Verulam

I am very much aware of the honour the Institution has done me in electing me as its 63rd President. I appreciate it more than I can say and, in return, pledge my unstinted efforts on behalf of the Institution during the coming year. A.C. Paterson

With the development of articulated metal structures during the 19th century and the recognition of statical-indeterminacy, an era of intense interest in labour-saving extremum principles emerged. Outstanding among those principles is that of ‘least work’. It was discovered independently, principally by Menabrea, Castigliano, and Frankel. This paper is concerned with the conceptual contrasts of their work, as being highly instructive. Interesting personal relationships are necessarily included with Cremona’s judgment of Menabreand Castigliano following their notorious dispute within the Academy of the ‘Lincei’. T.M. Charlton

The purpose of these reports is to provide those who failed the examinations, and indeed those who have not yet taken them, with some background information on the pitfalls or omissions that were apparent to the markers.