Tredgold on the Strength of Cast-iron, S)C. 137 



A practical Essay on the Strength of Cast-iron^ intendedfor the 

 Assistance of Engiiieers, Iron Masters, Architects, Mill- 

 •wrights, Founders, Smiths, and others engaged in the CotP' 

 struction of Machities, Buildings, 8fc. containing practical 

 Rides, Tables, and Examples ; also an Account of some new 

 Experi?ne?its, with an extensive Table of the Properties of 

 Materials. Illustrated by four Engravings. By Thomas 

 Tredgold, Civil Engineer; Member of the Institution of 

 Civil Engineers ; Author of Elementary Principles of Car- 

 pentry; the Article Joinery in the Supplement to the En- 

 cyclopcedia Britannica, &c. 8vo. pp. 192. 12s. 

 A work of the nature which Mr. Tredgold has now pro- 

 duced has long been a desideratum with English engineers ; 

 and it is but justice to say that the author has well executed 

 the task he had imposed on himself. 



The work is divided into seven sections : 

 The first section consists of introductory remarks on the 

 use and qualities of cast-iron, and of cautions to be observed 

 in employing it. This section is followed by two extensive 

 tables, which will often save the practical man a considerable 

 share of trouble in calculation. 



The second section explains the arrangement and use of 

 the tables which precede it. 



It is a common and a well understood fact, that an uniform 

 beam is not equally strained in every part, and therefore may 

 be reduced in size, so as to lessen both the strain and the ex- 

 pense of material. 



The third section points out the value of cast-iron in this 

 particular, and the forms to be adopted for different cases. 



The fourth section contains a popular explanation of the 

 strongest forms for the sections of beams ; the construction of 

 open beams ; and the best form for shafts. A due considei'a- 

 tion of these two sections will enable the young mechanic to 

 guard against some common errors in attempting to apply 

 these things to j^ractice. 



The fiftn section is wholly devoted to experiments ; it will 

 be found to contain, in addition to the author's own experi- 

 ments, almost all of the experiments on cast-iron that have 

 been described by preceding writers. Those he has tried for 

 the purpose of establishing rules, to ap})ly in practice, have 

 been made with a different view of the subject from that enter- 

 Uiincd by preceding exjierimentalists ; one better adapted for 

 practical application, one whicli shows that, withui the proper 

 limits, our theory of the strength of materials is to be de- 

 pended upon ; but that beyond these limits materials should 

 Vol. 60. No. 292. Aug. 1822. S never 



