From Frechet Differentials to Firing Tables : The Scope and Sources of Gilbert Ames Bliss' Contributions to World War I Era Ballistics / by Alan Gluchoff.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gluchoff, Alan.

Series:

Mathematics and Statistics Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mathematics.

History.

Functional analysis.

Mathematical analysis.

Mathematical optimization.

Calculus of variations.

Social sciences.

History of Mathematical Sciences.

Functional Analysis.

Analysis.

Calculus of Variations and Optimization.

Mathematics in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Local Subjects:

History of Mathematical Sciences.

Functional Analysis.

Analysis.

Calculus of Variations and Optimization.

Mathematics in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (628 pages)

Edition:

1st ed. 2025.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer Nature Switzerland : Imprint: Birkhäuser, 2025.

Summary:

This monograph explores the history of the contribution to ballistics by the American mathematician Gilbert Ames Bliss during World War I. Drawing on the then-evolving calculus of variations, Bliss pioneered a novel technique for solving the problem of differential variations in ballistic trajectory. Called Bliss’ adjoint method, this technique was both hailed and criticized at the time: it was seen as both a triumphant application of pure mathematics to an applied problem and as a complex intrusion of higher mathematics into the jobs of military personnel not particularly interested in these matters. Although he received much praise immediately after the War, the details of Bliss’ work, its furthering of pure mathematical thought, and its absorption into mainstream ballistic work and instruction have never been adequately examined. Gluchoff explores the mathematics of Bliss’ work and the strands from which his technique was developed. He then documents the efforts to make the adjoint method accessible to military officers and the conflicts that emerged as a result both between mathematicians and officers and among mathematicians themselves. The eventual absorption of the adjoint method into range firing table construction is considered by looking at later technical books which incorporate it, and, finally, its influence on the ongoing development of functional calculus is detailed. From Frechet Differentials to Firing Tables will appeal to historians of mathematics, physics, engineering, and warfare, as well as current researchers, professors, and students in these areas.

Contents:

Introduction

First Appearances of Bliss' Method

Four Sources of Bliss' Method: Existence and Smoothness of Solutions to Differential Equations

Four Sources of Bliss' Method: The Mayer Problem

Four Sources of Bliss' Method: Embedding and Implicit Function Theorems

Four Sources of Bliss' Method: Functions of a Line

Bliss' Two 1920 Papers

Introduction of Bliss' Method into Military Settings

Bliss' Results as Part of the Development of the Functional Calculus at the University of Chicago

Conclusion.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9783031682674

303168267X

OCLC:

1493029705