Test Engineer — Arthur Morin
Arthur Morin advanced the field of engineering research and development. Morin began working with Jean-Victor Poncelet as a laboratory assistant in 1828, at the engineering school at Metz. He spent the next decade there on research to benchmark and improve the performance of a variety of technologies. Topics included ballistics, friction, pumps, and water wheels.
In 1839, Morin joined the faculty of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, eventually to become Director of the school. There he expanded the curriculum to include new, developing technologies and developed a research and development laboratory for the military and industry. Today, many of the instruments used during Morin’s time are part of the collection of the Musée des Arts et Métiers.
In the middle of the 19th century, innovation in laboratory instrumentation and testing went hand-in-hand with the development and application of theoretical concepts such as mechanical energy, torque, and power. Among his many contributions, Morin developed one of the basic tools for engineering testing and research. The Morin Dynamometer allowed engineers to measure the power produced by a rotating machine, such as a water wheel or a steam engine. This allowed engineers to measure machine performance, identify limiting factors, and improve efficiency of operation. New at the time of Morin’s work, these concepts are central to the practice of mechanical engineering today.
Arthur Morin is one of the 72 engineers and scientists named on the Eiffel Tower.
