Hello

CIE 681

Huancheng Zhang

HW#1

9/5/2015

Professor: Ricardo A. Medina

Personal opinion about “ Are We Relying Too Much on Computer?”

According to Graham H. Powell’s article, he emphatically disagreed the computer cannot provide enough “feel” , more efficiency way to figure out the problems and have enough useful information when we do structural analysis in three ways: Modeling, Number Crunching, and Interpretation phase.

In my view, I think we should rely on computer to help us when we do some structural analysis. I remembered I took ME 442 last year, the professor taught us to use Solid-works to analyze force distribution. It’s easier to draw 3D structure on Solid-works, and applying simulation to analyze the different force load. Also, we can add different metal materials in test such as glass, steel, and aluminum.

As for people who studied structure analysis course in 1960s, they did not have computer to help them analyzed the fore data, they used a method called Moment Distribution. I think this method is pretty good because we can draw free body diagram on notebook, and draw different fore load, and find out the bending moment, it’s more obvious to analyze a structure on 2D version.

However, the challenge is to create a model that is accurate enough for practical purpose. In the past, people did not have advanced software to build a model. Based on Powell’s article, an engineer should focus on modeling for analysis, and that analysis results are at best approximate. In that time, people usually do 6 or more than 6 significant figures to approach accuracy. Right now, we just need plug data in computer, and show the result. It’s save a lot of time to do calculation,and more efficiency.

The interpretation is an important part in engineering design. We need to check the results, and make sure that they are reasonable. And organizing the results in a form that supports decision making for design. So the result is very important....