Personal statement

Thomas G F Gray retired from full-time academic service in October 2006 and was appointed as Emeritus Professor of the University of Strathclyde and Research Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Research expertise and publication includes work in fracture mechanics, fatigue failure, integrity of bolted connections, structural integrity in various fields and control of welding distortion in thin-plate structures. There have also been several investigations into engineering failures and accidents. A series of industrially-linked projects with colleagues, on welding distortion analysis and contol, from 2001, generated several publications of note, leading to the publication of a major text book on this theme in 2014. Professor Gray is also Chair of the Stress Analysis and Strength of Components Committee of the Engineering Sciences Data Unit, London. This organisation exists to compile and publish engineering information derived from the literature and in a form which can be readily used in design and integrity assessment. These items are published following extensive scrutiny by the Committee and under its authority. Data items covered in the 2013-2014 academic year included the analysis and behaviour of bolted joints in service, stress concentration factors and fatigue in keyways.