Ivo Babuška
Encyclopedia
Ivo M. Babuška is a Czech-American
mathematician
, noted for his studies of the finite element method
and the proof of the Babuška-Lax-Milgram theorem
in partial differential equations. One of the celebrated result in the finite elements is the so-called Babuska-Brezzi (BB) condition, which provides sufficient conditions for a stable mixed formulation. The BB condition has guided mathematicians and engineers to develop state-of-the-art formulations for many technologically important problems like Darcy flow
, Stokes flow, incompressible Navier-Stokes
, nearly incompressible elasticity. He is also well known for his work on adaptive methods and the p- and hp
-versions of the finite element method. He also developed the mathematical framework for the partition of unity methods.
at the Czech Technical University in Prague
, where he received the Dipl. Ing in 1949. In 1951 he received the degree Dr. Tech.; his doctoral dissertation was supervised by Eduard Čech
and Vladimir Knichal. From 1949 he studied at Mathematical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
and then was the head of the Department of Partial Differential Equations. In 1955, he received a Ph.D.
in mathematics and in 1960 D.Sc. in mathematics.
Babuška works in the field of mathematics, applied mathematics, numerical methods, finite element methods, and computational mechanics. In 1968, he became a professor at University of Maryland, College Park
, where he retired in 1996 as a Distinguished University Professor. In 1989 he co-founded the company ESRD, Inc. which developed the StressCheck
finite element software, putting into practice much of Dr. Babuška's research and contributions to the finite element method. After his time at the University of Maryland, he moved to the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences
at the University of Texas at Austin
where he currently holds the Robert B. Trull Chair in Engineering.
Babuška has published more than 300 papers in refereed journals, more than 70 papers in conference proceedings, and several books. He is an invited speaker at major international conferences and is a member numerous editorial boards for scientific journals. He has received many honors for his work, including four doctorates honoris causa, the Czechoslovak State prize for Mathematics, the Birkhoff Prize, the Humbolt Award of Federal Republic of Germany, Honorary Foreign Member of the Czech Learned Society and the Bolzano Medal. In 2003, asteroid 36060 Babuška
was named in his honor by the International Astronomical Union
. In 2005, Babuska was awarded the Honorary Medal "De Scientia Et Humanitate Optime Meritis" and he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
. He is also a member of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Sciences of Texas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, noted for his studies of the finite element method
Finite element method
The finite element method is a numerical technique for finding approximate solutions of partial differential equations as well as integral equations...
and the proof of the Babuška-Lax-Milgram theorem
Babuška-Lax-Milgram theorem
In mathematics, the Babuška–Lax–Milgram theorem is a generalization of the famous Lax–Milgram theorem, which gives conditions under which a bilinear form can be "inverted" to show the existence and uniqueness of a weak solution to a given boundary value problem...
in partial differential equations. One of the celebrated result in the finite elements is the so-called Babuska-Brezzi (BB) condition, which provides sufficient conditions for a stable mixed formulation. The BB condition has guided mathematicians and engineers to develop state-of-the-art formulations for many technologically important problems like Darcy flow
Darcy's law
Darcy's law is a phenomenologically derived constitutive equation that describes the flow of a fluid through a porous medium. The law was formulated by Henry Darcy based on the results of experiments on the flow of water through beds of sand...
, Stokes flow, incompressible Navier-Stokes
Incompressible flow
In fluid mechanics or more generally continuum mechanics, incompressible flow refers to flow in which the material density is constant within an infinitesimal volume that moves with the velocity of the fluid...
, nearly incompressible elasticity. He is also well known for his work on adaptive methods and the p- and hp
Hp-FEM
hp-FEM is a general version of the finite element method , a numerical method for solving partial differential equations based on piecewise-polynomial approximations that employs elements of variable size and polynomial degree ...
-versions of the finite element method. He also developed the mathematical framework for the partition of unity methods.
Biography
He studied civil engineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the Czech Technical University in Prague
Czech Technical University in Prague
Czech Technical University in Prague is one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic, and the oldest institute of technology in Central Europe....
, where he received the Dipl. Ing in 1949. In 1951 he received the degree Dr. Tech.; his doctoral dissertation was supervised by Eduard Čech
Eduard Cech
Eduard Čech was a Czech mathematician born in Stračov, Bohemia . His research interests included projective differential geometry and topology. In 1921–1922 he collaborated with Guido Fubini in Turin...
and Vladimir Knichal. From 1949 he studied at Mathematical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
The Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences was established in 1953 to be the scientific center for Czechoslovakia. It was succeeded by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1992.-History:...
and then was the head of the Department of Partial Differential Equations. In 1955, he received a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in mathematics and in 1960 D.Sc. in mathematics.
Babuška works in the field of mathematics, applied mathematics, numerical methods, finite element methods, and computational mechanics. In 1968, he became a professor at University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he retired in 1996 as a Distinguished University Professor. In 1989 he co-founded the company ESRD, Inc. which developed the StressCheck
StressCheck
StressCheck is a finite element analysis software product developed and supported by ESRD, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of the first commercially available FEA products to utilize the p-version of the finite element method.-History:...
finite element software, putting into practice much of Dr. Babuška's research and contributions to the finite element method. After his time at the University of Maryland, he moved to the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences
Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences
The Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences was created at the University of Texas at Austin to provide the infrastructure and intellectual leadership for strong interdisciplinary programs in computational engineering and sciences....
at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
where he currently holds the Robert B. Trull Chair in Engineering.
Babuška has published more than 300 papers in refereed journals, more than 70 papers in conference proceedings, and several books. He is an invited speaker at major international conferences and is a member numerous editorial boards for scientific journals. He has received many honors for his work, including four doctorates honoris causa, the Czechoslovak State prize for Mathematics, the Birkhoff Prize, the Humbolt Award of Federal Republic of Germany, Honorary Foreign Member of the Czech Learned Society and the Bolzano Medal. In 2003, asteroid 36060 Babuška
36060 Babuška
36060 Babuška is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1524.2015904 days .The asteroid was discovered on September 14, 1999.-References:...
was named in his honor by the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
. In 2005, Babuska was awarded the Honorary Medal "De Scientia Et Humanitate Optime Meritis" and he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
. He is also a member of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Sciences of Texas.