Ferdinand Redtenbacher

Jacob Ferdinand Redtenbacher ( born July 25, 1809 in Steyr, † April 16, 1863 in Karlsruhe) was from 1841 until his death professor of mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Karlsruhe and founder of scientific engineering.

Life

Redtenbacher, son of an ironmonger from Steyr, received a business education. After a brief stint as a technical draftsman in the Baudirektion Linz he attended from 1825 to 1829 the Polytechnic Institute in Vienna. There he remained until 1834 as an assistant to Johann Arzberger. 1835 he was appointed to the Higher Industrial School in Zurich as professor of mathematics and geometry.

In 1840 he was appointed as successor to Professor Wilhelm Ludwig Volz at the Grand Ducal Baden Polytechnic School in Karlsruhe. Redtenbacher linked his involvement with the condition of the reorganization of the associated Higher Commercial School. So it was divided into two schools: a chemical-technical, mechanical- technical school, whose board was Redtenbacher. In 1841, he eventually became Professor of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic School in Karlsruhe, where he reached through his vivid and lively lectures an excellent reputation among students. This led to more and more students in the engineering school in Karlsruhe, where 359 is a preliminary record was achieved in 1860. Redtenbacher led during his lectures on those areas of teaching, which was later referred to as "Theoretical Machine Research". He also dealt with areas such as spinning and weaving. Thus his lecture content comprised the entire then-known mechanical engineering.

In 1857 Redtenbacher director of the entire Polytechnic School and thereafter annually re-elected. He accompanied the same time the only professor of mechanical- technical school. In 1859 it was renamed " engineering school" and opened on the former bridle Dragoon barracks one initiated and conceived by Redtenbacher new building. After 1860, the number of students fell back, which can be explained with a stomach illness Redtenbacher and its associated irritability and disagreed with his fellow professors. His elocution since 1859 was a contemporary report, not the old.

At Easter 1862, he took leave because of his illness until the end of the academic year and went to a cure, but this did not bring the desired improvement - his condition until fall 1862 even further exacerbated. Whether his health had Redtenbacher reduce his lectures until the beginning of December he presented his events a whole, with a continuation after the new year 1863 was provided, but could not be realized. Students Redtenbacher whose material completely failed, petitioned the teacher conference. Then Redtenbacher was forced the Ministry to ask to be relieved of his teaching duties and Directorate shops, whereupon, by decree of January 16, 1863 Professor Wilhelm Schell the theoretical part and an assistant took over the practical part of teaching.

Redtenbacher finally died on 16 April 1863 in Karlsruhe on his stomach illness. After his death, it was not easy to find a worthy successor for him. Finally, Moritz August Seubert was appointed Director of the Polytechnic School.

Redtenbacher was Catholic and had a son.

Reception

Redtenbacher regarded as the founder of scientific engineering in Germany. In Baden Polytechnic Karlsruhe, he presented the hitherto somewhat empirical theory on a mathematical basis. Among his pupils were, among others, Emil Škoda and Franz Reuleaux. According Redtenbacher Currency

"Mathematics is not a luxury you can afford something with them in the engineering, provided that one understands what the practical and knows exactly what is necessary for life. "

Not degenerated they doing out in the abstract. He did not overestimate the art, however, which is evident in a quote that he wrote in 1856 under his portrait:

" Wherever something is stirring, the mechanics in the game; but the spirits do not get upset by mechanics. "

From the Austrian Reichstag deputies Franz Wickhoff comes the occasion of his memorial speech in Steyr 70th birthday to Redtenbacher following quote regarding Redtenbacher presentation style:

"I've matured men met who remember with enthusiasm of those days where they hung on Professor Redtenbacher lips; under its clear lively lecture received the machines truly dramatic life "

Between 1865 and 1866 a bronze monument to Redtenbacher was poured designed by Karl Friedrich Moest, which today is located in the courtyard of the University of Karlsruhe.

The revival of transdisciplinary spirit of Ferdinand Redtenbacher sat down, which was founded in 2010 Redtenbacher Society in Steyr goal.

Writings

• Theory and Construction of turbines and fans, Friedrich Bassermann, Mannheim 1844 1860 (Google Books: 1st, 1st, 2nd Edition)
• Theory and construction of the water wheels, Friedrich Bassermann, Mannheim 1846 1858 (Google Books: 1, 2nd edition )
• Results for mechanical engineering, Friedrich Bassermann, Mannheim 1848 1852 1856 1860 1869 1875 Heidelberg (Google Books: 3rd, 3rd, 4th edition )
• Principles of mechanics and mechanical engineering, Friedrich Bassermann, Mannheim 1852 1859 (Google Books: 1st, 1st, 2nd Edition)
• The air expansion engine, Friedrich Bassermann, Mannheim 1853 (Google Books :) The caloric engine, 1853 (2nd edition; Google Books :)