Chen Nengkuan is a native of Cili, Hunan Province. He graduated from Mining and Metallurgy Department of Tangshan Jiaotong University in Hebei Province in 1946, and received his master's degree and doctor's degree in physics and metallurgy from Yale University USA in 1948 and 1950, respectively.
In 1955, he returned to China and worked as a researcher at Institute of Applied Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, director in the 9th Research Institute of the Second Mechanized Division, vice president of the 9th research institute, the director of the Science and Technology Commission of CAEP, the senior scientific advisor of CAEP.
In 1986, he was a vice director of the science and technology committee of the Ministry of Nuclear Industry and vice director of the Science and Technology Commission of Technology and Industry for National Defense in 1988.
Chen has long been engaged in research on metal physics and material science. He solved a series of theories and problems of significant application in the field of single crystallization deformation of multiple metals, recrystallization and the performance of such materials under high temperature and high pressure. His research on the engineering physics of interdisciplinary subjects made significant contributions to the study and manufacture of atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs.
During the development of Chinese first nuclear bomb, hydrogen bomb and nuclear weapons, he organized and directed the following work: detonation physics of nuclear device, physics and chemistry of explosives and munitions, specific materials and metallurgy, experimental research of nuclear physics etc.
Chen is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He obtained the “Two-bombs and One-star Achievement Medal” in 1999.
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