William T. Springer Honored By ASME For Contributions To Pressure Vessel And Piping Technology

NEW YORK, July 29, 2011 – William T. Springer, P.E., Ph.D., a resident of Fayetteville, Ark., and associate professor at the University of Arkansas, was honored by ASME for significant contributions in the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) arena and for his support and leadership within ASME’s Pressure Vessels and Piping (PVP) Division.  He received the Society’s S.Y. Zamrik PVP Medal.

The Pressure Vessel and Piping Medal was established in 1980.  Renamed the S.Y. Zamrik PVP Medal in 2010, it is bestowed for outstanding contributions in the field of pressure vessel and piping technology including, but not limited to, research, development, teaching and significant advancements of the state of the art.  It was presented to Dr. Springer during the ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, which was held in Baltimore, July 18 through 22.

Springer has been on the faculty of the mechanical engineering department at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, since 1981. He has been an associate professor there since 1988.  He currently serves as the 21st century mechanical engineering chair at the university and is helping coordinate a student exchange program with the Politechnico di Torino in Italy.  Springer has served as the mechanical engineering faculty adviser of the University of Arkansas’ Solar Boat Team for the past 12 years; during this period the team has won two international championships. 

At the University of Arkansas, Springer has carried out a research program in structural damage detection using vibration analysis and teaches classes in machine design, vibration and modal analysis.  Based on this work, he was selected as a NASA/American Society for Engineering Education Summer Faculty Fellow (1987-88) at the Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, Ala.), where he assisted in verifying the methodology proposed by the Johnson Space Center for use in the postflight damage assessment of the body flap on the Orbiter Vehicle.

A Fellow of ASME, Springer joined the NDE Engineering Division of ASME at its founding in 1982 and has been a part of its activities to emphasize the engineering aspects of nondestructive evaluation as well as the need to incorporate these principles in pressure vessel and piping design procedures.  Among his leadership roles, Springer has served as chair of the NDE Engineering Division and its Publications, Education,

Professional Development, Membership, and Honors and Awards committees; and is the division’s technical program representative for PVP Division meetings.  He also served as a member of the ASME Business Development Committee.  In 2006, he was honored with an ASME Dedicated Service Award.

Springer served as chairman of the Modal Analysis and Dynamic Systems Technical Division of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) for 12 years.  During this time, he worked to bring academic and industrial research activities closer together and helped co-found and edit the International Journal of Analytical and Experimental Modal Analysis.  In addition to his SEM membership, Springer is a member of SAE International and Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society.

His honors include an Outstanding Mentor Award (2006) and Teaching Enhancement awards (1994, 1996) from the University of Arkansas; a Halliburton Student Service Award (1999, 2011) from the university’s College of Engineering; and Outstanding Research awards (1983, 1989) from the university’s mechanical engineering department.

Springer earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1974, 1979 and 1982, respectively.  He is a registered professional engineer in Arkansas.

About ASME ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.