Ludwig Prandtl

Ludwig Prandtl (4 February 1875 - 15 August 1953) was a German physicist. He was a pioneer of aerodynamics, and developed the mathematical basis for the fundamental principles of subsonic aerodynamics in the 1920s. His studies identified the boundary layer, thin-airfoils, and lifting-line theories. He was also the eponym of the Prandtl number.

Early years

Prandtl was born in Freising, near Munich in Bavaria, in 1875. His mother suffered from a lengthy illness and, as a result, Ludwig spent more time with his father, a professor of engineering. His father also encouraged him to observe nature and think about his observations.

Related Topics:
Munich - Bavaria

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He entered the University of Munich in 1894 and graduated with a Ph.D. in six years. His work at Munich had been in solid mechanics, and his first job was as an engineer designing factory equipment. There, he entered the field of fluid mechanics when he had to design a suction device. After carrying out some experiments, he came up with a new device that worked well and used less power than the device he replaced.

Related Topics:
University of Munich - Fluid mechanics

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