ENGINEERING SCIENCES. The History of Science and Technology

VIKTOR STEPANOVICH KUKSENKO, SCIENTIST and TEACHER

This article is devoted to Professor Viktor Stepanovich Kuksenko (November 4, 1935 – August 16, 2015), Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. His pupils and colleagues pay tribute to his  memory in it. Prof. Kuksenko was a member of the A. F. Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences since 1964. Since 1988 he held a position of Head of the Department of Physics of Strength. Thanks to his unique investigations, he became widely known as one of the most prominent specialists in the field of the strength of heterogeneous bodies and prediction of failures. His scientific works got a very high score both in this country and abroad.

Prof. Kuksenko’s scientific activity included two aspects: the investigations of failures conducted at micro level and macro level which were united by a general kinetic approach to the issue. Thus, when investigating the generation and evolution of submicron cracks polymers under load he formulated a model of the micro-mechanics of extension of cracks in polymers. That aspect was presented in his monograph Micro Failure of Polymer Materials which was translated and issued in the USA.

Key words: Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute, heterogeneous bodies, prediction of failures, submicron cracks polymers.