TO ENGINEER IS HUMAN THE ROLE OF FAILURE IN SUCCESSFUL DESIGN CHAPTER 5 – SUCCESS IS FORESEEING FAILURE
Group B Nadia Caraveo Rick Macias Mariel Reyes Danniel Rodriguez Lillian Salas Manny Valenzuela Martin Vaclavik
Topics to be Discussed Trial Error Period Scientific Method Era Pyramids Cathedrals Scientific Method Era Bridges Railroads Opinions of Society Progression of the Engineer Redefinition New Concepts
What is failure? Two Concepts: Stand without falling down To be structural sound Corrosion Fatigue Cracking
Trial & Error Pyramids Cathedrals “One builder’s structural and aesthetic successes and failures were challenges and lessons to the others.”
Pyramids Egyptian Pyramids Imhotep Shape Step Pyramid Confidence with Success
Example of Structural Failure Goals: Straight Edge Flat Sides Bent Pyramid: Original design: Ø = 54⁰ Changed: Ф = 43⁰ @ half way mark Type of Stone ø ф
Cathedrals More complex than pyramids Prioritized Aesthetics and Height Several built 50 miles apart: “ Learn day to day” Cost not significant Cracks/errors hidden with décor
Collapse of Cathedral Beauvais Buttresses thin for light transmittance Resonant vibrations attributed to high winds Choir vault collapsed along with flying buttresses Failure occurred in 1284
Scientific Method Era 19th to 20th century Classical thinking to hard calculations Bridges Railroads
Bridges “No other structure shows off its structural bones or flexes its structural muscles the way a bridge does”
Structures of the 19th & 20th Century Steel implemented Load combinations utilized as parameters Reducing weight, materials and cost Do more with less
Railroads Economics and mass production Integrated engineering disciplines High risk for designer and user Industrialized regions
Opinions of Society William Wordsworth Nathaniel Hawthorne “…changing the face of the English Countryside…” Nathaniel Hawthorne “Celestial Railroad” Harper’s Weekly Publicized the accidents
Progression of the Engineer Redefinition What is “acceptable” failure? New Concepts and Challenges Roles of engineers Reoccurring trials
Work Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. www.rskills2.blogspot.com http://derrickjeter.wordpress.com/2007/10/23/book-that-have-made-a-difference-nathaniel-hawthornes-the-celestial-railroad/ Petroski, Henry. “To Engineer is Human.” Ch.5 Success is Foreseeing Failure. Pg 53 Step Pyramid. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.delta.edu/cri/step-pyramid.JPG&imgrefurl http://www.tellingthetruth.org/news/briscoeupdates/09-12-03/December_Letter_from_Stuart.aspx Train Wreck. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://themoderatevoice.com/wordpress-engine/files/2009-may/trainwreck2.