Richard von Mises

Richard Edler von Mises (Lemberg 19 April 1883 - Boston, 14 July 1953) was a scientist who worked on fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, aeronautics, statistics and probability theory or, in his own words shortly before his death, on

Contributions

In aerodynamics, Richard von Mises made notable advances in boundary-layer-flow theory and airfoil design

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He developed the Distortion energy theory of stress, which is one of the most important concepts used by engineers in material strength calculations.

Related Topics:
Distortion energy theory - Stress - Engineer

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On probability ? he posed the well-known "birthday problem" his ideas were not unanimously received. Aleksander Ostrowski who had said of him:

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:"Only with the appointment of Richard von Mises to the University of Berlin did the first serious German school of applied mathematics with a broad sphere of influence come into existence. Von Mises was an incredibly dynamic person and at the same time amazingly versatile like Runge. He was especially well versed in the realm of technology."

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also wrote:

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:"Because of his dynamic personality his occasional major blunders were somehow tolerated. One has even forgiven him his theory of probability."

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Yet Kolmogorov, whose rival axiomatisation was better received, was less severe:

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:"The basis for the applicability of the results of the mathematical theory of probability to real 'random phenomena' must depend on some form of the frequency concept of probability, the unavoidable nature of which has been established by von Mises in a spirited manner."

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The Gesellschaft für Angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik (International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics) has awarded a Richard von Mises-Preis (Prize) since 1989.

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