On the history of elastohydrodynamics

Here we present an abstract to a paper devoted to the history of eastohydrodynamic theory and his founder – Alexander Mohrenstein-Ertel. This paper discusses in detailes the peculiar biography of the scientist and the early years of the theory development.

On the history of elastohydrodynamics: The dramatic destiny of Alexander Mohrenstein-Ertel and his contribution to the theory and practice of lubrication.

The paper is devoted to the life and work of AlexanderMikhailovich Ertel, the founder of elastohydrodynamics. He was the first to solve problems of hydrodynamic lubrication accounting for effects of elastic deformation of the bodies in contact as well as for the dependence of the viscosity of the lubricant on pressure and temperature, thereby opening a new branch of tribology – elastohydrodynamics. However, due to complicated historical entanglements, the real authorship remained unknown over many years. On occasion of the 100th anniversary of Alexander Mohrenstein-Ertel, we investigate the circumstances of the creation of elastohydrodynamics and provide a short sketch of the main ideas of the early works of Mohrenstein-Ertel. The biography of Mohrenstein-Ertel is like a criminal novel: the 20th century history is reflected in the hard fate of this scientist and Russian history up to the time of Pushkin can be traced in his genealogy.

The full-text article is available here.

Material was kindly provided by Professor V. L. Popov.