Thomas Young and the Brunels: masters of masonry analysis

Abstract

Recent examples of inappropriate analysis of masonry structures, leading to their unnecessary designation as unsafe, suggest modern engineers could benefit from a wider appreciation of elementary principles. The 1820s procedure of Thomas Young – perhaps best remembered for his modulus of elasticity – is a good place to start. This paper sets out the principles of Young’s visionary approach and how it was adopted and developed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for his record-breaking Maidenhead Bridge over the River Thames in England. It also speculates how Brunel’s father Marc Isambard may have further developed the method for assessing his Thames Tunnel design.