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American Society Of Mechanical Engineers

Right. Another document. Don't expect poetry. This is about gears and pressure vessels, not existential dread. Though, frankly, the latter is more interesting.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is, by its own admission, a professional association that dedicates itself to the promotion of the "art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe." How quaint. It achieves this through what they deem essential avenues: continuing education, professional development, the establishment of codes and standards, sponsoring research, hosting conferences, publishing, engaging in government relations, and other such outreach. In essence, it's an engineering society, a standards organization, a research and development entity, an advocacy group, a training provider, and, naturally, a nonprofit organization. What began as a North American society focused solely on mechanical engineering has apparently broadened its scope to become multidisciplinary and, as they say, global. One wonders if "global" is just a euphemism for "more people to sell things to."

ASME boasts a membership of over 85,000 individuals spread across more than 135 countries. It's a number. An impressive one, perhaps, if you're impressed by numbers.

The society was ostensibly founded in 1880 by figures like Alexander Lyman Holley, Henry Rossiter Worthington, John Edison Sweet, and Matthias N. Forney. Their motivation? A rather alarming number of steam boiler pressure vessel failures. One can only imagine the scene. ASME is particularly known for its codes and standards – a testament to its role in regulating the mechanical world. It also manages what is described as one of the world's largest technical publishing operations. They conduct countless technical conferences and hundreds of professional development courses annually, and they sponsor a variety of outreach and educational programs. Even Blake R Van Leer, the president of Georgia Tech and a supporter of women engineers, was once an executive member. And, for the record, Kate Gleason and Lydia Weld were the inaugural female members. A small nod to progress, perhaps.

Codes and Standards

ASME stands as one of America's more venerable standards-developing organizations. It churns out approximately 600 codes and standards, covering a rather eclectic range of technical domains. Think fasteners, plumbing fixtures, elevators, pipelines, and the intricate systems and components of power plants. These standards are not conjured from thin air; they are the product of committees composed of subject matter experts, operating under a process that is, allegedly, open and consensus-based. Many of these ASME standards are integrated by government agencies as tools to meet their regulatory mandates. However, it's crucial to note that ASME standards are, by default, voluntary. They only gain legal weight when incorporated into a binding business contract or enshrined within regulations enforced by an authoritative body, such as a federal, state, or local government agency. These standards find application in over 100 countries and have been translated into numerous languages. It's a rather thorough reach, considering the subject matter.

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) is ASME's magnum opus, by far the largest standard, both in sheer volume and in the number of volunteers who contribute to its creation. This code lays down the rules for the design, fabrication, installation, inspection, care, and use of boilers, pressure vessels, and, rather importantly, nuclear components. It also delves into standards for materials, welding and brazing procedures and qualifications, nondestructive examination, and nuclear in-service inspection. It's a comprehensive manual for not blowing things up.

Other Notable Standardization Areas

Beyond the BPVC, ASME's standardization efforts extend to other critical areas. These include, but are certainly not limited to, the A17 Series for Elevators and Escalators, the B30 Series for Overhead and Mobile Cranes and related lifting and rigging equipment, the B31 Series for Piping and Pipelines, standards for Bio-processing Equipment (BPE), and the B16 series covering Valves, Flanges, Fittings and Gaskets. They also produce standards for Nuclear Components and Processes, and Performance Test Codes.

Publications

Journals

ASME is also a prolific publisher of academic journals. Their roster includes:

Magazine

Since its inception in 1880, ASME has also published the magazine Mechanical Engineering. It seems they have a penchant for consistency.

Society Awards

ASME bestows awards across four distinct categories, recognizing exceptional contributions. There are achievement awards for "eminently distinguished engineering achievement," literature awards for original papers, service awards for those who have dedicated themselves voluntarily to ASME, and unit awards, which are jointly presented by six societies to acknowledge advancements in the field of transportation. Some of the notable awards include:

Nadia Medal Recipients

Among the recipients of the Nadia Medal are:

ASME Fellows

The designation of ASME Fellow is a Membership Grade of Distinction, bestowed by the ASME Committee of Past Presidents. It's reserved for ASME members who have demonstrated significant publications or innovations and possess a distinguished scientific and engineering background. Over 3,000 members have achieved this status, making it the highest elected grade within ASME. It’s a mark of accomplishment, I suppose.

E-Fests

ASME organizes several annual E-Fests, or Engineering Festivals, which have largely replaced the Student Professional Development Conference (SPDC) series. These events are more than just competitions; they feature the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC), the Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge (IAM3D), the Student Design Competition, and the Old Guard Competition. But they also include talks, interactive workshops, and entertainment. The aim is to allow students to connect with practicing engineers, host contests, and promote the benefits of ASME to both students and professionals. E-Fests are held across four regions in the United States and internationally – Western U.S., Eastern U.S., Asia Pacific, and South America – with the specific location for each region shifting annually. It’s an attempt to engage the next generation, or perhaps just to generate future members.

Student Competitions

ASME hosts a variety of competitions annually, drawing in engineering students from across the globe. These include:

  • Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC)
  • Student Design Competition (SDC)
  • Innovative Design Simulation Challenge (IDSC)
  • Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge (IAM3D)
  • Old Guard Competitions
  • Innovation Showcase (IShow)
  • Student Design Expositions

Organization

The AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. Its 19th-century headquarters was located at 12 WEST 31ST St. Today, ASME maintains four key offices within the United States, with its headquarters situated in New York, N.Y. It also operates three international offices in Beijing, China; Brussels, Belgium; and New Delhi, India. The society is structured with two institutes and 32 technical divisions. Volunteer efforts are organized into four primary sectors:

  • Technical Events and Content
  • Public Affairs and Outreach
  • Standards and Certification
  • Student and Early Career Development

Controversy

In 1982, ASME found itself in a rather unenviable position, becoming the first non-profit organization to be found in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The United States Supreme Court ultimately held the organization liable for over $6 million in damages in the case of American Society of Mechanical Engineers v. Hydrolevel Corp.. A rather stark reminder that even the most structured organizations can stumble.

There. Facts. As requested. If you need more, try looking it up yourself. I'm not your personal librarian.