Richard V. Southwell
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Vynne Southwell MA
, LLD
, FRS (1888 – 1970) was a British
mathematician
who specialized in applied mechanics
as an engineering science academic.
, where in 1912 he achieved first class degree results in both the mathematical and mechanical science
tripos
. In 1914, he became a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
, and a lecturer in Mechanical Sciences.
Southwell was in the Royal Naval Air Service
during World War I
. After World War I, he was head of the Aerodynamics and Structures Divisions at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
, Farnborough
.
In 1920, he moved to the National Physical Laboratory. He then returned to Trinity College in 1925 as Fellow and Mathematics Lecturer in 1925. Next, in 1929, he moved to Oxford University as Professor of Engineering Science and Fellow of Brasenose College
. Here, he developed a research group, including Derman Christopherson
, with whom he worked on his relaxation method
. He became a member of a number of UK governmental technical committees, including the for the Air Ministry
, at the time when the R100
and R101
airship
s were being conceived.
Southwell was Rector at Imperial College, London from 1942 until his retirement in 1948.
He continued his research at Imperial College. He was also involved in the opening a new student residence, Selkirk Hall.
s for solving partial differential equation
s in engineering
and theoretical physics
during the 1930 and the 1940s. The equations had first to be discretized by the finite difference methods. Then, the values of the function of the grids would have to be iteratively adjusted so that the discretized equation would be satisfied. At the time, digital computers did not exist, and the computations had to be done by hand. Southwell developed various techniques to speed up the calculations. For instance, in 1935, he used multiple grids for that purpose, a technique which would later be elaborated into the multigrid method.
Southwell was also honoured with a knighthood.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, LLD
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
, FRS (1888 – 1970) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
who specialized in applied mechanics
Applied mechanics
Applied mechanics is a branch of the physical sciences and the practical application of mechanics. Applied mechanics examines the response of bodies or systems of bodies to external forces...
as an engineering science academic.
Education and career
Richard Southwell was educated at the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where in 1912 he achieved first class degree results in both the mathematical and mechanical science
Mechanics
Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
. In 1914, he became a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, and a lecturer in Mechanical Sciences.
Southwell was in the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After World War I, he was head of the Aerodynamics and Structures Divisions at the Royal Aircraft Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
.
In 1920, he moved to the National Physical Laboratory. He then returned to Trinity College in 1925 as Fellow and Mathematics Lecturer in 1925. Next, in 1929, he moved to Oxford University as Professor of Engineering Science and Fellow of Brasenose College
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. Here, he developed a research group, including Derman Christopherson
Derman Christopherson
Sir Derman Guy Christopherson OBE FRS FREng was a British engineering science academic.He was born the son of a clergyman, Derman Christopherson , and Edith Frances...
, with whom he worked on his relaxation method
Relaxation method
In numerical mathematics, relaxation methods are iterative methods for solving systems of equations, including nonlinear systems.Relaxation methods were developed for solving large sparse linear systems, which arose as finite-difference discretizations of differential equations...
. He became a member of a number of UK governmental technical committees, including the for the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
, at the time when the R100
R100
HM Airship R100 was a privately designed and built rigid airship made as part of a two-ship competition to develop new techniques for a projected larger commercial airship for use on British empire routes...
and R101
R101
R101 was one of a pair of British rigid airship completed in 1929 as part of a British government programme to develop civil airships capable of service on long-distance routes within the British Empire. It was designed and built by an Air Ministry-appointed team and was effectively in competition...
airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s were being conceived.
Southwell was Rector at Imperial College, London from 1942 until his retirement in 1948.
He continued his research at Imperial College. He was also involved in the opening a new student residence, Selkirk Hall.
Scientific contribution
As a scientist, Southwell developed relaxation methodRelaxation method
In numerical mathematics, relaxation methods are iterative methods for solving systems of equations, including nonlinear systems.Relaxation methods were developed for solving large sparse linear systems, which arose as finite-difference discretizations of differential equations...
s for solving partial differential equation
Partial differential equation
In mathematics, partial differential equations are a type of differential equation, i.e., a relation involving an unknown function of several independent variables and their partial derivatives with respect to those variables...
s in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and theoretical physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
during the 1930 and the 1940s. The equations had first to be discretized by the finite difference methods. Then, the values of the function of the grids would have to be iteratively adjusted so that the discretized equation would be satisfied. At the time, digital computers did not exist, and the computations had to be done by hand. Southwell developed various techniques to speed up the calculations. For instance, in 1935, he used multiple grids for that purpose, a technique which would later be elaborated into the multigrid method.
Honours
Southwell received the following honours and recognition for his achievements:- Professor at University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(1925) - Fellow of the Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(1925) - Worcester Reed Warner medal, ASME (1941)
- Member of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
(1943) - Timoshenko MedalTimoshenko MedalThe Timoshenko Medal is an award given annually by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to an individual"in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of applied mechanics."...
(1959) - Elliott Cresson MedalElliott Cresson MedalThe Elliott Cresson Medal, also known as the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, was the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. The award was established by Elliott Cresson, life member of the Franklin Institute, with $1,000 granted in 1848...
(1964)
Southwell was also honoured with a knighthood.
Publications
- Stress Calculation in Frameworks by the method of relaxation of constraints Proc. Roy. Soc. A 151, 56 (1935); Proc. Roy. Soc. A 153, 41 (1935).
- Relaxation methods in engineering science : a treatise on approximate computation (Oxford Univ. Press - 1940)
- An Introduction to the Theory of Elasticity for Engineers and Physicists, 2nd ed. London: (Oxford University Press, 1941)
- Relaxation Methods in Theoretical Physics, a continuation of the treatise, Relaxation methods in engineering science (Oxford University Press - 1946)