Gustavo Colonnetti
| Gustavo Colonnetti | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 November 1886 Turin, Italy |
| Died | 20 March 1968 (aged 81) Turin, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Fields | Mathematics |
Gustavo Colonnetti (8 November 1886 – 20 March 1968) was an Italian mathematician and engineer who made important contributions to continuum mechanics and strength of materials. He was a Rector of the Politecnico di Torino and President of CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche). His theories found important applications in modern techniques of construction, such as pre-stressed concrete.
He is remembered for Colonnetti's theorem (or Colonnetti's minimum principle) which states that in equilibrium the potential energy function 
is minimized.
Author of L’équilibre des corps déformables. Dunod, Paris, (1960)