152
12 Origin and Development of Plasticity Theory
12.6 Russian Mechanics in the Post-Soviet Period
12.6.1 General Situation and Dangerous Trends
It is commonly admitted that mechanics is a driver of technical progress. It is
undeniable that mathematics developed in the context of mechanics problems (Newton, Lagrange, Lyapunov, Pontryagin, Muskhelishvili). As early as the nineteenth
century, mechanics was the queen of physical and mathematical sciences, and its
brightest decoration was elasticity theory.
Mechanics is the scientific basis of most (if not all) areas of engineering: industry,
construction, transport (land, water, air, space), agricultural equipment, and military
equipment. No one doubts that all existing types of armament are the products of
mechanics despite the high role of computer and informational technologies in its
development. Therefore, it is clear that creating modern hi-tech types of armament
without progress in mechanics is impossible.
The state has always paid high attention to the development of mechanics in
Russia. It started before the Revolution and was continued after it. Soviet decrees
in 1918 established the Physical-Technical Institute headed by A. F. Ioffe and
the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute headed by N. E. Zhukovsky and S. A.
Chaplynin. This was the start of creating a wide network of institutes in natural
science and engineering in the country.
In the 1930s–1970s, by virtue of multiple works and the pool of mechanical
scientists living in those times, the USSR held a strong position in global mechanics.
All universities of the country created mechanical and mathematical faculties,
and almost all technical institutes established mechanical departments. The USSR
Academy of Science entered IUTAM (International Union of Theoretical and
Applied Mechanics) and was active in it, while Soviet scientists were always
among the management of that union. A methodological council for the strength
of materials, constructional mechanics, plasticity and elasticity theory worked in
the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education, which held crowded
meetings of heads of mechanics departments once in 5 years. Mechanics was
unequivocally admitted a fundamental science, a development basis for the economy
and defense sector.
The development of many areas in mechanics was frequently dictated by the
rapid development of engineering and technologies. As early as the 1930s, the
engineering agenda included the problems of continuous movement of media
where the medium changes its mechanical properties or even aggregate state under
the action of high or rapidly changing temperatures. The solution of the most
complicated problems of mechanics was supported by a reasonable strategy, state
attention, and care.
Leadership in space and nuclear areas allowed creating the defensive shield
of the country in the 1960s–1970s. The situation arose certain concerns across
the ocean. Correctly understood reasons for lagging induced foreign leaders to
respond immediately. For more than 10 years in the 1970s, the USA opened about
12 Origin and Development of Plasticity Theory
12.6 Russian Mechanics in the Post-Soviet Period
12.6.1 General Situation and Dangerous Trends
It is commonly admitted that mechanics is a driver of technical progress. It is
undeniable that mathematics developed in the context of mechanics problems (Newton, Lagrange, Lyapunov, Pontryagin, Muskhelishvili). As early as the nineteenth
century, mechanics was the queen of physical and mathematical sciences, and its
brightest decoration was elasticity theory.
Mechanics is the scientific basis of most (if not all) areas of engineering: industry,
construction, transport (land, water, air, space), agricultural equipment, and military
equipment. No one doubts that all existing types of armament are the products of
mechanics despite the high role of computer and informational technologies in its
development. Therefore, it is clear that creating modern hi-tech types of armament
without progress in mechanics is impossible.
The state has always paid high attention to the development of mechanics in
Russia. It started before the Revolution and was continued after it. Soviet decrees
in 1918 established the Physical-Technical Institute headed by A. F. Ioffe and
the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute headed by N. E. Zhukovsky and S. A.
Chaplynin. This was the start of creating a wide network of institutes in natural
science and engineering in the country.
In the 1930s–1970s, by virtue of multiple works and the pool of mechanical
scientists living in those times, the USSR held a strong position in global mechanics.
All universities of the country created mechanical and mathematical faculties,
and almost all technical institutes established mechanical departments. The USSR
Academy of Science entered IUTAM (International Union of Theoretical and
Applied Mechanics) and was active in it, while Soviet scientists were always
among the management of that union. A methodological council for the strength
of materials, constructional mechanics, plasticity and elasticity theory worked in
the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education, which held crowded
meetings of heads of mechanics departments once in 5 years. Mechanics was
unequivocally admitted a fundamental science, a development basis for the economy
and defense sector.
The development of many areas in mechanics was frequently dictated by the
rapid development of engineering and technologies. As early as the 1930s, the
engineering agenda included the problems of continuous movement of media
where the medium changes its mechanical properties or even aggregate state under
the action of high or rapidly changing temperatures. The solution of the most
complicated problems of mechanics was supported by a reasonable strategy, state
attention, and care.
Leadership in space and nuclear areas allowed creating the defensive shield
of the country in the 1960s–1970s. The situation arose certain concerns across
the ocean. Correctly understood reasons for lagging induced foreign leaders to
respond immediately. For more than 10 years in the 1970s, the USA opened about