02+Ferdinand+Redtenbacher+(1809–1863)∶+Pioneer+in+scientific+machine+engineering.pdfVIP

Mechanism and Machine Theory 44 (2009) 1607–1626 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Mechanism and Machine Theory journal homepage: /locate/mechmt Ferdinand Redtenbacher (1809–1863): Pioneer in scientific machine engineering J. Wauer a,*, F.C. Moon b, K. Mauersberger c a Universität Karlsruhe (TH), D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany b Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA c Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062, Germany a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: This biography highlights the historical importance of Ferdinand Redtenbacher for the evo- Received 20 October 2008 lution of mechanical engineering to technical science in the 19th century. The presentation Received in revised form 5 May 2009 substantially follows [6,15] with regard to personal biographical details by Ferdinand Red- Accepted 14 May 2009 tenbacher himself, [1,22–33], essays by contemporary witnesses in [7,9–12,34] (but not so much [2], see [40]) as well as historical appraisals in [13,14,37,38]. It starts with a descrip- tion of his life covering his childhood and early teens in his home in Upper Austria, through the culmination of his professional career as a professor and the director of the Polytechnic Keywords: school in Karlsruhe, Germany (today the University of Karlsruhe). Of particular interest is 19th Century Polytechnic school the question of which external