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William Prager

1903 – 1980

American applied mathematician

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About William Prager

Lived 1903 – 1980 (aged 76). William Prager was a German and American mathematician, university teacher and engineer, known for Drucker–Prager yield criterion, Flow plasticity theory and Michell structures.

William Prager, before 1940 Willy Prager (23 May 1903 – 17 March 1980), was a German-born American applied mathematician. In the field of mechanics he is well known for the Drucker–Prager yield criterion.

Biography Willy Prager was born on 23 May 1903 in Karlsruhe. He studied civil engineering at the Technische Universität Darmstadt and received his diploma in 1925. He received his doctorate in 1926 and worked as a research assistant in the field of mechanics from 1925 to 1929.

He died on 17 March 1980 in Zürich.

The Society of Engineering Science has awarded the William Prager Medal in Solid Mechanics since 1983 in his honor. In 1957, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Works , 1926, dissertation (with K. Hohenemser), 1933 , 1937

Prager, William (1961). Introduction to Mechanics of Continua. Ginn and Company.

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Important facts

Birth century
Known for
Drucker–Prager yield criterion, Flow plasticity theory, Michell structures, Viscoplasticity
Education
Technical University of Darmstadt, Brown University, Istanbul University, University of California, San Diego
Employers
Brown University, University of California, San Diego, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Istanbul University
Awards
Guggenheim Fellowship; Worcester Reed Warner Medal; Theodore von Karman Medal; Honorary doctor of the University of Poitiers; Panetti Ferrari Award; Timoshenko Medal; Honorary doctor of the University of Liège; Honorary doctorate from Brown University; Honorary doctor of the Université libre de Bruxelles; Honorary doctor of the University of Manchester; Honorary doctorate from the University of Waterloo; Honorary doctor of the University of Stuttgart

People in William Prager's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Prager's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Prager?

American applied mathematician (1903-1980)

When was William Prager born?

William Prager was born on 23 May 1903 in Karlsruhe.

When did William Prager die?

William Prager died on 17 March 1980 in Savognin, Zurich.

What was William Prager's occupation?

William Prager was a mathematician, university teacher and engineer.

What was William Prager known for?

William Prager was known for Drucker–Prager yield criterion, Flow plasticity theory, Michell structures and Viscoplasticity.

What nationality was William Prager?

William Prager was German and American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Prager

· Wikidata: Q77938

· DBpedia: William Prager

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Prager. https://biography.guide/william-prager/

MLA: "William Prager." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-prager/.

Chicago: "William Prager." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-prager/.

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