FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE: THE EVOLUTION OF HIGH-SPEED HYDRODYNAMICS AT IMECH UNDER HSUE-SHEN TSIEN'S VISION OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of its establishment, this paper reviews the development of high-speed hydrodynamics research at the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS). In its early years, guided by Hsue-Shen Tsien's Engineering Science, the institute established four strategic research domains: “aerospace, geomechanics, marine technology, and industrial and agricultural applications.” Hsue-Shen Tsien himself served as the director of the Hydrodynamics Laboratory. As institutional structures evolved, some research tasks were gradually transferred to specialized research institutes. In 1986, to support national marine development strategies, the Chinese Academy of Sciences founded the Marine Engineering Science and Technology Center, with Zheng Zhemin from IMCAS appointed as its director, laying a solid foundation for ocean engineering technology development. The team on Transient Hydrodynamics of Bubbles and Cavitation, while practicing Hsue-Shen Tsien's Engineering Science, has consistently focused on identifying scientific research from engineering challenges and pursuing theoretical breakthroughs. Their work promotes deep integration of theoretical exploration, experimental validation, and engineering development, providing robust scientific and technological support for maritime endeavors.