Christopher E. Brennen

Christopher E. Brennen is the Richard L. and Dorothy M. Hayman Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at Caltech. With over 50 years at Caltech, his research spans cavitation dynamics, multiphase flows, and turbomachinery. He authored fundamental texts including Cavitation and Bubble Dynamics and Hydrodynamics of Pumps.

Brennen's experimental work established foundational principles for cavitation noise prediction and rotordynamic forces in pumps. His current research examines granular flow phenomena including wave-induced sediment transport and 'booming dunes'. He has supervised 30+ PhD students and consulted for NASA, US Navy, and nuclear regulatory agencies.

Honors include the ASME Fluids Engineering Award (twice), Fulbright Scholarship, and Caltech's prestigious Richard Feynman Prize for teaching excellence. His textbook Fundamentals of Multiphase Flow remains standard reference in mechanical engineering programs worldwide.