SEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE

SEM’s rich heritage, and that ofthe SEMAnnual Confer- ence, emina ted from t h e very popular E a s t e r n Photoelasticity Conferences of the 30’s and 40’s. It was at the “17th Semi-annual Eastern Photoelasticity Confer- ence and Experimental Stress Symposium,” in 1943, that the need was recognized for a formal organization dedi- cated to the exchange of information concerning strain gages, brittle coatings and photoelasticity as techniques in the experimental determination of stress. Thus, the Society for Experimental Stress Analysis, now known as the Society for Experimental Mechanics, was formed.

Techniques, as well as the means of communicating their purpose, to other professionals in the field, have changed. However, the SEM Annual Conference has remained the preeminent occasion to become acquainted with others working in our field, and as a source of valued technical interchange and first-hand exposure to the latest prod- ucts and techniques.

Fifty-six years later, SEM still provides this valuable fo- rum for its members, thanks to the numerous members who volunteer their time and expertise in organizing the technical program and presentations.

The SEM Annual Conference (previously referred to as the “Spring” conference) is typically held during the first two weeks of June. What follows is a general timeline of the submission and notification dates for the SEM An- nual Conferences. Note that the dates given are approxi- mations and you are advised to consult the SEM web site, www.sem.org, for current dates and requirements for each conference. The calendar on pages 6 and 7 of this issue of ET list the dates of each SEMAnnual Conference through 2001. Description Abstract deadline Author notlfication of

acceptancehejection Advanced program mailed Proceedings manuscripts due Speaker biographes & releases due Speaker breakfast confirmation Conference

Approximate Date October 11

January 10 February 14 March 20 March 20 April 10 Early June

SEM sponsors an expanded International Congress on Experimental Mechanics every four years. The next con- gress will be held June 5-8, 2000 in Orlando, Florida. The Call for Papers for this conference will be available in June.

The technical content of each conference is organized by a Technical Program Planning Committee. Proceedings are published for each annual conference and full guide- lines for proceedings papers are available on SEM’s web site, www.sem.org, prior to the conference. If you do not have internet access, please contact SEM Headquarters directly for guidelines: (203) 790-6373; or fax (203) 790-4472.

SEM also organizes a variety of symposia, courses and topical conferences, such a s the Electronic Packaging Symposia, the Noise, Vibration and Harshness Sympo- sium, the Vibration Testing: Theory & Practice Course, and a number of others. These events are also posted on SEM’s web site: www.sem.org.

IMAC: ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, technical advances in fast fourier transform equipment coupled with personal computers propelled the interest of modal analysis as an analytical tool. It was then possible to collect and ana- lyze many channels of data simultaneously, which gave the experimentalist a whole new way to understand and solve vibration and dynamics problems.

In 1981, two General Electric engineers, Dominick DeMichele and Peter Juh l recognized the need to orga- nize the modal community within one specific event. With the initial help of Union College (Schenectady, New York), these two men organized the first IMAC in 1982 in Or- lando, Florida. It was a n immediate success, as it brought together a n active group of international scientists, engi- neers and hardware and software professionals. An advi- sory Board was established in 1982.

SEM, which had an active Modal Analysis/Dynamic Sys- tems Division, became permanently involved in the orga- nization and managemen t of IMAC by 1988. Mr. DeMichele remained the IMAC Director for 13 years and still assists in assembling the program. Mr. Juhl retired from IMAC in 1984. A1 Wicks, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, assumed the role of Tech- nical Director Chair in 1995.

IMAC is now in its 18th year of operation and is still rec- ognized by industry, government and universities as the premier conference on modal testing and analysis. IMAC typically attracts 300 technical papers, 50 to 60 exhibi- tors and 500 to 700 attendees. A full-manuscript confer- ence proceedings is published annually, up to 1800 pages, and is now available in print or on CD.

The following timeline provides approximate dates for key deadlines throughout the assembly of the IMAC techni- cal program. Note that these dates are approximate and you are advised to consult IMAC’s home page on the SEM web site, www.sem.org, for current details.

Description Approximate Date Abstract deadline June 5 Author notification of

accep tancehejection August 5 Proceedings manuscripts due October 8 Speaker biographies and releases due October 8 Advanced program mailed October 15 Final change notices sent November 15 Speaker breakfast confirnation December 29 Conference Early February

If you do not have internet access, please contact SEM Headquarters directly for a complete copy of the guide- lines: phone (203) 790-6373, or fax (203) 790-4472.

May/June 1999 EXPERIMENTALTECHNIQUES 69