Abstract
Note that the question with which we began, the problem of supports, has virtually disappeared. With the appearance of new solutions came the reformulation of the question, an event which opened up fresh objectives and a broader view of the matter. Now we find ourselves investigating elastic systems more generally, including any sort of structure used in civil engineering. If we replace “elastic system” with “frame,” the applications become obvious—and we can make this substitution. Or we can define “frame” in a more abstract way; as J. Clerk Maxwell put it, “a frame is a system of lines connecting a number of points.”1
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References
J.C. Maxwell, “On the Calculation of the Equilibrium and Stiffness of Frames,” Philosophical Magazine (1864), p. 294.
A. Clebsch, Theorie der Elasticität Fester Körper (Leipzig, 1862 ).
This name was proposed by A. Ostenfeld in his treatise Die 5 Ibid.,pp. 413–420.
J.C. Maxwell, “On the Calculation of the Equilibrium and Stiffness of Frames,” Philosophical Maganize, Vol. 27 (1864), pp. 294–299.
E. Betti, “Teoria dell’elasticità,” Nuovo Cimento, Vols. 7–10 (1872); see also Annali di matematica, Vol. 6 (1875).
J.C. Maxwell, op. cit., p. 296.
G. Albenga, “I progressi nelle costruzioni,” in L’Europa nel secolo XIX, Vol. 3, p. 226
An account, with appropriate detail, of the salient features of the development of the theory of structures, during the period under examination, can be found in the fine book by T.M. Charlton, A History of Theory of Structures in the Nineteenth Century (Cambridge, 1982 ).
J.H. Cotterill, “On an Extension of the Dynamical Principle of Least Action,” Philosophical Magazine, Series 4, Vol. 29 (1865), pp. 299–305.
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J.H. Cotterill, “Further Application of the Principle of Least Action,” Philosophical Magazine, Series 4, Vol. 29 (1865) (hereafter cited as Cotterill, “Further Application”), pp. 430–436.
L. Donati, “Ulteriori osservazioni intorno al teorema del Menabrea,” Memo-rie dell’Accademia delle Scienze di Bologna, 5th ser., Vol. 4 (1894), pp. 449–474.
J.H. Cotterill, Applied Mechanics: An Elementary General Introduction to the Theory of Structures and Machines (London, 1884 ).
G.Ae. Oravas and L. McLean, “Historical Development of Energetical Principles in Elastomechanics,” Part 2, Applied Mechanics Reviews, Vol. 19 (1966), p. 924.
In addition to the works cited above, see also J.H. Cotterill, “On Elliptic Ribs,” Philosophical Magazine, Series 4, Vol. 30 (1865), pp. 21–33.
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Benvenuto, E. (1991). The Discovery of General Methods for the Calculation of Elastic Systems. In: An Introduction to the History of Structural Mechanics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2994-0_7
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