History of science and technology

139-146

Authors: Yuliia Berdnychenko, Olha Petrykovets

An in-depth and comprehensive study of internal combustion engines creation, the prominent figures’ contribution to the formation and development of domestic and world science, remains a crucial task of historical studies at their present stage. The steam engine did not completely solve the energy problem, the humanity was facing. Small workshops and enterprises in the 19th century, which made up a significant part of the industrial sector, were not always able to use it. The small steam engine had a low efficiency. Besides, using such an engine meant high costs and troubles. Small industry required an engine that would take up minimum space and could be turned on and off at any time without much preparation. The article is devoted to highlighting and dividing the development of gas, kerosene, gasoline and diesel engines into stages. The idea of such an engine was first proposed in the early 19th century. The prerequisites for the emergence of each engine type have been considered. The important role of Philippe Lebon as the founder of gas engine design has been shown. Several inventors from different countries worked on the idea of creating engines using various types of fuel. Among them is the Belgian engineer Jean Étienne Lenoir, who suggested starting the engine with an electric spark. The engineer Augustus Otto’s role in the development and construction of the first gas engine, which was more economical than a steam engine, has been shown. Thus, all the theoretical and constructive background for inventing a new type of internal combustion engine was there, the designer of which was Rudolf Diesel. He created and patented an internal combustion engine – “diesel”, which today remains one of the most economical heat engines.

160-174

Authors: Svitlana Hurinchuk

The article is devoted to the consideration of the features on the development of railways and railway engineering in the second half of the ХІХ th century. It is well known that railway transport in European countries emerged in the eighteenth century, and the nineteenth century was a period of rapid development of raiway systems, railway technology and the creation of operation technologies. The author of the article shows that the development of railway transport engineering in the Russian Empire began in the 30s of the XIX century and went on at a rapid pace. It is clear that foreign technology was used at first, and foreign technology thought was significantly influenced by technology. As the whole policy of the tsarist government was aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on potential opponents, the idea of forming a Corps of national transport engineers was greatly supported. Among its graduates were such well-known engineers as P. P. Melnykov, M. I. Lypyn, V. P. Sobolevskyi, M. A. Beleliubskyi, D. I. Zhuravskyi and others who managed to create a national scientific school in the field of railway transport. Almost all problems were solved independently without the help of foreign specialists. Among them, according to the author, the most significant were “Track bed structure”, “The development of signalling systems, centralization and block signal system” and “The development of rolling stock”. Based on the analysis of a large number of sources, the author concludes, that in the second half of the nineteenth century the development of industry in the Russian Empire went through capitalist reforms. Expansion of domestic and foreign markets, active domestic and foreign trade led to the need to develop means of communication. The railways proved to be the most powerful and economically effective. They connected different regions, places of production and consumption, facilitating, speeding up and reducing the cost of delivery of raw materials and goods. In the 60-80’s of the XIX century there was a significant increase of the railway network. The construction was mainly carried out at the expense of private joint stock companies. During that period, foreign specialists who were not interested in the qualitative development of the Russian railway network played a major role in the construction and management of the railway tracks. With the increasing demand for this new type of transportation, there was a need for technical modernization of the entire industry.

186-196

Authors: Denis Kislov

This publication presents the emergence of the new sciences that are most important for today’s world: communication science, cybernetics, the theory of information, and the theory of the noosphere in the 1940s – 1950s. The purpose of this article is to analyze the total scientific achievements in Eurasia at the time of the Second World War. This was a bright phenomenon in the formation of new revolutionary theories. Works of Chicago-based and Frankfurt-based schools of thought, the theoretical concepts of T. Adorno, M. Horkheimer, H. Lasswell, P. Lazarsfeld, аnd other researchers laid the foundations of the communication science and contributed to the breakthrough in a number of the key subject areas. A system approach to and a comparative analysis of the causes and subsequent consequences of the achievements at that time for today’s world served as a methodological basis for a comprehensive consideration of large-scale studies of the past. The scientific novelty of this historic study consists in the interdependence and complementarity of the theoretical and practical achievements in the 1940s and rethinking of their importance in the structure of concepts in the 20th century. Industrial and military goals associated with the automatic management and communication processes required fundamentally new approaches and achievements. When World War II broke out, N. Wiener worked on these problems aiming at creating a computer, which pushed him to the idea that the principles of managing biotic and abiotic systems are the same and to the cybernetic concept development. In the mid-1940s, J. von Neumann built the first digital computer. In 1945-1947, A. Turing worked, as an inventor of “a universal machine”, on the “electronic brain” project and was the first to develop a number of programs for it. In 1942, C. Shannon published his work dedicated to the theory of information permitting a constellation of researchers to lay the foundations of the theory of communication. V. Vernadsky’s noosphere concept proposed in 1944 was particularly important. At present, the ideas of that period are gaining new importance as a basis for the single planetary management system.

211-224

Authors: Anhelina Korobchenko

The article reveals the importance of the Naturalists Society at Kharkiv University in the development of scientific research and the popularization of scientific knowledge in Ukraine. Social, economic, political processes that occur today in Ukraine actualize historical memory and direct historical science to comprehend the scientific processes that took place in Ukraine in ancient times. The reconstruction of scientific Ukraine in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries would be incomplete without an indication of the role and importance of the Naturalists Society at Kharkiv University. The author proves that the activity of the Society was versatile, large-scale, imbued with high scientific ideas and democratic tendencies. It is stated that the effectiveness of this activity was ensured by the active work of the most prominent figures of science, culture, education, namely: V. M. Arnoldi, P. I. Biletskyi, O. A. Hrosheim, O. V. Hurov, V. Ya. Danylevskyi, A. M. Krasnov, I. F. Levakovskyi, O. V. Nahornyi, O. M. Nikolskyi, Ya. V. Roll, M. M. Somov, P. P. Sushkin, V. I. Taliev, L. S. Tsenkovskyi, O. V. Chernaуa, V. O. Yaroshevskyi. In particular, the role of scientists in deployment of a wide range of floristic, faunistic, geological and geographical researches as in the territory of provinces of the Kharkov educational district, and it is far beyond its limits is shown. It is emphasized that thanks to the fruitful activity of members of society considerable scientific results which promoted the development of many branches of domestic natural sciences were received. It was a company with an effective organizational structure and program of activities; it achieved outstanding results both in applied research and in the popularization of science. The Society was one of the channels for ensuring the interconnection of science and society. It acted as a certain social institute, which envisaged conducting active communication activity both within the Society and beyond. Besides, training of future generations of scientists was carried out at a high level, which testified to another feature of the Society as a social institute and a phenomenon in the system of science. The author provides little-known information about the Society, specifies evaluations and conclusions, which relate to separate parts of the scientific and popularizing activity of the Society.

5-18

Authors: Oleksandr Isaienko, Svitlana Isaienko

One of the most important tasks of the modern history of science and technologies is the study of the activities of leading scientists and practitioners of the past, the influence of their ideas on the development of world science and the process of training specialists in the relevant sectors of the national economy. In the opinion of the authors of the article, one of such figures of the early twentieth century is Academician I. H. Aleksandrov. Historical and scientific analysis of life and activity of I. H. Aleksandrov as a scientist, engineer, organizer of science is of high topicality due to the scale and versatility of his scientific contribution. In the context of the development of hydro-engineering and hydropower, the development of transport communications, I. H. Aleksandrov had world-class achievements that glorified national science. Scientific creative work of I. H. Aleksandrov can be divided into five main directions of development of science and technologies: hydro-engineering, hydropower, geographic zoning, railway transport and irrigation. The construction of the Dnipro hydroelectric power station near Zaporizhzhia (1927-1932) (he prepared a project and directed the construction of the largest hydroelectric power station in Europe at that time), the development of the general plan for the electrification of the USSR (compiled projects of electrification of Central Asia and Eastern Siberia), participation in the construction plan Baikal-Amur railway line, development of the methodology of economic zoning of the Soviet Union and the theory of railway “super-mainlines” can be ascribed to the academician. The article concludes that the highly qualified teaching staff of the Moscow Higher Technical School and the Moscow Engineering School of the Office of the Ways of Communications contributed to the thorough theoretical training of a young engineer I. H. Aleksandrov. On the basis of a significant number of sources it was found that occupying different positions, I. H. Aleksandrov participated in solving complex technical issues of contemporary epoch, and scientific research was carried out by I. H. Aleksandrov in the context of the tasks of the engineering science of his time. I. H. Aleksandrov initiated scientific discussions on the construction of ports and canals, in his work he contributed in every way to the development of home industry and the introduction of progressive forms of transport, in particular railway. The authors assert that the modern view on the scientific heritage of I. H. Aleksandrov in the context of the development of hydro-engineering, hydropower and rail transport unambiguously acknowledges that in a concentrated-generalized form ideas, theories and concepts, put forward and scientifically grounded by academician I. H. Aleksandrov, today contribute to the development of scientific and technological process.

33-49

Authors: Liubov Soloviova

Analysis of the creative heritage of Vsevolod Yevhenovych Timonov (1862-1936) - a prominent communications engineer, professor of the Institute of Engineers of Railway Transport of Emperor Olexandr I, a hydrotechnical expert, a specialist in the field of water transport, a port administrator, head of the Petersburg divission of railway transport (1899-1907), the founder and Director of the First Hydrotechnical Laboratory in the Russian Empire (1907-1920) and the Hydrotechnical Research Institute at the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers, a member of the Engineering Council of the Ministry of Railway Transport, Head of Statistics and Cartography of Ministry of Railway Transport (since 1907), head of the International section of the High Technology Council of the People's Commissariat of Railway Transport (since 1918), is especially important to understand the processes of development of homeland hydrotechnical science and water transport. His scientific works are devoted to the construction of ports, bridges, and lighthouses, to improvement of the conditions of navigation on the large rivers of the country, to regulation of their beds with rapids. He was the first who pointed to the advantage of mechanical excavation in improving navigable conditions on large rivers. Since 1886, V .Ye. Timonov worked at the Office of Railway Transport, while at the same time taking up construction and administrative and teaching positions. V .Ye. Timonov carried out the first works on the laying of quay-piers from rock body in the Baltic Sea (1887), organized and conducted the first dredging work (1887), explored the mouths of the Dnipro, Don and Volga rivers (1890) and defined the branches of each river for the improvement of navigation, made a draft of the rapids’ parts of the Dnipro and conducted research works on one of the thresholds (1894), researched the coasts of the Pacific ocean to select the location of the Pacific port of Siberian Railway and chose a place for this port (Vladyvostok), investigated the rivers of the Amur region and proposed measures to improve them (1895), etc. V .Ye. Timonov is the founder of the original direction in the construction industry, one of the founders of the doctrine of ports, the founder of the theory of the framework of hydraulic structures, the developer of the theory of port infrastructure, the historian of science and technology. Vsevolod Yevhenovych occupies one of the honorary places in the world of hydraulic engineering, water, and partly rail transport. Common factors in problems, defined by him on the basis of his numerous and original works, as well as works of his students, made a significant contribution to the further development of hydraulic engineering not only in our country but also in the world. Scientific ideas of V .Ye. Timonov significantly expanded and deepened our understanding of the regularities of development of hydraulic engineering science. In the context of his original beliefs, he analyzed the previously accumulated scientific material and showed it in a new and correct interpretation. His works, his ideas, theories and views revealed unprecedented opportunities for hydraulic engineers.

64-76

Authors: Viacheslav Bandus

The article describes the activities of the famous Ukrainian researcher, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Odessa Polytechnic Institute Victor Opanasovich Dobrovolsky on the preparation of seven editions of the textbook «Parts of Machines». At the present stage of development of the history of science and technology, a comprehensive analysis of the scientific activities of V. O. Dobrovolsky, in the field of general engineering is extremely limited, and coverage of its role in the organization and development of higher technical education in Ukraine is practically absent. The scientist was one of the first who responded to the lack of a full-fledged manual on the discipline «Parts of Machines» for higher education and devoted most of his work at the Odessa Polytechnic Institute to solving this issue. The evolution of the textbook, from the publication of scientists in 1926 the first edition «Lecture notes» to the last, the seventh, personal edition of the «Parts of Machines» 1954 has been analyzed. The main directions and priorities that were identifying by the researcher in each of the publications for the preparation of students and technician have been defined. The place of personal scientific achievements, developments, inventions of V. O. Dobrovolsky and his colleagues and students in the preparation of materials of the textbook, conformity of the given information to the courses' programs and all sorts of recommendations from the Ministry of Education and a wide stake of scientists with whom Viktor Opanasovich collaborated have been considered. The correspondence of textbooks to modern achievements of science and technology and the scientist's constant attention to new home and foreign developments and inventions have been described. The common features and differences in the structure of textbook, causes of reductions, additions, and the emergence of new sections, in accordance with the tasks, which were faced V. O. Dobrovolsky in different periods of its activities have been established. The great popularity and widespread use of the textbook by the majority of higher technical institutions throughout the USSR which was a consequence of the general availability and in-depth processing of the stated theoretical and practical material, its relevance and compliance with the challenges of time have been noted

89-98

Authors: Hanna Deforzh

One of the most important tasks of the modern history of Biology is the study of natural museums work at universities, their influence on the development of world science and their importance in the process of training the relevant specialists. One of the tasks is to study the role of the personalities of prominent scholars who have made a significant contribution to the formation and development of natural science. The article is devoted to the analysis of the formation, development, and work of the university natural museums of Ukraine, the creation of collections, systematization of the collected material, equipment of specialized premises and buildings. On the basis of the analyzed sources, the work of university natural museums, the state of collections, their quantity, filling, and cost are highlighted. The names of scholars of museums, patrons who donated collections and people who sold their own collections to natural museums are given. The article reveals a rather long history of universities in Ukraine. The oldest of them, Lviv University, was created in 1661 on the basis of the Jesuit College. A number of universities appear in the nineteenth century. In 1805 Kharkiv University was opened, and then in 1834 Kyiv University. Later, in 1865, the Novorosiysk University was founded in Odesa on the basis of the Rishelie Lyceum; in 1875 the Chernivtsi University was opened on the basis of the seminary. Together with universities, natural museums are created, which were becoming centers of knowledge and research. Universities opened geological, mineralogical, zoological, botanical, paleontological museums with appropriate collections. During the writing of the article, the materials from reports on the state and work of Kharkiv, Novorosiysk, Kyiv and Lviv universities were used. The functions of museums at universities are considered. This is, first of all, the identification and selection of materials for collections, the study, systematization, organization of the registration and storage of museum collections and as a result the exhibition. The role of the use of museum collections for the training and education of future specialists is also considered. Not the last role is assigned to university museums as popularizers of a positive image of an educational institution, and hence prospective recruitment of a new generation of students. It can be said with certainty that the natural museums of Ukrainian universities of the 19th and early 20th centuries were advanced and in no way inferior to the university museums of Europe concerning the organization, collection, systematization and conducting of scientific research.

109-119

Authors: Olha Oliinyk

The article deals with the facts of the life and work of the prominent Odessa scientist, doctor of mechanics, professor of the Novorossiisk University Valerian Lihin (1846-1900). At the present stage of development of the history of science and technology, a comprehensive analysis of the scientific work of V. Lihin, presented in the field of mechanics and mathematics, while work in other directions remained beyond the curiosity of historians. The role of Lihin in the organization of the scientific school of theoretical and applied kinematics is shown. As a teacher, Valerian Mykolayovych formed a new approach to teaching applied mechanics, constantly emphasizing the important influence of this science on the development of technical progress and the industrial complex of the economy. And his activities in the number of scientific, technical and charitable societies are almost unknown. Thus, Valerian Lihin was a member and held management positions in the three most famous scientific and technical societies of Odessa. Their influence on the socio-economic development of the city and region is analyzed. The basic directions of activity of Lihin in the structure of the Association are established and their expediency from the point of view of historical retrospective is considered. Particular attention is paid to the Odessa branch of the Russian Technical Society, which Lihin has been managing for 15 years. This time has become a period of intensive and extensive development, and its activity has actively contributed to the development of the city and the economic prosperity of the region. Equally important, in our opinion, is the research and organizational work of Valerian Lihin in the Society of Naturalists, which contributed to the dissemination of the results of his research work in broad circles. Also the work of a scientist within the Society of Horticulture is noted, where he demonstrated his talent as an organizer of the educational process. The gardening school, created on the initiative of Lihin, contributed to the transformation of Odessa into a flowered garden among the steppe. The article highlights his role in the organization and development of special technical education in the South of Ukraine. It was this talent that contributed to his rapid career growth.