William Rankine - A Leader in Early Thermodynamics
Author: Jackie DiGiovanniPublished on: Jun 25, 2003
William John MacQuorn Rankine was born July 5, 1820, in Edinburgh, Aryshire, Scotland. He received his early education from his father, David Rankine, and tutors. His father was superintendent for the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway and undoubtedly introduced his son to the idea of civil engineering.
His high level of intelligence was recognized early. In 1836, while attending the University of Edinburgh, Rankine was awarded a gold medal for his essay on the undulating theory of light, and in 1838, he won another medal for his essay on methods of investigation. He left school before earning a degree and worked with his father for a time, and then moved to Ireland to become a surveyor for waterworks and railways. He later studied under Sir John Benjamin MacNeill and become a civil engineer. He published a paper in 1843 on metal fatigue in axles which changed the way rail cars were constructed.
In 1848, Rankine switched careers to study mathematical physics, thermodynamics, and applied mechanics. In 1849, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and in 1854, he was awarded the Keith medal for his work in thermodynamics. In 1853, Rankine was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
In 1855, Rankine was appointed Chair of Civil Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Glasgow which enjoyed no notable reputation in education. But Rankine changed that. He instituted a degree program in engineering and a Bachelors of Science degree. He stressed the importance of combining practice and theory in teaching. He wrote many of the textbooks used at the time.
He also turned his attention to the study of ships and engineering. Rankine's research led him to a theory of steam engines and to expand and modify William Froude's theory on the rolling of ships among waves. He also studied retaining walls and soil mechanics.
Rankine is perhaps best remembered for the Rankine cycle which describes the changes in pressure and temperature of water in a steam engine. The Rankine cycle is used to rate the performance of steam power plants.
Rankine authored 150 papers and several notable works including Shipbuilding Theoretical and Practical (editor), Manual of Applied Mechanics, Manual of the Steam Engine and Other Prime Movers, and On the Thermodynamic Theory of Waves of Finite Longitudinal Disturbance.
The strength of his intellect is characterized by the diversity of the fields of research in which he excelled. His friends and colleagues spoke highly of his sense of humor. He was also a published poet.
Rankine died December 24, 1872, after an extended illness, in Glasgow.
Resources
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Rankine.html
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Rankine.html
http://pc-78-120.udac.se:8001/WWW/Nautica/Biography/Rankine,_William.html
http://www.tecnun.es/asignaturas/termo/Gente/Rankine.htm
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/william_rankine.htm
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ra/Rankine.html
http://www.britannia.com/celtic/scotland/greatscots/r1.htmlhttp://www.ejge.com/People/rankine/rankine.htm
http://prod.library.utoronto.ca/utel/rp/authors/rankine.html