THEOIIETICAL 



AND 



EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES 



TO ASCBRTAIlf THB 



STRENGTH AND BEST FORMS 



OF 



IRON BEAMS. 



BY MR. EATON HODGKINSON. 



(Bead April 2nd, 1630.) 



1 HE very frequent use of iron beams for 

 supporting the floors of factories, and of other 

 places crowded with people, renders it extremely 

 desirable that the best information should be 

 obtained with respect to the strength of this 

 material, in order to insure, without a great 

 superfluity of metal, the requisite stability. 

 In a case* so deeply involving the loss of life^ 

 and where a failure would be attended with 

 such serious consequences, hardly too much 

 research can be applied. The scientific character 

 of the subject also imparts to it additional 



