TITLE:
D’Alembert and the Wave Equation: Its Disputes and Controversies
AUTHORS:
Agamenon R. E. Oliveira
KEYWORDS:
History of Mathematics, History of Mechanical Vibrations, Partial Differential Equations, History of Engineering
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.9 No.4,
November
30,
2020
ABSTRACT: The solution of the vibrating string problem is one
of d’Alembert’s fundamental contributions to mathematics and physics. This
problem, which attracted the attention of many mathematicians, was solved in
his general formulation of the wave equation. Even nowadays, with so much
technological progress in computer sciences and experimental methods, there
are important applications of wave equation:
for example, guyed cables for structural purposes, vibrations in transmission
lines and risers of offshore structures, guyed bridges, etc. It remains a very
useful tool for these engineering problems.