Kenneth L. Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kenneth Johnson FRS FREng
Born	(1925-03-19)19 March 1925
Died	21 September 2015(2015-09-21) (aged 90)
Awards	William Prager Medal Royal Medal
Scientific career
Thesis	An experimental investigation of the effects of an oscillating tangential force at the interface between elastic bodies in contact (1954)

Kenneth Langstreth Johnson (born March 19, 1925 – died September 21, 2015) was a brilliant British engineer. He was a Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge from 1977 to 1992. He was also a special member, called a Fellow, of Jesus College, Cambridge. His most important work was in the areas of tribology and contact mechanics.

Learning and Early Career

Kenneth Johnson went to Barrow Grammar School when he was younger. Later, he studied at the University of Manchester. There, he earned several advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy. His studies were guided by his supervisor, H. Wright Baker.

Understanding How Things Touch: Contact Mechanics

Kenneth Johnson spent much of his career studying how surfaces interact when they touch. This field is called contact mechanics. It's about understanding things like friction, wear, and how materials deform when pressed together. His work helped engineers design better machines and parts.

He also studied tribology, which is the science of friction, lubrication, and wear. Imagine how car tires grip the road or how gears move smoothly in a machine. Tribology helps us understand these interactions.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Kenneth Johnson received many important awards for his amazing work.

• In 1982, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists.
• In 1987, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
• In 2003, he won the Royal Medal from the Royal Society. This award recognized his "outstanding work in the field of contact mechanics."
• His paper from 1971, written with Kevin Kendall and Alan D. Roberts, is very important. It helped create the modern ideas about how surfaces touch.
• He also helped us understand how fluids behave when they are used as lubricants. This is important for making machines run smoothly.

Other awards he received include:

• The International Award from the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers in 1983.
• The Tribology Gold Medal from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1985.
• The Mayo D. Hersey Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1991.
• The William Prager Medal in 1999.
• The Timoshenko Medal in 2006.

Kenneth Johnson passed away on September 21, 2015, at the age of 90. His contributions continue to influence engineering and science today.