In summarizing over half a century of his scientific research, Chen Yushu, a TJU Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering said: “I feel deeply that scientific and technological research is supposed to meet the significant strategic needs of our country, aim at the frontiers of technology development, and innovate constantly.” Professor Chen, aged 87, while speaking at the Science and Technology Award Conference, at Tianjin on April 8, emphasized that scientific and technological researchers are supposed to be innovative in their work and that he always strove to be innovative.　

In the early 1980s, Chen introduced the nonlinear engineering vibration and chaotic theory to engineering vibration research and put forward the C-L Method to discover the solution to periodic bifurcation in nonlinear vibration. His theory and comprehensive analysis laid a theoretical foundation to solving this long-existing problem in engineering vibration, and thanks to his work, the research into nonlinear vibration in China was able to move to the next step: bifurcation and chaos.

Based on the C-L Method, Chen and his team members came up with five approaches to deal with major malfunctions in large rotating machines over the past over 30 years. The approaches solved long-existing malfunctions in over 20 engine units in 11 power station in 7 provinces and cities, including Tianjin. He also came up with three technological design criteria to deal with the dynamical design of large vibrating machines, which solved the short lifetime span problem of up to 30-square-meter resonance screens, thus promoting the development of mechanical dynamics structural design. In the recent years, Professor Chen directs the team for the 973 Program in the field of aero-engines with a special assignment of researching aero-engines and gas turbines. Thanks to the significant progress of their work, research into rotor dynamics of aero-engines in China was able to be carried forward.

Although aged 87, Chen pays close attention to the needs of the times and the academic trends of his field. “I always learn and work with gratitude,” he said. Born into poverty, he is grateful for the country. He always gives priority to the significant strategic demands of the country. Combining theoretical research to solve practical problems, so to promote the development of industries, is his consistent approach in doing research.

He is a great contributor to the economy and society, an explorer of technological frontiers, and a bearer of the scientific spirit. For him, a scientific researcher and educator is supposed to bear in mind the principle: be practical for the benefit of people. Academicians are supposed to meet the needs of economic and social development, insist on the principle of gearing education to the needs of modernization of the world and of the future, immerse themselves in academic research, abide by academic ethics, take up their due responsibilities and spare no effort to cultivate students.