teams".
Trethewey's research has focused on the analysis of machine dynamics from experimentally acquired data. The research encompasses experimental techniques, instrumentation, signal processing, and system modeling. He has supervised 50 graduate students and has published over 130 technical papers.
Trethewey has served in a variety of capacities for the SEM “It’s Just Not Modal Anymore” (IMAC) community and a term on the Society for Experimental Mechanics Executive Committee. He served as the SEM appointed assistant editor-in-chief of mechanical systems and signal processing for 10 years. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.