Computer says yes – but physics says no
The Insight
Engineers have a multitude of tools at hand to assist with their jobs. For design engineers, this ranges from basic capacity tables to sophisticated computer modelling packages. These serve to greatly reduce calculation effort, improve accuracy, shorten the time required for rework and generally allow for more refined designs.
Engineering students are introduced to these tools during their studies and then engineering graduates and other more junior engineers are often the ones responsible for the majority of their use as they are the ones undertaking the design grunt work.
But as the saying goes – ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’. A clear understanding of the inputs and their effect on the outputs is important for the correct use of these tools.
The Impact
There are frequent cases where a design is not straightforward, either resulting in an inability to rely on the tools – such as for the case of capacity tables where the item being considered may be non-standard; or there is a requirement for increased input or interaction from a designer – such as understanding different types of steel restraints and how they affect design outputs.
An inability or unwillingness to sanity check the outputs obtained using such tools is a risk to the suitability and efficacy of the produced designs. Inadequate checking can stem from a lack of deeper understanding of the design principles at play. While time may be tight, high level checks undertaken by an engineer with a clear comprehension of the forces at play can be completed relatively quickly and identify any potential issues in the use of the various tools.
Effective design checks require engineers to have a solid knowledge of the applicable standards and the underpinning science combined with the technical aptitude to apply this knowledge.
It is imperative we do not underestimate the importance of the knowledge of the ‘first principles’ in the face of ever-evolving technology.
Just because our tools are getting smarter, does not mean we can get dumber.