PREFACE 



The David W. Taylor Lectures were conceived to honor our founder in 

 recognition of his many contributions to naval architecture and naval 

 hydrodynamics. Admiral Taylor had a keen devotion to both experimental 

 evaluations and theoretical analysis for the solution of naval problems. 

 He established a tradition of applied scientific research at the "Model 

 Basin" which has been carefully nurtured through the decades and which we 

 treasure and maintain today. It is in this spirit that we have invited 

 Prof. Allan J. Acosta to be a David W. Taylor Lecturer. 



Dr. Acosta received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the California 

 Institute of Technology in 1945, followed by a Master of Science Degree 

 (1948) and the Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) in 1952. For the following 

 two years, he was Section Chief of the Hydrodynamics Laboratory. During 

 the period 1954-58, Dr. Acosta was Assistant Professor in the -Mechanical 

 Engineering Department at the California Institute of Technology, was 

 promoted to Associate Professor in 1958, and since 1966 has been full 

 professor. Currently, he teaches thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat 

 transfer, and advanced turbomechanics. His research areas include hydro- 

 dynamics of cavitating flows, hydrofoils, underwater bodies, turbomachines 

 and heat transfer. 



Prof. Acosta lives near the beach and is an avid sailor. He is 

 currently completing construction of a sailboat for an around-the-world 

 voyage. 



