A Study in the History of Technology Focused on the Introduction of Thin Shell Concrete Structures and Prestressed Concrete into the United States

本研究是一项历史研究，重点研究从欧洲引入美国混凝土建筑行业的两项重大创新：薄壳混凝土结构和预应力混凝土。这两项欧洲创新在20世纪上半叶传入美国，随后对美国的工程产生了重大影响。每个国家在这个大陆上都有不同的历史，这些差异对这个项目来说很重要，因为它们有相似之处。这两个案例都揭示了20世纪美国建设的核心方面，并阐明了美国技术文化与欧洲技术文化的不同之处。这项学术工作的背景包括首席研究员的经验，首先是在技术史上，其次是在将学术与教学联系起来，第三是在所研究的两项创新中。自1974年以来，首席研究员一直将其奖学金的核心部分集中在历史研究上。在20世纪50年代，首席研究员为每个案例的主要人物工作，并从那时起收集了与薄壳和预应力有关的档案文件。本研究考察了1900年至1960年期间的薄壳混凝土屋顶结构和大跨度预应力混凝土屋顶和桥梁。本书主要关注的是两位在欧洲接受培训的工程师的影响，他们将这些新思想引入了美国的工程实践：Anton Tedesko（1903-1994）发明了薄壳，Gustave Magnel（1889-1955）发明了预应力。这项研究的结果将是三篇长篇论文，每一篇都将提交给学术期刊。1999年11月，在根特大学获得萨顿奖章后，他在演讲中发表了一篇关于这两人的短文，这篇短文是本计划最后作品的初步草图，将于2000年由根特大学出版。PI还计划在《美国科学家》、《科学美国人》、《ASCE结构部杂志》和《国际结构工程》等杂志上发表一系列短篇文章。此外，还将为普林斯顿大学和其他学校准备一些教学材料。

This research is an historical study focused on the introduction from Europe of two major innovations into the concrete construction industry of the United States: thin shell concrete structures and prestressed concrete. These two European innovations came to the United States during the first half of the 20th century and subsequently had major impacts on American engineering. Each has a different history on this continent and those differences are important for this project as their similarities. Both cases reveal central aspects of twentieth century American construction and shed light on how American technological culture differs from that in Europe. The background for this scholarly work includes the experience of the principal investigator first in the history of technology, second in connecting scholarship to teaching, and third in both of the innovations to be studied. Since 1974 the principal investigator has focused a central part of his scholarship on historical studies. During the 1950s the principal investigator worked for the leading figures in each case and has since collected archival documents relating to both thin shells and prestressing. The study examine the thin shell concrete roof structures and long-span roofs and bridges in prestressed concrete from the period 1900to 1960. The main focus falls on the influence of two European-trained engineers who introduced these new ideas into American engineering practice: Anton Tedesko (1903-1994) for thin shells and Gustave Magnel (1889-1955) for prestressing. The results of this study are to be three lengthy essays each of which will be submitted to a scholarly journal. A short essay on these two men, given as a lecture (in November 1999) upon receipt of the Sarton Medal from the University of Ghent, presents a preliminary sketch of the final works in this program and will be published by Ghent University in 2000. The PI also plans a series of shorter articles in such journals as the American Scientist, Scientific American, The Journal of the Structural Division of ASCE, and Structural Engineering International. Also sets of teaching materials will be prepared for use at Princeton and in other schools.