work to public consideration. Its origin may be traced to the experimental researches in which for many years I have been engaged, some of which have appeared in the Philosophical Transactions,' the 'Transactions' of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and other Institutions to which I have communicated them in the shape of Papers. The greater portion has, however, been written from my own practical experience, and, as far as possible, I have endeavoured to avoid prolixity and repetition. Throughout the work I have sought to inculcate sound principles of construction, and to urge upon constructors the necessity of carrying out this principle, in order to render the Iron Ship what I believe she is destined to become -a bulwark of strength in the defence and security of the British Empire !

MANCHESTER: Oct. 15, 1865.

a

W. F.

2

New Discovery in Canal Navigation

Introduction of Steam on the Locomotive principle in Iron Vessels,

through recommendations deduced from the result of Experiments on

the Forth and Clyde Canal

Notice of the 'Alburka,' built by Messrs. Laird & Co.

Advancements consequent to the superiority of Iron over Wooden Vessels
Recent Improvements and Advancements due to the labours of Brunel,
Russell, Laird, Vernon, Napier, and others

Application of Iron to the Construction of Ships of War

Fresh impetus given to the Construction of Iron Ships of War by the

introduction of Armour-plates by the Emperor of the French

5

5

CHAPTER II.

ON THE STRAINS TO WHICH A SHIP IS SUBJECTED WHEN

AFLOAT:-

When supported on the crest of Two Waves, one at the Bow and the

Rankine's investigation of the most severe Straining Action to which

a Vessel can be subjected when afloat.

Effects of Vibratory Action and Alternate Strains of Tension and Com-

pression on Wrought Iron

Safe working load of Wrought Iron

13

14

PAGE

15

Method of ascertaining the Intensity of the Strain on the material of a

Ship by treating it as a hollow Beam.

Value of the moment of the Weight of a Ship to produce Transverse

Fracture, given in terms of the Length and Position of the Centre of

Gravity for the various positions in which she may be placed

16

18

19

19

CHAPTER III.

ON THE PROPERTIES OF IRON CONSIDERED AS A MATERIAL

FOR SHIPBUILDING, AND THE RESISTANCE OF

WROUGHT-IRON PLATES TO THE FORCE OF EXTEN-

SION:-

Division of the subjects treated of in the Volume

Distribution of Iron Ores

Treatment of Iron after passing the Smelting Furnace

I. ON THE STRENGTH OF PLATES WHEN TORN ASUNDER BY A DIRECT

TENSILE STRAIN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FIBRE, AND WHEN TORN

ACROSS IT:-

Table of the Strength of Iron Plates when torn by a direct Tensile

Strain .

Tensile Strength of Wrought-Iron Bars

: 21

2222

II. ON THE DUCTILITY, ELONGATION, AND DYNAMIC RESISTANCE OF WROUGHT

IRON :-

Table of the Statical Breaking Strain of Iron of various thicknesses

from different Manufacturers

Table of the Ultimate Elongation per Unit of Length of Wrought-Iron

Plates.

Table of the Dynamic Resistance or Work done in causing Rupture in
Wrought-Iron Plates

III. ON THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINTS OF PLATES WHEN UNITED BY RIVETS

AS COMPARED WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE PLATES:-

On the requisites of Good Riveting:-

I. PUNCHING:-

Form of Punch, Coincidence of Holes, &c.

II. RIVETING:-

Strength of the Single Riveted Joint

Strength of the Double Riveted Joint

Strength of Flush or Butt Joints

Table of the Results of Experiments on Riveted Joints

Ratio of the Comparative Strength of Joints and Plates

System of Riveting developed in the Construction of the Britannia

and Conway Tubular Bridges

Another System of Covering Joints

PAGE

41

42

43

Defects produced in Riveting from the want of Coincidence of the

Punched Holes

III. RIVETS :-

Table exhibiting the strongest Forms and best Proportions of

Rivets and Riveted Joints

45

CHAPTER IV.

ON THE RESISTANCE OF PLATES AS APPLIED IN DIFFERENT

FORMS TO THE FORCE OF COMPRESSION:-

Resistance of Steel, Cast and Wrought Iron, and Wood to a Force of

Compression

Resistance of Flat and Rounded Columns to a Force of Compression

Table of the Resistance of Wrought-Iron Plates to a Crushing Force

Table of the Resistance of Wrought-Iron Circular Tubes to a Force of

Compression

Table of the Resistance of Rectangular Tubes to a Force of Compression

Professor Hodgkinson's Method of deriving Natural Laws from the Re-

sults of Experiment

Deductions from the Analysis of Experiments

:

CHAPTER V.

ON THE STRENGTH AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE MATERIAL

OF WROUGHT-IRON PLATES AND FRAMES AS APPLIED

TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON SHIPS:-

The Sectional Area of the Victory' contrasted with that of the

'Warrior'

Rules to be observed in the Construction of Iron Ships to obtain the

maximum conditions of Strength

Considerations with regard to the Position and Intensity of the Strains

deduced from the treatment of a Ship as a hollow Girder

71

CHAPTER VI.

THE COMBINATION OF IRON AND WOOD IN THE CONSTRUC-

TION OF SHIPS:-

-

Investigation of the Defects arising from the Combination of Wood and

Iron in Shipbuilding

Table of the Comparative Values of Wood and Iron submitted to a

Tensile Strain