ABSTRACT
O’BRIEN 21.09. 1902 Hammond IN/USA 29.07. 1988 Cuernavaca/MX Morrough Parker O’Brien obtained his engineering education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT and from Purdue University, West Lafayette IN. He was an engineer of the Hudson River Regulating District from 1925 to 1927, then research assistant of the Engineering Experiment Station of Purdue University, when leaving for Europe as a Freeman Scholar. Upon return to the USA in 1928 he was appointed professor of engineering until retirement in 1959 at the University of California, Berkeley CA, and there acted also as director of research and engineering. He was in parallel from 1930 consultant to the Aircraft Gas Turbine Division, General Electric Co. O’Brien also was a civilian member of the US Beach Erosion Board from 1938, and a member of the US Army Scientific Advisory Panel from 1951. He was a member of the American Societies of Mechanical Engineers ASME, and Civil Engineers ASCE. O’Brien’s first assignment at University of California included the hydraulic laboratory and courses in hydraulics and hydraulic machinery. He had combined his qualities in teaching, research and professional engineering. In 1929 he initiated a research program on shoreline processes and coastal engineering. He later maintained an active interest in ocean waves and shoreline phenomena. His research in hydraulics led to practical applications by industry. Most of the jet pumps then sold in the USA followed his design. Application of the airfoil theory to the design of propeller pumps provided the basis for extensive production of low-head, high-capacity pumps for irrigation and drainage. He was elected Honorary Member ASCE in 1976. Anonymous (1952). M.P. O’Brien. Engineering News-Record 149(Jul.17): 71. P Anonymous (1961). M.P. O’Brien. Mechanical Engineering 83(3): 112-113. Anonymous (1965). Morrough P. O’Brien. Civil Engineering 35(12): 73. P Anonymous (1976). Morrough P. O’Brien. Civil Engineering 46(10): 95. P Anonymous (1989). M.P. O’Brien dies at 85. Civil Engineering 59(2): 82. O’Brien, M.P., Cherno, J. (1934). Model law for motion of salt water through fresh. Trans. ASCE 99: 576-609. O’Brien, M.P., Johnson, J.W. (1934). Velocity-head correction for hydraulic flow. Engineering News-Record 113(7): 214-216. O’Brien, M.P., Folsom, R.G. (1937). Modified ISA orifice with free discharge. Trans. ASME 59(RP-1): 61-64; 59(7): 756-757.
