Brian Launder
Encyclopedia
Brian Edward Launder, FRS (born 20 July 1939) is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering
at the University of Manchester
, United Kingdom
. He is known for his work in the field of turbulent flows
in general and turbulence modeling in particular. In 1994, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
, London where he came first in the class and won the Bramwell Medal. He then joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology
for his master's degree and went on to take the doctoral degrees for the experimental work on boundary layer
s. After completion of the Ph.D., Launder returned to Imperial College in 1964 to join the faculty as lecturer and later became the Reader in Fluid Mechanics
. After serving at Imperial College for 12 years, Launder went to University of California, Davis
in 1976 to where he served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering for four years. In 1980, he came back to UK and joined University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology as the Headship of the Thermo-Fluids Division.
. The
-
model introduced by W. P. Jones and Launder is considered to be the most popular 
-
model in the turbulence modeling community. They introduced this model in the 1972 paper titled "The prediction of laminarization with a two-equation model of turbulence" and is often referred to as the Standard 
-
model. Launder also developed, along with his co-workers Gordon J. Reece and Wolfgang Rodi, a second order closure model, knowm as Launder–Reece–Rodi model (1975), which became one of the most thoroughly tested turbulence models.
In recognition to his contribution to turbulence modeling, Launder has been admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering
. He has also received many international honors including honorary degrees from two European universities. Between 2000 and 2006, he served as the Regional Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
.
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is known for his work in the field of turbulent flows
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 general and turbulence modeling in particular. In 1994, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Education and career
Launder received a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial CollegeImperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, London where he came first in the class and won the Bramwell Medal. He then joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
for his master's degree and went on to take the doctoral degrees for the experimental work on boundary layer
Boundary layer
In physics and fluid mechanics, a boundary layer is that layer of fluid in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface where effects of viscosity of the fluid are considered in detail. In the Earth's atmosphere, the planetary boundary layer is the air layer near the ground affected by diurnal...
s. After completion of the Ph.D., Launder returned to Imperial College in 1964 to join the faculty as lecturer and later became the Reader in Fluid Mechanics
Fluid mechanics
Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
. After serving at Imperial College for 12 years, Launder went to University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
in 1976 to where he served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering for four years. In 1980, he came back to UK and joined University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology as the Headship of the Thermo-Fluids Division.
Work and recognition
Launder's main focus of research is the turbulence modeling for computational fluid dynamicsComputational fluid dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics, usually abbreviated as CFD, is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the calculations required to simulate the interaction of liquids and gases with...
. The
- model introduced by W. P. Jones and Launder is considered to be the most popular - model in the turbulence modeling community. They introduced this model in the 1972 paper titled "The prediction of laminarization with a two-equation model of turbulence" and is often referred to as the Standard - model. Launder also developed, along with his co-workers Gordon J. Reece and Wolfgang Rodi, a second order closure model, knowm as Launder–Reece–Rodi model (1975), which became one of the most thoroughly tested turbulence models.In recognition to his contribution to turbulence modeling, Launder has been admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
. He has also received many international honors including honorary degrees from two European universities. Between 2000 and 2006, he served as the Regional Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Tyndall Centre
The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research is an organisation based in the United Kingdom that brings together scientists, economists, engineers and social scientists to 'research, assess and communicate from a distinct trans-disciplinary perspective, the options to mitigate, and the...
.
Selected books
- B. E. Launder and D. B. SpaldingBrian SpaldingDudley Brian Spalding, FRS was a Professor of Heat Transfer at Imperial College, London. He is one of the influential persons in the development of computational fluid dynamics . In 1983, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society....
, Mathematical Models of Turbulence, Academic Press (1972). - B. E. Launder and N. D. Sandham, Closure Strategies for Turbulent and Transitional Flows, Cambridge University Press (2002).
- Brian Launder and J. Michael T. Thompson: Geo-engineering climate change. Environmental necessity or Pandora's box?. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge 2010. ISBN 978-0-521-19803-5