天美传媒 Lyle鈥檚 Dr. Nicos Makris Elected Foreign Member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA)
天美传媒 Lyle Civil and Environmental Engineering professor, Dr. Nicos Makris is honored with election to the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts for his lifetime achievements in structural engineering and structural mechanics.
Dr. Nicos Makris, Addy Family Centennial Professor in Civil Engineering at 天美传媒 Lyle School of Engineering, has been elected a foreign member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA). Dr. Makris, a professor within Lyle's Civil and Environmental Engineering department, is recognized for his lifetime achievements in structural engineering and structural mechanics and more specifically for his groundbreaking research on the structural stability of masonry arches upon generalizing the seminal work of the Serbian engineer and astronomer, Milutin Milankovitch. He joins a short and highly prestigious list of inducted foreign members, including great scientific minds, composers and social dignitaries like Dmitri Mendeleev, Antonín Dvo艡ák, Noam Chomsky, and Leo Tolstoy.
Together with former graduate student Haris Alexakis, Dr. Makris caught the attention of the Academy for his work building upon the foundational but underrecognized contributions of Serbian scientist and engineer Milutin Milankovitch. The central question driving their research: the centuries-old challenge of determining the minimum thickness required for a stone arch to sustain its own weight. Their answer draws upon Milankovitch’s seminal work on the limit equilibrium analysis of stone arches, a method which identifies the most likely causes of failure and determines the minimum thickness required to prevent them.
“It’s a story that starts in the first quarter of the 18th century,” explains Dr. Makris, “a problem that was of interest to the best minds–some of the best mathematicians and engineers of the 18th and 19th centuries.”
Dr. Makris emphasizes that Milankovitch’s work, despite being historically overlooked, is crucial to properly understanding arch behavior at the verge of collapse. Building on this foundation, Dr. Makris and Alexakis disproved the long-held belief that the catenary curve, which describes the shape of a hanging chain, accurately models the calculated thrust line of a masonry arch. Together, the two identified the most critical pattern of rupture, which is likely to require the greatest consideration when determining the appropriate minimum thickness."This election is a huge honor…something that I never dreamed of," says Dr. Makris. "It's a very humbling experience."
Dr. Makris' election to the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is a testament to the impact of his lifetime contributions to the field of civil engineering and applied mathematics.
"We have a lot of bright students at 天美传媒 Lyle," Dr. Makris adds. "I hope that this distinction will contribute to the strengths of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, 天美传媒 Lyle School of Engineering, and to the university as a whole.”
About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
天美传媒's Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, 天美传媒 Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees.
About 天美传媒
天美传媒 is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. 天美传媒’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.