History of Shock Waves, Explosions and Impact

Emphasizing phenomenological aspects, the encyclopedia comprehensively examines the evolution and current status of science dealing with percussion, shock wave physics and detonation. Many plates from original publications help to tell the story and convey the author's fascination with the motivations of pioneer researchers, their significant contributions and ingenious discoveries. Short biographies of eminent researchers are given, supplemented by a list of their publications plus secondary literature. A catalogue of general references provides the reader with additional biographical and bibliographical sources while more than 700 figures and 2500 references supply readers with the field's historical roots. A must for anyone interested in the history of science and engineering, the volume provides an intelligible overview of the whole field while making every effort to clarify the concepts and terminology in this interdisciplinary field.