How did Alan A. Griffith improve ideas about turbine blade design?

In 1920, Alan A. Griffith of England revolutionized turbine design by shifting the focus of engineering theory from viewing gas flow as moving through simple passages to analyzing it as flow past airfoils.1

By applying aerodynamic principles to the design of turbine blades, Griffith moved away from the traditional approach of treating the turbine as a series of enclosed channels. This conceptual shift allowed for a more sophisticated understanding of how fluid interacts with blade surfaces, which is fundamental to the development of modern axial-flow compressors and turbines. His work, which he later continued at Rolls-Royce Ltd., provided a critical theoretical foundation for improving the efficiency and performance of gas-turbine engines.12