Rankine, William John Macquorn, 1820-1872.
On the causes of the accidental breaking of the journals of originally sound railway axles and on the means of preventing it by observing the law of continuity in their construction, 1843.
A hand-written, bound manuscript, 12 pp., investigating the possible reasons why railway axles were breaking after short periods of service. Gives details of how axles could be constructed to improve their strength. He also writes about the effect of vibrations on these axles and concludes that the increased power to resist ruptures or shocks is due to the continuity of the "superficial fibres" and the destructive nature of the vibrations is prevented by "continuity of form." This was read before the Institution of Civil Engineers, 7th March, 1843. There is a footnote (dated 13th February, 1855) giving a formula for the "ratio of the movement of the strain on the above journals to the cube of their diameter." This paper, in part, led to new methods of construction for railway axles.
Civil engineer and physicist. Born in Edinburgh and studied at the university there. He then worked as an engineer on various railway projects in Scotland and Ireland, and from 1844 to 1848 was employed by the Caledonian Railway Co. About 1848 he commenced the researches on molecular physics which constitute his claim to fame in the scientific domain. His work on thermodynamics mirrored similar ideas being put forward by his contemporaries, William Thompson (Lord Kelvin) and Clausius. He was appointed to the chair of Civil Engineering and Mechanics at Glasgow University in 1855 where he taught until his death.
Axles -- Design and construction.
Railroad engineering -- Great Britain.
Railroads -- Axles -- Technological innovations.
Railroads -- Cars -- Vibration.
AIP-ICOS
Mitchell Library. Rare Books and Manuscripts Department. North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN