Mechanical Vibration: Where Do We Stand?

‘‘There is always a delightful sense of movement, vibration and life"". Theodore Robinson (1852-1896) “/ have never solved a major mechanical or interpretive problem at the keyboard. I have always solved it in my mind”. Jorge Bolet (1914-1990) The idea of this book stems from the realization that scientists, not unlike laymen, should occasionally interrupt their regular work and reflect on the past, to see both the accomplishments and the drawbacks, so as to be able to plan for future research in the “proper” perspective. But an inquisitive reader may ask: Can one really document in any field, let alone mechanical vibrations (whose very name signifies change), ‘‘where do we stand"? Did not a Greek philosopher famously claim that one cannot enter a river twice? Another, on an even more sophisticated note, added that actually it is impossible to enter a river even once! For in the process of entering, both entrant and river change. Likewise, one can argue that it is nearly impossible to answer the question posed in the title of this volume. But experience shows, despite the sage observations of the philosophers, that one does enter a river, lake, sea, or ocean. Likewise, scientists do stop (if not for a minute, for a conference) to reflect on the past, and if not in its detail, then at least in big strokes on various topics presented by the participants; questions by the listeners often change the research direction of the presenter.