Osborne Reynolds

Osborne Reynolds was a British engineer known for his work on fluid mechanics, particularly regarding how fluids flow. He introduced the concept of Reynolds number, a dimensionless value that helps predict whether flow will be smooth and orderly (laminar) or chaotic and turbulent. By comparing inertial forces to viscous forces, the Reynolds number serves as a key tool for engineers and scientists when analyzing different fluid flow situations, such as in pipes, air over wings, or around objects. Understanding this helps improve designs in various applications, from vehicles to pipelines.