Book: “History of Strength of Materials” by Timoshenko

After getting one of those pesky emails stating ‘you may also enjoy’ I did indeed purchase this book - $22 on amazon.com.

https://www.amazon.com/History-Stre...hostory+of+strengthe+of+materials+timishencko

I have just started to read it. First impressions - great book for those that wish to take a historic look back over the centuries of work by famous engineers/mathematicians/scientist/physicists as it pertains to SoM/MoM.

Full disclosure: I don’t get any royalties, I am not related to the Timoshenko family, and don’t know Jeff Bezos.

 

[Archie264]

Thanks for the tip, now there's one less copy available.

I've often wondered about the development of those theories and equations as well how many things may have fallen down as it was trying to be understood. I hope *I* can understand the book; I'm not qualified to sharpen Timoshenko's pencil.

 

[KootK]

Thanks for the review. This book has been on radar fer years. Time to put it into the queue for real.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[Ingenuity]

You are both very welcome.

Now whilst it is a history of the subject, you still get 'exposed' to partial differential equations and other mathematical 'delights' (I would expect nothing less from Timoshenko!) but it is a good read, and just about every page is footnoted with references.

With about 450 pages, $22 is a screaming deal, compared to typical prices I have paid for new texts.

 

[bridgebuster]

One firm I worked had two Timoshenkos, both were brilliant bridge engineers. They said they weren't related to the professor.

 

[JStephen]

I've got that book somewhere around here, the Dover paperback version.
I haven't checked up on them in some time, but Dover did have a number of classical engineering texts available at low prices.

 

[Ingenuity]

One firm I worked had two Timoshenkos, both were brilliant bridge engineers. They said they weren't related to the professor.

Wow, two of them. Even without family relations to the professor there was always going to be "expectations". Glad to read they both brilliant.

 

[Ingenuity]

JStephen,

Yes, Dover Publications books are especially well priced with an extensive range within engineering. More than 400+ according to this search from Dover: Link

Den Hartog's "Strength of Materials" book was first published in 1949 by McGraw-Hill. I have the 1961 paperback copy by Dover that was originally priced at $6.00 back then (before my birth). The same book sells today for $15. My copy is printed on minimal show-through opaque paper, sewn bound, (not just glued), and the binding has not cracked nor split. Unbelievable quality for such a low price, whilst in abridged and unaltered from the original McGraw-Hill publication.

Most of the Dover paperback books are of similar quality and retail for less than $25.

Note: not a shareholder nor employee of Dover Publications, just like their inexpensive books.

 

[gravityandinertia]

I agree this is a great book. I've got about 50 pages left to read.

 

[GregLocock]

If you want a fast and funny read on the subject try JE Gordon's Structures (or why you don't fall through the floor). The best quote, when discussing how you might think about beam theory if you weren't going to go all calculussy on it, runs along the line that "the worst thing that happened to elastic analysis is that in the eighteenth century it became the fashionable plaything for European mathematicians". Thereby condemning generations of engineers to overelaborate mathematical analysis of unlikely structures at university.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[Ingenuity]

Greg,

Nice quote.

Yes, Gordon's book is a good read. Hhe has a particular style of writing - somewhat appealing to a British/Australian reader. And no partial differential equations in his book!

 

[Triangled]

OP
yup, saw that, got that, read that...at least until I couldn't see the shore.... I marvel at such wonderful minds
-- appreciate the reference --

 

[KootK]

I thought that the Gordon books had some great, intuitive insights on structural behavior. Things like scale effects and nature's inherent avoidance of torsion. I've been recommending it to junior engineers as a subtle reminder for them not to sacrifice their physical intuition at the alter of empirical methods and "un-feel-able" higher mathematics. There's still some there there in structural engineering I think. Not just FEM and curve fitting.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

 

[IDS]

Three short videos on "qualitative analysis" from Colin Caprani's site, which seem relevant here:

http://www.colincaprani.com/2013/04/qualitative-analysis/

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/

 

[GregLocock]

Ah, he actually wrote two books then, I've muddled the titles. Both should be read before, during, and after university!

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[Ingenuity]

Greg,

Well, he did indeed. I will have to get it. Thanks for this.

 

[Ingenuity]

Three short videos on "qualitative analysis" from Colin Caprani's site, which seem relevant here:

Doug,

Nice link. As per the website, the author of the 3 videos, David Brohn, has a book too: