Theodore Yaotsu Wu (Chinese: 吴耀祖; pinyin: Wú Yàozǔ; March 20, 1924 – December 16, 2023) was a Chinese-born American engineer. He was a Professor of Engineering Science at the California Institute of Technology. His research contribution included compressible fluid flow, free-streamline theory of cavities, jets and wakes, water waves and free-surface flows, mechanics of fish swimming and bird/insect flight, wind and ocean-current energy, and internal waves in the ocean.
Wu came from a Chinese scholar family. His father had a degree in economics and finance, his mother graduated from high school and majored in literature, while his grandfather was a Chinese physician.
During the Japanese invasion, the Japanese airplanes flying overhead eventually inspired him to enter aeronautics in the university.
Education and careeredit
Wu received his BSc in 1946 from National Chiao Tung University in Shanghai (now Shanghai Jiao Tong University), and spent one year teaching upon graduation.[3] In January 1948 he arrived in the U.S. and enrolled at Iowa State University and graduated with an MS in December the same year. After Iowa, Wu went to Caltech, where he shared an office with Julian Cole. Wu was involved in the research group headed by Paco Lagerstrom, where they developed further the asymptotic perturbation method pioneered by Ludwig Prandtl.
Wu received his PhD in (1952), subsequently worked as a research fellow at Caltech for three years, and developed interest in water waves and hydrodynamics, due to inspiration from then Qian Xuesen and von Karman. After three years Wu became an assistant professor of applied mechanics (1955) at Caltech. In 1960, under the influence of G. I. Taylor and James Lighthill, Wu started to work on fish locomotion and bird flight (biofluiddynamics). During his time at Caltech he has also contributed to the field of naval architecture and been involved in the International Towing Tank Conferences.
Later life and deathedit
Wu retired in 1996, but remained very active after his retirement. He died on December 16, 2023, at the age of 99.[4]
Selected publicationsedit
Wu, T. Y. T. (1961), "Swimming of a waving plate", Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 10 (3): 321–344, Bibcode:1961JFM....10..321W, doi:10.1017/S0022112061000949, S2CID 17743120
Wu, Theodore Yaotsu (2001), "A unified theory for modeling water waves", Advances in Applied Mechanics, 37: 1–88, doi:10.1016/S0065-2156(00)80004-6, ISBN9780120020379
^. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
^"Interview with Theodore Y. Wu" (PDF). caltech.edu. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
^"Theodore Y. Wu, 1924–2023". Caltech. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
External linksedit
Wu at Caltech
April 13, 2024
theodore, theodore, yaotsu, chinese, 吴耀祖, pinyin, yàozǔ, march, 1924, december, 2023, chinese, born, american, engineer, professor, engineering, science, california, institute, technology, research, contribution, included, compressible, fluid, flow, free, stre. Theodore Yaotsu Wu Chinese 吴耀祖 pinyin Wu Yaozǔ March 20 1924 December 16 2023 was a Chinese born American engineer He was a Professor of Engineering Science at the California Institute of Technology His research contribution included compressible fluid flow free streamline theory of cavities jets and wakes water waves and free surface flows mechanics of fish swimming and bird insect flight wind and ocean current energy and internal waves in the ocean Theodore Yao tsu WuBorn 1924 03 20 March 20 1924 2 Changzhou ChinaDiedDecember 16 2023 2023 12 16 aged 99 Alma materChiao Tung UniversityIowa State UniversityCalifornia Institute of TechnologyAwardsGeorg Weinblum Memorial Lectureship 1983 1984 1 Fluid Dynamics Prize APS 1993 Theodore von Karman Medal 2004 Scientific careerFieldsFluid dynamicsInstitutionsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyDoctoral advisorPaco Lagerstrom Contents 1 Early life 2 Education and career 3 Later life and death 4 Selected publications 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editWu came from a Chinese scholar family His father had a degree in economics and finance his mother graduated from high school and majored in literature while his grandfather was a Chinese physician During the Japanese invasion the Japanese airplanes flying overhead eventually inspired him to enter aeronautics in the university Education and career editWu received his BSc in 1946 from National Chiao Tung University in Shanghai now Shanghai Jiao Tong University and spent one year teaching upon graduation 3 In January 1948 he arrived in the U S and enrolled at Iowa State University and graduated with an MS in December the same year After Iowa Wu went to Caltech where he shared an office with Julian Cole Wu was involved in the research group headed by Paco Lagerstrom where they developed further the asymptotic perturbation method pioneered by Ludwig Prandtl Wu received his PhD in 1952 subsequently worked as a research fellow at Caltech for three years and developed interest in water waves and hydrodynamics due to inspiration from then Qian Xuesen and von Karman After three years Wu became an assistant professor of applied mechanics 1955 at Caltech In 1960 under the influence of G I Taylor and James Lighthill Wu started to work on fish locomotion and bird flight biofluiddynamics During his time at Caltech he has also contributed to the field of naval architecture and been involved in the International Towing Tank Conferences Later life and death editWu retired in 1996 but remained very active after his retirement He died on December 16 2023 at the age of 99 4 Selected publications editWu T Y T 1961 Swimming of a waving plate Journal of Fluid Mechanics 10 3 321 344 Bibcode 1961JFM 10 321W doi 10 1017 S0022112061000949 S2CID 17743120 Wu Theodore Yaotsu 2001 A unified theory for modeling water waves Advances in Applied Mechanics 37 1 88 doi 10 1016 S0065 2156 00 80004 6 ISBN 9780120020379References edit Georg Weinblum Lecturers tudelft nl Retrieved 2011 01 15 Theodore Yao Tsu Wu Array of Contemporary American Physicists Archived from the original on 2016 03 05 Retrieved 2012 08 03 Interview with Theodore Y Wu PDF caltech edu Retrieved 2011 01 15 Theodore Y Wu 1924 2023 Caltech 21 December 2023 Retrieved 21 January 2024 External links editWu at Caltech Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theodore Y Wu amp oldid 1202270368, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
