The History of the Theory of Structures From Arch Analysis to Computational Mechanics

by Kurrer, Karl-Eugen; Ramm, Ekkehard

• ISBN13: 9783433018385
• ISBN10: 3433018383
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-06-09
• Publisher: Ernst & Sohn

Summary

This book traces the evolution of theory of structures and strength of materials - the development of the geometrical thinking of the Renaissance to become the fundamental engineering science discipline rooted in classical mechanics. Starting with the strength experiments of Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo, the author examines the emergence of individual structural analysis methods and their formation into theory of structures in the 19th century. For the first time, a book of this kind outlines the development from classical theory of structures to the structural mechanics and computational mechanics of the 20th century. In doing so, the author has managed to bring alive the differences between the players with respect to their engineering and scientific profiles and personalities, and to create an understanding for the social context. Brief insights into common methods of analysis, backed up by historical details, help the reader gain an understanding of the history of structural mechanics from the standpoint of modern engineering practice. A total of 175 brief biographies of important personalities in civil and structural engineering as well as structural mechanics plus an extensive bibliography round off this work.

Author Biography

Dr.-Ing. Karl-Eugen Kurrer has been chief editor of the journal "Stahlbau", published by Ernst & Sohn, Berlin, since 1996. His interest in the history of theory of structures from the scientific and engineering perspectives began some 30 years ago. The great success of his book "Geschichte der Baustatik" published at the end of 2002, the repeated requests for an English edition and the members of the Berlin-based VDI History of Engineering Study Group inspired him to write this

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Preface to the first, German edition

The tasks and aims of a historical study of theory of structures

Learning from the history of structural analysis: 11 introductory essays

The first fundamental engineering science disciplines: theory of structures and applied mechanics

From Masonry arch to elastic arch

The beginnings of a theory of structures

The discipline-formation of theory structures

From construction with iron to modern structural steelwork

Member analysis conquers the third dimension: the spatial framework

Reinforced concrete's influence on theory of structures

From classical to modern theory of structures

Twelve scientific controversies in mechanics and theory of structures

Perspectives for theory of structures

Brief biographies

Bibliography

Name index

Subject index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.