THÜRNAU

GERMANY (see also List of Individuals)

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28.7.1877 Hannover/D - 29.9.1944 Darmstadt/D

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Karl Thürnau graduated as a civil engineer from the Technical University of Hannover in 1902. He then joined the Hannover Kanaldirektion to investigate the hydrology and hydraulics of Weser River. From 1910, Thürnau collaborated with Wilhelm Soldan (1872-1933) and was involved in the Edertalsperre close to Hemfurth in Hesse County. Thürnau joined in 1920 the Prussian Ministry for public works in Berlin to be in 1924 appointed hydraulics professor at Darmstadt University, succeeding Alexander Koch (1852-1923). Thürnau remained there for two decades and set up from 1932 to 1934 a hydraulic laboratory, which was completely destroyed during World War II, however. Thürnau retired in 1939 and was killed during an air raid.

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Thürnau was a practical engineer who eventually took over as a professor. In contrast to his predecessor Koch, few basic hydraulic works were undertaken. Koch founded one of the first hydraulic laboratories in Germany and was particularly known for a text published posthumuously by Max Carstanjen (1856-1934). Thürnau and his successor Detig may be considered transitional persons with a limited impact on the hydraulic research at Darmstadt University. However, Thürnau presented interesting work mainly on the design and execution of various dams which served for water supply and hydro-power production. These include the already mentioned Edertalsperre and the Waldecker Talsperre. His 1925 paper relates to problems of reservoir sedimentation and to technical solutions using adequate intake structures.

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_{Franke, P.-G., Kleinschroth, A. (1991). Thürnau, Karl. Kurzbiographien Hydraulik und Wasserbau: 382-383. Lipp: München. P}

_{Hoffmann, A. (2005). Karl Thürnau. Hessische Lebensbilder zur Kulturgeschichte des Wassers:}

_{286. Universität: Kassel. P}

_{Schlink, W. (1937). Die Wasserbauversuchsanstalt. Die Technische Hochschule Darmstadt}

_{1836-1936: 78-83. Roether: Darmstadt.}

_{Thürnau, K. (1913). Zusammenhang der Rhumequelle mit der Oder und Sieber. Mittler: Berlin. Thürnau, K. (1924). Die Bewegung der Temperatur in der Sperrenmauer der Waldecker Talsperre. Deutsche Wasserwirtschaft 19(4): 117-125.}

_{Thürnau, K. (1925). Über Beseitigung von Geschiebeablagerungen vor den Schwellen der Einlaufbauwerke. Wasserkraft und Wasserwirtschaft 22(9): 129-137.}

_{Thürnau, K. (1936). Die Wasserbau-Versuchsanstalt. Die TH Darmstadt 1836-1936: 78-83.}

_{Roether: Darmstadt.}