Lewis Ferry Moody

This article is about the American engineer Lewis F. Moody. For the English rugby player, see Lewis Moody.

Lewis Ferry Moody (5 January 1880 – 18 April 1953^[1]) was an American engineer and professor, best known for the Moody chart, a diagram capturing relationships between several variables used in calculating fluid flow through a pipe. He states that his goal is to present a simple and convenient means for engineers to estimate the friction factor inside the new pipes and conduits running full with steady flow.^[2] He has 23 patents for his inventions.^[3] He was the first Professor of Hydraulics in the School of Engineering at Princeton.^[4]

Moody chart showing friction factor plotted against Reynolds number for various roughnesses

Lewis Ferry Moody
Born	5 January 1880 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	April 18, 1953(1953-04-18) (aged 73) Princeton, New Jersey
Nationality	American
Occupation	Mechanical engineer
Employer	Princeton University
Known for	Moody chart
Awards	Elliott Cresson Medal (1945)

Biography

He was born on 5 January 1880.

Lewis F. Moody as professor of fluid mechanics and machine design taught at Princeton University starting in 1930.^[5] He co-wrote the book Fifty Years’ Progress in Hydraulics with fellow engineer Blake R. Van Leer.^[6]

He married Eleanor Greene. His wife died in 1937.^[7] His daughter, Eleanor Lowry Moody, married in 1944.^[8] He was awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal in 1945.

He was awarded an Honorary Membership of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in 1951.^[9]

He died on 18 April 1953.

Legacy

Five years after his death, ASME created an Award to his honours: The Lewis F. Moody award, which is awarded for outstanding original papers useful to the practice of mechanical engineering by the Fluids Engineering Division (FED).^[10]