1. TO ENGINEER IS HUMAN THE ROLE OF FAILURE IN SUCCESSFUL DESIGN
CHAPTER 5 – SUCCESS IS FORESEEING FAILURE

2. Group B
Nadia Caraveo Rick Macias Mariel Reyes Danniel Rodriguez Lillian Salas Manny Valenzuela Martin Vaclavik

3. 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

4. What is failure? Two Concepts: Stand without falling down
To be structural sound
Corrosion
Fatigue Cracking

5. Trial & Error Pyramids Cathedrals
“One builder’s structural and aesthetic successes and failures were challenges and lessons to the others.”

6. Pyramids Egyptian Pyramids Imhotep Shape Step Pyramid
Confidence with Success

7. Example of Structural Failure
Goals:
Straight Edge
Flat Sides
Bent Pyramid:
Original design:
Ø = 54⁰
Changed:
Ф = half way mark
Type of Stone ø ф

8. 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

9. 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

10. Scientific Method Era 19th to 20th century
Classical thinking to hard calculations
Bridges
Railroads

11. Bridges
“No other structure shows off its structural bones or flexes its structural muscles the way a bridge does”

12. Structures of the 19th & 20th Century
Steel implemented
Load combinations utilized as parameters
Reducing weight, materials and cost
Do more with less

13. Railroads Economics and mass production
Integrated engineering disciplines
High risk for designer and user
Industrialized regions

15. Opinions of Society William Wordsworth Nathaniel Hawthorne
“…changing the face of the English Countryside…”
Nathaniel Hawthorne
“Celestial Railroad”
Harper’s Weekly
Publicized the accidents

16. Progression of the Engineer
Redefinition
What is “acceptable” failure?
New Concepts and Challenges
Roles of engineers
Reoccurring trials

17. Work Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. www.rskills2.blogspot.com
Petroski, Henry. “To Engineer is Human.” Ch.5 Success is Foreseeing Failure. Pg 53
Step Pyramid.
Train Wreck.