Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
Abstract Mohr's Circle-or more generally the stress equilibrium in solids-is a well known method to analyse the stress state of a two- or three-dimensional solid. Most engineers are exposed to its derivation using ordinary algebra, especially as it relates to the determination of principal stresses and invariants for comparison with failure criteria. In this presentation, …
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In this case literally, as can be see in the CCTV video linked here. It's a classic example of a problem called subsidence. When cities expand, the water delivery systems often lag, which means that people use well water. Many wells result in the lowering of the water table, which in turn results in the …
The Guardian laments the sameness of the "new" look: It’s no accident that these places look similar. Though they’re not part of a chain and don’t have their interior design directed by a single corporate overlord, these coffee shops have a way of mimicking the same tired style, a hipster reduction obsessed with a superficial …
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The Ruthven Bridge, as it has been officially called since 1976, is a familiar landmark to visitors and residents of north central Arkansas. It has an interesting history, not only for its design and construction, but also in how it was authorised and its subsequent history. Arkansas did not establish a State Highway Department until …
While going through some things, ran across this: The drawing is interesting to technology history buffs, but look at the note in the upper right hand corner: Superseded by new tracing 8/18/15 Just last year? No, just last century... Note: referring to drawings as "tracings" is very old school, but I can remember that terminology …
From The World of Mathematics, this quotation from the British mathematician Augustus de Morgan: I commend my future with hope and confidence to Almighty God; to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I believe in my heart to be the Son of God but whom I have not confessed with my lips, …
And the math is problematic these days: The average performance of the nation’s high school seniors dropped in math from 2013 to 2015, but held steady in reading, according to results of a biennial test released Wednesday... “This trend of stagnating scores is worrisome,” said Terry Mazany, the chairman of the governing board for the …
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As the sun sets on yet another semester in civil engineering here at UTC, thoughts turn to what we're really supposed to be doing. A large part of civil engineering is engaged in the building, maintenance and upgrade of our physical infrastructure, which includes roads, railroads, airports, water and sewer systems, to some extent electricity …
Recently one of my academic colleagues posted this piece on her fb page about how students should properly email their professors. One of the recommendations is as follows: Dear [1] Professor [2] Last-Name [3],... Right off the bat, here’s where you can establish that you view your relationship with your professor as a professional one. …
This interesting tidbit, from Mechanics by John C. Slater and Nathaniel Frank (both of whom taught at MIT): The existence of fundamental laws underlying the behavior or nature has furnished the guiding principle of natural science ever since. It has also formed the basis of most modern thought in philosophy, political science, economics and the …
Continue reading "The Danger of Oversimplifying Extrapolation from the Sciences"
Positive Infinity 