About us

Theodore von Kármán Many extensive biographies of Dr. von Karman have been written. The present biographical sketch intends to give the highlights of the more international aspects of his carreer, of which the VKI itself is an outstanding example.

Theodore von Karman was born in the year 1881 in Budapest, the son of a noted Hungarian educator and philosopher, Professor Maurice von Karman. His father had great vision and saw the necessity of developing common understanding among scientists and professionals of similar interests from many nations. His mother, Helen, was a gifted lady who contributed greatly to the same goals, through a broad intellectual home life. As a result, Theodore oriented his own life to help make his father’s vision come true. He grad- uated with highest honours from the Royal Institute of Technology in Budapest where he showed a pronounced ability in the field of applied mechanics. Recognizing these talents, his father encouraged him to study in other countries to broaden his background from an international and human, as well as scientific, point of view. As a result, Theodore von Karman went to Göttingen and became assis-
tant to the great Ludwig Prandtl.

During this period he displayed his marked aptitude to simplify complex problems by identifying and concen- trating on the essential physical phenomena, neglecting sec- ond order effects. A typical example is his analysis of the well known Karman vortex street.
In 1912 Dr. von Karman became Director of the Aerodynamics Institute of the Technische Hochschule, Aachen. Under his leadership the Institute gained world- wide recognition, especially for its international flavour, since he actively encouraged the participation of scientists of different nationalities in his Institute. He travelled exten- sively, lectured in many countries, and his home in Vaals was an open-house for visiting scientists.
In 1930 he accepted the directorship of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (U.S.A.), which he rapidly built into a world- recognized Institute with pronounced international aspects.
At the same time he became increasingly active in international scientific societies.

At the end of World War II, Dr. von Karman was deeply grieved at the drastic set-back to international science, especially that scientists of many nations had been working in isolation from each other. He felt strongly that the impressive technological advances during the war could become, if put on a collaborative basis, of use to the good of all.

Helicopter Florine During the post-war period, Dr. von Karman envisaged broad goals for international scientific collaboration. In his typical fashion, he broke down complex problems into separate manageable tasks. In this step-by-step approach, one of his major concepts, namely that of a multi-national scientific advisory group, took the form of the Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development (AGARD) in 1952.

An equally important goal in Dr. von Karman’s vision was that of a multinational aeronautics research Institute. This eventually developed into what is now known as the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, object of the present publication on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary.

von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics:
Waterloosesteenweg 72
B-1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode
Belgium

Reception: +32 2 359 96 11

Fax: +32 2 359 96 00

Download the access map in pdf

By Train:

From Bruxelles-Brussel-National Airport - Your route plan
Those arriving by air are warned that the taxi fare from the airport to Central Brussels is rather high. A train service links the airport with the three main railway stations (gare du Midi (Brussel-Zuid Station), Gare centrale (Brussel-Centraal Station) and gare du Nord (Brussel-Noord Station), the journey taking about 20 minutes. Participants will effect a considerable saving of money if they take this train and complete their journey to the hotel by taxi or on foot from the stations.

Near "the Gare du Midi", you can take busses 136 (recommended), 137 (recommended), W or 365a to VKI (Rhode-Saint-Genèse or Sint-Genesius-Rode) and alight at the "Espinette Centrale" or "Middenhut". (map of Gare du Midi)

Eurostar and Thalys stop at the Gare du Midi.

A train also links the three main railway stations with the station at Rhode-Saint-Genèse or Sint-Genesius-Rode, which is about 2,5 km from the VKI.

By car: From center of Brussels
Those arriving by car should follow signs indicating the center of Brussels ("Centrum") and enquire about the location of their hotel when they are in the central area.

By car: From Bruxelles-Brussel-National Airport - Your route plan - the map
Airport Bruxelles-Brussel-National
Take Direction "Bruxelles Sud, Leuven"
Continue on the R0 (Ring)/ E40
You will pass close to Tervuren
Continue R0 (Ring)
Take the exit 27 (WATERLOO-LASNE)
Continue along "Drêve de Richelle"
Turn right on "Chaussée de Bruxelles" (N5)

By car: From France - Your route plan - the map
Take E19 Direction "Bruxelles, Liège, Mons"
Close to Bruxelles, take the R0 (Ring)
Take the exit 27 (WATERLOO-LASNE)
Continue along "Drêve de Richelle"
Turn right on "Chaussée de Bruxelles" (N5)

By bus: From Charleroi Brussels South Airport, Charleroi to the von Karman Institute

Take bus A direction CHARLEROI Sud. Stop at CHARLEROI Sud quai 03 (18 min)
Then take the bus 365a direction BRUXELLES. The bus stops in front of the von Karman institute (Ch.Grande Espinette - 70 min.)

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Word of the directors

Mr. Peter Grognard, Managing Director of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

Dear visitor,

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the website of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. I would like to share some insights about the VKI with you.

Green technologies such as noise reduction, reduction of pollution (NOX releases) as well as global warming (CO2 release) are the drivers for revolutionary changes in century old industries like aerospace, car industry or energy conversion. New ideas like using micro satellites for in orbit technology demonstration and debris mitigation, advances in new propulsion concepts and qualification of new reusable materials will make future high speed travel affordable.

These are some of the topics that bring young engineers and scientists from all over the world to the von Karman Institute to study, improve their skills and perform their research. Located in Sint-Genesius-Rode near Brussels, this non-profit international educational and scientific organization is specialized in fluid dynamics (flows of liquids, gases and plasmas) in the area of Aeronautics and Aerospace, Environmental and Applied Fluid Dynamics, and Turbomachinery and Propulsion. The von Karman Institute prides itself in providing "advanced training in research through research".

The VKI acknowledges the sustained support from BELSPO and its international consortium of member states, which has allowed the VKI to reach the present level of competence and its worldwide recognition as a true center of excellence in fluid dynamics.

Peter Grognard
Managing Director of the von Karman Institute