CONTRIBUTION OF P.L. CHEBYSHEV TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL MECHANICS IN RUSSIA

Abstract

The scientific creativity of academician P.L. Chebyshev (1821-1894) is connected with the history of the development of practical mechanics, which is the application of mathematical principles to the construction of machines. In addition to outstanding works on the theory of prime numbers, probability theory and other areas of mathematics, P.L. Chebyshev founded the mathematical theory of machine synthesis and developed a number of important concepts of mechanisms. (Research purpose) The research purpose is presenting the program of P.L. Chebyshev's scientific activity aimed at the search for a mathematical theory of machine synthesis; to conduct a historical and scientific study of the problem of the genesis of P.L. Chebyshev's interest in applied mechanics. (Materials and methods) Studied the original works of P.L. Chebyshev, materials of historical and scientific research in domestic and foreign literature, archival information. (Results and discussion) The questions of the genesis of P.L. Chebyshev's interest in the development of practical mechanics were investigated. Among the factors that influenced the active activity of P.L. Chebyshev and outstanding results in the field of practical mechanics, the following were considered: interaction with N.V. Brashman during his studies at Moscow University; study of classical works by J.-V. Poncelet; personal contacts during foreign business trips and further interaction with famous European mathematicians and mechanics of that time; visiting and detailed study of the museums of machines and models in Paris, Brussels, London. We paid attention to the goal that the scientist set for himself - to minimize costs and achieve the greatest efficiency in the operation of machines. This is confirmed by the preserved sample of a continuous mechanical calculating machine, developed and created with the direct participation of P.L. Chebyshev. (Conclusions) P.L. Chebyshev made an outstanding contribution to the development of practical mechanics in Russia, laid the foundations of the theory of synthesis of mechanisms, became the founder of the theory of the structure of plane mechanisms.