Castigliano's theorem

noun

Cas·​ti·​glia·​no's theorem

¦kästᵊl¦yä(ˌ)nōz-,

¦kas-

: a theorem in structural mechanics: when an external force is applied at any point of a structure composed of rigidly connected elastic members the resulting internal work throughout the structure is equal to the product of the force by the displacement of the point of application in the direction of the force and the derivative of the internal work with respect to either factor thereof is equal to the other factor

Word History

Etymology

after Carlo Alberto Castigliano †1884 Italian engineer

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