Hans W. Liepmann
Encyclopedia
Hans Wolfgang Liepmann German American engineer and emeritus Theodore von Kármán
Professor of Aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology
.
He is known for his numerous contributions in fluid mechanics
covering a wide range of problem areas, such as, flow instability and turbulence, gas kinetics, viscous compressible fluids and liquid helium flows.
in 1938.
He started working at Caltech in 1939 as a Research Fellow in Aeronautics
. He became Assistant Professor of Aeronautics in 1945, Associate Professor in 1946 and Professor from 1949 to 1974. From 1974 to 1976 he was Professor of Aeronautics and Applied Physics
, from 1976 to 1983 Charles Lee Powell Professor of Fluid Mechanics
and Thermodynamics
and 1984-85 von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics. Since 1985 he is von Kármán Professor Emeritus at Caltech. At Caltech Liepman has also been Director, Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories from 1972 to 1985 and Executive Officer for Aeronautics from 1976 to 1985.
Liepmann received several awards, a selection:
Theodore von Karman
Theodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
Professor of Aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
.
He is known for his numerous contributions in fluid mechanics
Fluid mechanics
Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
covering a wide range of problem areas, such as, flow instability and turbulence, gas kinetics, viscous compressible fluids and liquid helium flows.
Biography
Hans Liepmann received a Dr.Ing.h.c. from the University of Aachen and a Ph.D. from the University of ZurichUniversity of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
in 1938.
He started working at Caltech in 1939 as a Research Fellow in Aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
. He became Assistant Professor of Aeronautics in 1945, Associate Professor in 1946 and Professor from 1949 to 1974. From 1974 to 1976 he was Professor of Aeronautics and Applied Physics
Applied physics
Applied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering....
, from 1976 to 1983 Charles Lee Powell Professor of Fluid Mechanics
Fluid mechanics
Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
and Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a physical science that studies the effects on material bodies, and on radiation in regions of space, of transfer of heat and of work done on or by the bodies or radiation...
and 1984-85 von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics. Since 1985 he is von Kármán Professor Emeritus at Caltech. At Caltech Liepman has also been Director, Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories from 1972 to 1985 and Executive Officer for Aeronautics from 1976 to 1985.
Liepmann received several awards, a selection:
- National Medal of TechnologyNational Medal of TechnologyThe National Medal of Technology and Innovation is an honor granted by the President of the United States to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology...
, 1993, for "Outstanding research contributions to the field of fluid mechanicsFluid mechanicsFluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
" - Otto Laporte AwardOtto Laporte AwardThe Otto Laporte Award was an annual award by the American Physical Society to "recognize outstanding contributions to fluid dynamics" and to honour Otto Laporte . It was established as the Otto Laporte Memorial Lectureship by the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics in 1972, and became an APS award in...
, 1985, by the American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical SocietyThe American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20... - National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of ScienceThe National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
, 1986 - Daniel Guggenheim MedalDaniel Guggenheim MedalThe Daniel Guggenheim Medal is an American engineering award, established by Daniel and Harry Guggenheim. The medal is considered to be one of the greatest honors that can be presented for a lifetime of work in aeronautics...
, 1986 - Fluid Dynamics PrizeFluid Dynamics Prize (APS)The Fluid Dynamics Prize is a prize that has been awarded annually by the American Physical Society since 1979. The recipient is chosen for "outstanding achievement in fluid dynamics research". As of 2007 the prize is valued at $10,000. In 2004, the Otto Laporte Award—another APS award on fluid...
by the American Physical SocietyAmerican Physical SocietyThe American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
, 1980
Books
- H. W. Liepmann and A. RoshkoAnatol RoshkoAnatol Roshko is the Theodore von Karman Professor of Aeronautics, Emeritus, at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.Dr. Roshko is known for his contributions to gas dynamics. He along with H. W. Liepmann is the co-author of the widely used textbook "Elements of Gasdynamics"...
, Elements of Gas Dynamics, John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1957), Dover Publications (2002)
Further reading
- Greenberg, John L., Interview with Hans W. Leipmann, California Institute of Technology Oral History Project, Caltech Archives, Pasadena, CA, 1984