Toward Structural Mechanics Through Wooden Bridges in France (1716-1841)

Early applications of Navier’s beam theory to the rational design of structures are documented in the Annales of the French Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées and refer to the design of three wooden bridges built in France in the 1840''s. Revisiting these examples, the book provides documentation on the progressive establishment of the new design approach, based on the theory of structural mechanics rat...