Description: James Clerk Maxwell is one of the giants of scientific thought, and whilst his groundbreaking contributions to electromagnetism and statistical physics are well known, his profound insights into the theory of structures are appreciated less widely. Maxwell's approach was deeply geometrical, and this richly illustrated book reveals his astute perception of the remarkable dualities that exist between the form of a structure and the forces it can carry, with understandings that will surprise contemporary readers. Early chapters introduce the background in which Maxwell was working, followed by contributions by leading researchers describing the latest applications of these ideas. Subsequent chapters introduce the many subtopics that this work embraces. The book ends with Maxwell's original papers on structural mechanics, each annotated to highlight and explain the ideas therein. This is a wonderful resource for mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and designers to enter this rich and underexplored aspect of the genius of Maxwell.
Brief description: William F. Baker is Consulting Partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. He was the Structural Engineer for the world's tallest man-made structure (the Burj Khalifa in Dubai). He has received awards including the ASCE Outstanding Projects and Leaders Lifetime Award for Design and the Gold Medal of the Institution of Structural Engineers. He holds honorary doctorates from University of Stuttgart, Heriot-Watt University, Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Missouri.
Review Quotes: 'Remarkable homage to the amazing creativity of James Clerk Maxwell. Three portraits accompanied Einstein from Germany into Princeton: Newton, Faraday, and Maxwell. But when asked if he stood on the shoulders of Newton, he replied 'No, on the shoulders of Maxwell'. Much has been written about Maxwell's creativity rooted in physical analogy. This is an erudite example of consequences of Maxwell's geometric thinking.' Julio M. Ottino, R.R. McCormick Institute and Walter P. Murphy Professor, Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University and author of The Nexus: The New Convergence or Art, Technology, and Science