his work on boundary layer theory

Boundary layer theory, developed by Ludwig Prandtl, describes how fluid (like air or water) moves along a solid surface. Near the surface, the fluid slows down due to friction, forming a thin region called the boundary layer. Inside this layer, velocity gradually increases from zero at the surface (due to no-slip condition) to match the free stream flow. Understanding this helps explain phenomena like drag and heat transfer on objects such as aircraft wings and ships. Prandtl's work provided a fundamental framework for analyzing and predicting flow behavior in engineering and aerodynamics.