George Keith Batchelor
FRS (8 March 1920 – 30 March 2000) was an Australian
applied mathematician
A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems.
Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, mathematical structure, structure, space, Mathematica ...
and
fluid dynamicist
Fluid mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the mechanics of fluids (liquids, gases, and plasmas) and the forces on them.
It has applications in a wide range of disciplines, including mechanical, aerospace, civil, chemical and biomed ...
.
He was for many years a Professor of Applied Mathematics in the
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
, and was founding head of the
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
*Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
(DAMTP). In 1956 he founded the influential ''
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
The ''Journal of Fluid Mechanics'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of fluid mechanics. It publishes original work on theoretical, computational, and experimental aspects of the subject.
The journal is published by Cambridge U ...
'' which he edited for some forty years. Prior to Cambridge he studied at
Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School is a government-funded single-sex academically selective secondary day school for boys, located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1905, the school caters for boys from Year 9 t ...
and
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...
.
As an applied mathematician (and for some years at Cambridge a co-worker with
Sir Geoffrey Taylor in the field of
turbulent flow
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is fluid motion characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity. It is in contrast to a laminar flow, which occurs when a fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between ...
), he was a keen advocate of the need for physical understanding and sound experimental basis.
His ''An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics'' (CUP, 1967) is still considered a classic of the subject, and has been re-issued in the ''Cambridge Mathematical Library'' series, following strong current demand.
Unusual for an 'elementary' textbook of that era, it presented a treatment in which the properties of a real
viscous fluid
In condensed matter physics and physical chemistry, the terms viscous liquid, supercooled liquid, and glassforming liquid are often used interchangeably to designate liquids that are at the same time highly viscous (see Viscosity of amorphous m ...
were fully emphasised. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...
in 1959.
The
Batchelor Prize award, is named in his honour and is awarded every four years at the meeting of the International Congress on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.
References
External links
*
''An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics'' by G. K. Batchelorat Cambridge Mathematical Library.
Obituaries for George Batchelor (with portraits) at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (
DAMTP) of the University of Cambridge website
Obituary by
Julian Hunt
Video recording of the K. Moffatt's lecture on life and work of George Batchelor
{{DEFAULTSORT:Batchelor, George
1920 births
2000 deaths
Academics of the University of Cambridge
Alumni of the University of Cambridge
20th-century Australian mathematicians
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellows of the Royal Society
Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences
Fluid dynamicists
Cambridge mathematicians
People educated at Melbourne High School
Royal Medal winners
Australian textbook writers
Mathematicians from Melbourne
Journal of Fluid Mechanics editors