Stanley Corrsin
Encyclopedia
Stanley Corrsin was an American
physicist, fluid dynamicist, and Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor of Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University
. He was known for his contributions in the field of fluid dynamics
in general and turbulence
in particular. He was a recipient of Fluid Dynamics Prize in 1983. Corrsin died of cancer on 2 June 1986 at the age of 66.
in 1940. He entered the California Institute of Technology
for his graduate studies and worked in the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory
under Theodore von Kármán
. After receiving his M.S. degree in 1942, Corrsin joined the Ph.D. program under the supervision of Hans Liepmann
and obtained the degree in 1947. His thesis work was on the flow of a turbulent jet and he was the first advisee of Liepmann. Corrsin joined the Department of Aeronautics at Johns Hopkins University
in 1947 as an Assistant Professor. He became an Associate Professor in 1951 and then was named Professor of mechanical Engineering in 1955. He served as department chair of Mechanical Engineering from 1955 to 1960. He was at various times affiliated with the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanics and Materials Science. In 1979, he helped found the Department of Chemical Engineering. In 1981, he became the first Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor of Engineering at Johns Hopkins.
. He made a number of fundamental contributions to the study of turbulence
, enhancing the understanding of turbulent mixing and the interfaces between turbulent and nonturbulent fluid. In later years, Corrsin developed an interest in various medical and biological problems, including human locomotion, blood flow in the human body, arterial flutter, and the aerodynamics of the albatross
and of formation flying in bird flocks. During his 40 years career, Corrsin had published about a hundred research articles and supervised 25 Ph.D. students.
of The American Physical Society
. The citation reads: "In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of turbulent transport, through ingenious experiment and physical insight; his unique experimental approach and critical view of fluid mechanics have touched a legion of students and associates." In 1986, just before his death, the Engineering Mechanics divisions of the American Society of Civil Engineers
awarded him the Theodore von Karman Medal
for his contributions to the study of turbulence. Corrsin was a Member of American Academy of Engineering
.
In memory of Professor Stanley Corrsin, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins has established the "Stanley Corrsin Lecture in Fluid Mechanics".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist, fluid dynamicist, and Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor of Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He was known for his contributions in the field of fluid dynamics
Fluid dynamics
In physics, fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural science of fluids in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics...
in general and turbulence
Turbulence
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time...
in particular. He was a recipient of Fluid Dynamics Prize in 1983. Corrsin died of cancer on 2 June 1986 at the age of 66.
Education and career
Corrsin was born on 3 April 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. from the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1940. He entered 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...
for his graduate studies and worked in the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory
Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory
The Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology , was a research institute created in 1926, at first specializing in aeronautics research. In 1930, Hungarian scientist Theodore von Kármán accepted the directorship of the lab and emigrated to the United States. Under...
under Theodore von Kármán
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...
. After receiving his M.S. degree in 1942, Corrsin joined the Ph.D. program under the supervision of Hans Liepmann
Hans W. Liepmann
Hans Wolfgang Liepmann German American engineer and emeritus Theodore von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology....
and obtained the degree in 1947. His thesis work was on the flow of a turbulent jet and he was the first advisee of Liepmann. Corrsin joined the Department of Aeronautics at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1947 as an Assistant Professor. He became an Associate Professor in 1951 and then was named Professor of mechanical Engineering in 1955. He served as department chair of Mechanical Engineering from 1955 to 1960. He was at various times affiliated with the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanics and Materials Science. In 1979, he helped found the Department of Chemical Engineering. In 1981, he became the first Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor of Engineering at Johns Hopkins.
Principal works
Corrsin worked in both experimental and theoretical fluid dynamicsFluid dynamics
In physics, fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural science of fluids in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics...
. He made a number of fundamental contributions to the study of turbulence
Turbulence
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time...
, enhancing the understanding of turbulent mixing and the interfaces between turbulent and nonturbulent fluid. In later years, Corrsin developed an interest in various medical and biological problems, including human locomotion, blood flow in the human body, arterial flutter, and the aerodynamics of the albatross
Albatross
Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes . They range widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific...
and of formation flying in bird flocks. During his 40 years career, Corrsin had published about a hundred research articles and supervised 25 Ph.D. students.
Awards and honors
Corrsin was a recipient of 1983 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...
of The American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The 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...
. The citation reads: "In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of turbulent transport, through ingenious experiment and physical insight; his unique experimental approach and critical view of fluid mechanics have touched a legion of students and associates." In 1986, just before his death, the Engineering Mechanics divisions of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
awarded him the Theodore von Karman Medal
Theodore von Karman Medal
The Theodore von Karman Medal in Engineering Mechanics is awarded annually to an individual in recognition of his distinguished achievement in engineering mechanics, applicable to any branch of civil engineering...
for his contributions to the study of turbulence. Corrsin was a Member of American Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.
In memory of Professor Stanley Corrsin, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins has established the "Stanley Corrsin Lecture in Fluid Mechanics".