J.M. Burgers (1895--1981) is regarded as one of the leading scientists in the field of fluid mechanics, contributing many important results, a number of which still bear his name. However, the work of this outstanding scientist was mostly published in the Proceedings and Transactions of The Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, of which he was a distinguished member. Nowadays, this work is almost impossible to obtain through the usual library channels. Therefore, the editors have decided to reissue the most important work of J.M. Burgers, which gives the reader access to the original papers...

Since the 'Introduction' to the main text gives an account of the way in which the problems treated in the following pages originated, this 'Preface' may be limited to an acknowledgement of the support the work has received. It started during the pe riod when I was professor of aero- and hydrodynamics at the Technical University in Delft, Netherlands, and many discussions with colleagues ha ve in: fluenced its devel opment. Oftheir names I mention here only that ofH. A. Kramers. Papers No. 1-13 ofthe list given at the end ofthe text were written during that period. Severa ofthese were...