Selected topics in the history of the two-dimensional biharmonic problem

This review article gives a historical overview of some topics related to the classical 2D biharmonic problem. This problem arises in many physical studies concerning bending of clamped thin elastic isotropic plates, equilibrium of an elastic body under conditions of plane strain or plane stress, or creeping flow of a viscous incompressible fluid. The object of this paper is both to elucidate some interesting points related to the history of the problem and to give an overview of some analytical approaches to its solution. This review article contains 758 references.