The elevator in the Shanghai Tower in China can reach speeds of more than 45 miles per hour, whisking passengers up more than 100 floors in under a minute. For elevators this fast and tall, understanding—and ultimately controlling—the vibrations in the cables is key to keeping the ride smooth. It’s a problem that mechanical engineering professor Weidong Zhu has studied, and his analysis of high-speed elevators is just one of the ways his research touches everyday life. His work analyzing sound and vibration also has applications to improving wind turbines, automotive timing belts, and more.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers recently honored Zhu’s pioneering body of research by selecting him to deliver the Rayleigh Lecture at the society’s annual meeting this November. The lecture is named after British scientist Lord Rayleigh, who, in addition to correctly explaining why the sky is blue and discovering the noble gas argon, wrote a groundbreaking book on the theory of sound. 

In his lecture delivered Nov. 20, Zhu presented new methodologies he has developed for analyzing difficult noise and vibration problems. “I’m very honored to give the Rayleigh Lecture,” says Zhu. “It’s a lifetime achievement award and one of the highest recognitions for people doing research in this area.”

Zhu’s impactful research has also been recognized with the 2020 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Research, or Creative Activity.