- English civil
engineer who introduced scientific methods of measuring the strength
of materials. From a theoretical analysis, he devised experiments to
determine the strongest iron beam, which resulted in the discovery of
what is known as 'Hodgkinson's beam'.
Hodgkinson was born in Anderton, Cheshire, and became a pawnbroker.
He presented a number of scientific papers to the Literary and Philosophical
Society in Manchester, and in 1847-49 was a member of a Royal Commission
to inquire into the application of iron to railway structures. Also
in 1847 he was appointed professor of the mechanical principles of engineering
at University College, London.
Hodkinson's paper 'The transverse strain and strength of materials'
1822 dealt with the 'set' or the original position of a strained body
and the position it assumes when the strain is removed. He fixed the
exact position of the 'neutral line' in the section of rupture or fracture
and made it the basis for the computation of the strength of a beam
of given dimensions.
Hodgkinson helped civil engineer Robert Stephenson in the construction
of the Menai and Conway tubular bridges by fixing the best forms and
dimensions of tubes.
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