Charles Murray van Wyk, a discreet pioneer of fibre network mechanics.
other · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42347774.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1039/d6sm00220j.
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Abstract
In 1946, C. M. van Wyk published a seminal theoretical paper on wool mechanics, explaining why the mechanical stress applied to wool is a function of the inverse cube of its volume. In addition to becoming a classical paper in textile science, the paper found applications in diverse fields, ranging from electronics to cell biophysics. Despite being regularly cited for more than 80 years, this author has been forgotten by the history of science and even his full name was publicly unknown. Based on historical archives, I retrace the life of this discreet pioneer of fibre network mechanics, as well as highlighting his contribution to the wool-physics field.