Hu Peiquan

Hu Peiquan (; 19 June 1920 – 19 February 2019) was a Chinese engineering mechanician, aerospace engineer, and educator. He was a distinguished professor and founder of the Department of Engineering Mechanics at Northwestern Polytechnical University. He founded the Journal of Northwestern Polytechnical University and served as its chief editor for more than 60 years.

Early life and education

Hu was born on 19 June 1920 in Wuxi, Jiangsu, Republic of China. At age 16, he was admitted to St. John's University, Shanghai, and graduated four years later with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He then went to the United States to study at the University of Michigan, where he earned his master's degree at age 21 and his Ph.D. in engineering mechanics at age 24.

Career In 1944, Hu became a researcher at the Langley Research Center of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA, the predecessor of NASA). He was promoted to senior engineer within three years, at the age of only 27.

Hu founded the Journal of Northwestern Polytechnical University in 1957 and served as its chief editor for more than 60 years.

Death Hu died on 19 February 2019 in Xi'an, at the age of 98.