Bruce Moncur Irons (6 October 1924 – 5 December 1983) was an engineer and mathematician, known for his fundamental contribution to the
finite element method
The finite element method (FEM) is a popular method for numerically solving differential equations arising in engineering and mathematical modeling. Typical problem areas of interest include the traditional fields of structural analysis, heat ...
, including the
patch test, the
frontal solver A frontal solver, conceived by Bruce Irons (engineer), Bruce Irons, is an approach to solving sparse matrix, sparse linear systems which is used extensively in finite element analysis. It is a variant of Gauss elimination that automatically avoids a ...
and, along with
Ian C. Taig
Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...
, the
isoparametric element concept.
He developed
multiple sclerosis
Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...
; finding it difficult to accept anticipated relapses, he committed
suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
on 5 December 1983, and his wife followed suit.
References
External links
Bruce M. Irons Memorial Scholarship
1924 births
20th-century Canadian mathematicians
1983 suicides
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