Frederick J. McGarry

Professor of Polymer Engineering and Civil Engineering

AB Physics, Math, Middlebury College, 1950
SB Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 1950
SM Mechanical Engineering - Materials, MIT, 1953

Room 8-209A, 77 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA  02139
617-253-7172 (phone) 617-253-8042 (fax)

Prof. McGarry's research topics include mechanical behavior of plastics, composites and adhesives, micromechanics of fracture, fatigue of fiber reinforced composites, second phase toughening mechanisms in glassy polymers, and free volume-aging phenomena in glassy polymers. Linear elastic fracture mechanics is being applied to polymers and to polymer-based (reinforced) composites. Others of his research topics include craze phenomena in glassy polymers; metal-to-metal adhesives, based on polymeric compositions; structure-property relations in polymers; fatigue of polymers-glassy, amorphous, crystalline, rubbers; and mechanical properties of polymeric and inorganic fibers. 

Selected Publications

"Enhanced Polycarbonate Toughness I: Measurement Methodology," Polymer Eng. and Science 35 (6): 471-476 (March 1995) (with others). 

"Enhanced Polycarbonate Toughness II: Mechanisms," Polymer Eng. and Science 35 (6): 477-482 (March 1995) (with others). 

"The Low Profile Mechanism in Sheet Molding Compound," J. of Advanced Materials: 47-58 (October 1995) (with others). 

"Toughened Polyester Networks," J. of Adv. Materials 26-35 (June 1996) (with R. Subramaniam).