Remembering two UC greats: Professors Randy Allemang and Dave Brown

Quantifying the impact that University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science emeritus professors Randy Allemang, BSME ’72, MS ’73, PhD ’80, and Dave Brown, AE ’61, MS ’63, PhD ’76, had on the field of structural dynamics is a tall order.

Between the global reach of their groundbreaking research in vibration testing and modal analysis, the hundreds of graduate students they guided through the decades and who in turn have made their mark in academia and industry and the many companies — both large and small — that they partnered with and helped launch, their contributions are immeasurable. For many years, the two professors oversaw the Structural Dynamics Research Lab (SDRL) at UC.

On the research front, Allemang’s and Brown’s strong work ethic, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit set the bar high for generations of students.

“They inspired their students to go the extra mile by always going the extra mile themselves,” said Leuridan. “Their dedication and motivation motivated their students.”

Brown and Allemang were instrumental in applying their research to real world problems and to getting students excited about how their work could benefit society-at-large.

“Randy made that part look easy,” says Marty Emmert, PhD, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS). “Through his mentorship of the Formula SAE — now Bearcat Motorsports — team, he was able to link fun to engineering and research. Randy was the team faculty advisor for many years, and under his guidance, the team won several awards and top 10 finishes. He set the example for all of us in CEAS to follow.”

Allemang and Brown worked closely together for decades, yet each one was unique.

Allemang, outgoing and charismatic, fit the classic college professor mold, said Bob Rost, BSME ’79, MS ’80, PhD ’85, associate professor emeritus. He taught undergraduate and graduate level courses, advised students and served on department, college and university committees. Brown, quiet and more reserved, was the researcher — he taught at the graduate level, was involved in all the lab’s research efforts and had many industry connections. 

“I think one reason why SDRL was so successful at moving things forward was that the two of them could disagree but never let that disagreement come in the way of their friendship,” said Rost. “I can recall many times they were having a very animated discussion about a technical topic and then go out to lunch with each other as if nothing had happened.”

Like the emeritus professors for whom they are named, the two funds are inextricably linked and designed to work together toward a common goal. “They are different,” said Leuridan, “but complementary. An endowment that supports research in a particular area can only work if there’s support for the professor who’s doing the research, if there’s resources to create momentum and give continuity to the research fields.”

Thus far, each fund has garnered close to $500,000. Many, including Phillips, hope to secure further commitments soon so that Brown and Allemang’s legacy can continue.

“These funds honor and benefit the SDRL founders and pave the way to continue their important work,” said Emmert. “Advancing Structural Dynamics — based on an approach that combines experimentation and simulation — continues to be a key component in making progress for engineering mechatronic systems, which are underpinning the innovation in tomorrow’s products and manufacturing systems. It’s the mission of SDRL 'Next,' an integral part of our Future Manufacturing System initiative.”

Featured image at top: Stuart Shelley, Mike Lally, Jan Leuridan, Bob Rost and Jeff Poland. Photo/Provided.