Robert Byron Bird
Encyclopedia
Robert Byron Bird is a Chemical Engineer and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is known for his research in Transport phenomena
of Non-Newtonian fluid
s, including fluid dynamics of polymer
s, polymer kinetic theory, and rheology
. He, along with Warren E. Stewart and Edwin N. Lightfoot
, is an author of the classic textbook Transport Phenomena. Bird was a recipient of the National Medal of Science
in 1987.
from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
in 1947 and Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry
from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1950. During 1950-1951, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica, Universiteit van Amsterdam.
; the Medal was awarded by President Ronald Reagan
"for his profoundly influential books and research on kinetic theory, transport phenomena, the behavior of polymeric fluids, and foreign language study for engineers and scientists." He was awarded the Bingham Medal
in 1974 for his outstanding contributions to the field of rheology
.
He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering
since 1969, member of the National Academy of Sciences
since 1989, and a number of foreign academies, including Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences
(1981), Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences
(1994). Bird is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
since 1981, the American Physical Society
since 1970, and the American Academy of Mechanics since 1983.
and rheology
, including the classic textbook Transport Phenomena which was translated into many foreign languages, including Spanish, Italian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese and the 1200 page tome
, Molecular Theory of Gases and Liquids.
Transport Phenomena
Transport Phenomena is the first textbook that is about transport phenomena. It is specifically designed for chemical engineering students...
of Non-Newtonian fluid
Non-Newtonian fluid
A non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid whose flow properties differ in any way from those of Newtonian fluids. Most commonly the viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids is not independent of shear rate or shear rate history...
s, including fluid dynamics of polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
s, polymer kinetic theory, and rheology
Rheology
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in the liquid state, but also as 'soft solids' or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force....
. He, along with Warren E. Stewart and Edwin N. Lightfoot
Edwin N. Lightfoot
Edwin N. Lightfoot is a Chemical Engineer and the Hilldale Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is known for his research in transport phenomena, including biological mass-transfer processes, mass-transport reaction...
, is an author of the classic textbook Transport Phenomena. Bird was a recipient of the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
in 1987.
Education
Bird received his B.S. degree in Chemical EngineeringChemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1947 and Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1950. During 1950-1951, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica, Universiteit van Amsterdam.
Awards and honors
Bird is a recipient of the National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
; the Medal was awarded by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
"for his profoundly influential books and research on kinetic theory, transport phenomena, the behavior of polymeric fluids, and foreign language study for engineers and scientists." He was awarded the Bingham Medal
Bingham Medal
The Bingham Medal is an annual award for outstanding contributions to the field of rheology. It was instituted in 1948 by the Society of Rheology, commemorating Eugene C. Bingham .-List of Award Winners:*1948 Melvin Mooney*1949 Henry Eyring...
in 1974 for his outstanding contributions to the field of rheology
Rheology
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in the liquid state, but also as 'soft solids' or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force....
.
He is a member of 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...
since 1969, member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
since 1989, and a number of foreign academies, including Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
(1981), Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences
The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
There are two Royal Academies for Science and the Arts in Belgium, corresponding to the two main languages of the country, Dutch and French . The Academies are located in the Palace of Academies in Brussels....
(1994). Bird is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
since 1981, the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
since 1970, and the American Academy of Mechanics since 1983.
Books
Bird is the coauthor of several influential books in transport phenomenaTransport Phenomena
Transport Phenomena is the first textbook that is about transport phenomena. It is specifically designed for chemical engineering students...
and rheology
Rheology
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in the liquid state, but also as 'soft solids' or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force....
, including the classic textbook Transport Phenomena which was translated into many foreign languages, including Spanish, Italian, Czech, Russian, and Chinese and the 1200 page tome
Tome
A tome is a large book, especially one volume of a multi-volume scholarly work.It may also refer to:-Places:* Tome, Miyagi, city in Japan * Tome-Adelino, New Mexico, city in New Mexico-People:...
, Molecular Theory of Gases and Liquids.
- Transport Phenomena, with W. E. Stewart and E. N. LightfootEdwin N. LightfootEdwin N. Lightfoot is a Chemical Engineer and the Hilldale Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is known for his research in transport phenomena, including biological mass-transfer processes, mass-transport reaction...
, WileyJohn Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, (1960, 2nd ed. 2002). - Molecular Theory of Gases and Liquids, with J. O. Hirschfelder and C. F. Curtiss, Wiley, (1954, revised 1964).
- Dynamics of Polymeric Liquids, Vol. 1, Fluid Dynamics, with R. C. Armstrong and O. Hassager, Wiley, (1977, 2nd ed. 1987).
- Dynamics of Polymeric Liquids, Vol. 2, Kinetic Theory, with C. F. Curtiss, R. C. Armstrong, and O. Hassager, Wiley, (1977, 2nd ed. 1987).