Although named for Edgar Buckingham, the theorem was first proved by the French mathematician Joseph Bertrand in 1878. Bertrand considered only special cases of problems from electrodynamics and heat conduction, but his article contains, in distinct terms, all the basic ideas of the modern proof of the theorem and clearly indicates the theorem's utility for modelling physical phenomena. The technique of using the theorem ("the method of dimensions") became widely known due to the works of Rayleigh. The first application of the theorem in the general caseWhen in applying the –theorem there arises an arbitrary function of dimensionless numbers. to the dependence of pressure drop in a pipe upon governing parameters probably dates back to 1892, a heuristic proof with the use of series expansions, to 1894.
Although named for Edgar Buckingham, the theorem was first proved by the French mathematician Joseph Bertrand in 1878 Bertrand considered only special cases of problems from electrodynamics a,nd heat conduction, but his article contains, in distinct terms all the basic ideas of the modern proof of the theorem and clearly indicates the theorem's utility for modelling physical phenomena. The technique of using the theorem ("the method of dimensions") became widely known due to the works of Rayleigh. The first application of the theorem in the general caseWhen in applying the –theorem there arises an arbitrary function of dimensionless numbers. to the dependence of pressure drop in a. pipe upon governing parameters probably dates back to 1892, a heuristic proof with the use of series expansions, to 1894.