The past revisited: The giants behind the elastic solutions for stresses around underground openings

ISRM International Symposium - EUROCK 2016 -- 29 August 2016 through 31 August 2016 -- -- 144475The analytical solutions involving the distribution of stresses around a small hole in an infinite elastic plate have been extensively applied for the elastic stress analysis of underground openings or excavations with simple geometry. Although these solutions are widely known and used in rock engineering, some of the people behind these solutions are vaguely known, if at all. The paper gives a chronological account of the lives and the mathematical solutions of the following scientists: Lamé and Clapeyron, two Frenchmen who presented the solution for elastic stresses occurring in thick-walled cylinders; Kirsch, who developed the famous solution for a circular hole in an infinite plate; Kolosov and Inglis, both of whom were recognized for the solution regarding to an elliptical hole; Greenspan, who was responsible for the solution involving an ovaloidal hole; and Savin, who presented solutions covering a variety of hole shapes applied in underground openings. For each instance, a brief biography of the person is given along with the details of his particular contribution to the subject. Also, some significant applications of such solutions in rock engineering are mentioned. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-03265-