BOOK REVIEWS

total head loss can be predicted in both cases. A quantitative

prediction of the ratio of lift in viscous flow to the lift in nonviscous
flow depending upon boundary-layer thickness has n o t y e t been
attempted.
Apparently this problem was considered as of lesser
importance. I t would be the last step in the a t t e m p t to calculate the ratio of the actual lift of the blade in a cascade to the lift
it would have in the absence of the other blades.
Thus, is it really so that these methods have "failed in g e n e r a l " ?
Or, is it rather so that t h e y are not completed y e t ?

Combustion
P r o g r e s s In C o m b u s t i o n S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y , v o l . 1.

Edited

by

J.

Ducarme, M . Gerstein, and A. H. Lefebvre. Pergamon Press,

New York, N. Y 1961. Cloth, 6 X 9 1 /* in., vii and 226 pp. S10.
REVIEWED

B Y S. L.

BRAGG12

THIS work, the first of a series of volumes that arc intended to

present reviews on combustion and propulsion subjects, contains
six 30-page articles.
T h e r e is a well-written and magnificently illustrated survey by
F . J. W e i n b e r g (Imperial College, L o n d o n ) of optical techniques,
such as schlicren, shadowgraph, and deflection mapping, for determining the local temperatures in flames. T h e article on F l a m e
Quenching b y A. E . P o t t e r , Jr. ( N A S A Lewis Research Center),
is also excellent and contains an interesting discussion on the
anomalous behavior of rich flames. B. T o o n e ( R o l l s - R o y c e L t d . )
has contributed detailed descriptions of the methods used b y his
firm to analyze gases sampled f r o m jet-engine combustors with
emphasis on the times necessary for the various processes.
T h e other three sections of the b o o k are rather less satisfying
than those discussed above, perhaps because the subjects chosen
are less easily reviewed. E . F . W i n t e r (Shell Research Centre)
gives a g o o d set of references t o F l o w Visualization Techniques,
and discusses these in fair detail. T h e section on Ignition in
Liquid Propellant R o c k e t Engines b y E . A . Fletcher and G .
Morrell (University of M i n n e s o t a ) gives a resume of w o r k on
the ignition delay of hypergolics and thermal ignition of other
propellants, b u t has no practical application to engines.
The
long paper entitled A e r o d y n a m i c Influences on F l a m e Stability
b y M . V . Herbert (British National Gas Turbine Establishm e n t ) would make difficult reading for a n y o n e w h o is n o t already an expert in this specialist subject.
T h e laudable desire of the editors of this A G A R D series is t o
p r o d u c e a set of review articles which will enable c o m b u s t i o n
technologists to bring themselves quickly up to date with some
particular aspect of their subject. Three, at least, of the six
articles in the present v o l u m e should succeed in this object, and
can be confidently r e c o m m e n d e d .

Prandtl Literature
Ludwig

Prandtl.

By

T o l l m i e n , Schlichting, G o e r t l e r , and Riegels.

Springer Verlag, Germany, 1961.

D M 288.
REVIEWED

Paper 9 3 /4 X 6 3 /< in., 1620 pp.

B Y J. K E S T I N 1 3

THE editors deserve our thanks for having collected and p u b lished the whole of L u d w i g Prandtl's scientific heritage.
The
four editors were formerly vei\y closely associated with L u d w i g
Prandtl and would u n d o u b t e d l y describe themselves as his
disciples. It, is clear that this was, on their part, a work of love
and h o m a g e for a great, teacher and for one of the leading scientists
of this century.
Rolls Royce Limited, Derby, England.
Professor, Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, R . I .

L u d w i g Prandtl's immortality was assured when, at the age of

29, he read the n o w well-known paper " O n Fluid Flows W i t h V e r y
Small F r i c t i o n " to the T h i r d International Mathematical C o n gress at Heidelberg, and thereby established the modern science of
fluid mechanics. His life's w o r k was n o t confined to single
flashes of genius. H e was possessed, in addition, of a great
capacity for w o r k and inspiration which enabled him, together
with an unusually large circle of coworkers and students, t.o open
up and to explore systematically vast areas of knowledge.
He
combined to a rare degree physical insight with mathematical
ability and a flair for experimentation with an appreciation of its
interplay with analysis, and understood that real advances in
science are seldom m a d e without an imaginative assimilation of
both.
L u d w i g Prandtl's contributions to the advancement of science
range over an astonishingly wide array of subjects. Wherever he
turned his fertile mind, he was able to perceive something new
and significant and t o p u t his thoughts into simple b u t tellingphrases.
T h e three volumes h a v e been given the usual, excellent graphical f o r m b j ' Springer Verlag; it will be treasured b y all students
of applied mechanics and b y all those w h o are fascinated b y the
mysterious workings of a human mind at its best.
All these, and m a n y m o r e facts concerning
personality as a teacher and scientific pioneer,
fully recorded in Professor W . Tollmien's
prefaces the b o d y of the " C o l l e c t e d W o r k s . "
is a concise and lyrical m o n u m e n t to a beloved
and a fitting, if terse, memorial to a great man.

L u d w i g Prandtl's
have been beauti" s e n d - o f f " which
His appreciation
teacher and hero,

Optimum Design Method

O p t i m u m D e s i g n of M e c h a n i c a l E l e m e n t s .

By

R. C. Johnson.

Wiley & Sons, Inc., Now York, N. Y 1961.

xiv and 535 pp. S11.50
REVIEWED

BY A . M .

John

Cloth, 6 X 91/2 in.,

WAHL14

A s STATED in the preface, the author's primary objective in

writing this b o o k is to present an explicit m e t h o d of design
called " t h e method of o p t i m u m d e s i g n " for mechanical elements.
T h e m e t h o d is based on the author's experience and provides a
definite procedure which involves the writing of a primary design
equation and combining this with subsidiary design equations to
find a relation which expresses the quantity to be optimized.
T h e procedure also takes into a c c o u n t limitations which generally
occur in practical design; the effects of redundant, specifications
are also discussed.
In the first part of the b o o k consideration is given to various
fields including mathematical approximations, mechanics, elasticity, and properties of materials; these are important in implementing the m e t h o d .
A discussion of statistical methods involved
in a rational choice of the factor of safety is also included.
With
this introductory material as a foundation, simple cases such as
the design of tension members, torsion bars, beams and shafts
in bending are first worked out. Later the method is applied t o
more complicated problems such as o p t i m u m gear design.
Inc i d e n t a l ^ , the chapter 011 the latter should be of considerable interest to gear designers. T h e b o o k concludes with a presentation of a n u m b e r of design problems which m a y bo solved using
the m e t h o d ; the solutions of these are, however, left to the
student.
T h e author states that the b o o k is written for college study of
mechanical design at the senior or graduate level. It is the reviewer's opinion, however, that experienced mechanical designers
will also find the methods presented of considerable interest and
value.

12

13

Journal of Applied Mechanics

14 Advisory Engineer, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh. Pa.

Copyright 1962 by ASME

MARCH

1962

223

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