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The Engineer and the MethodWhat is Engineering?Slide 3Why Study Engineering?The Engineering DisciplinesCivil EngineeringSlide 7Mechanical EngineeringSlide 9Slide 10Alumna ProfileSlide 12Electrical and Computer EngineeringSlide 14Slide 15Slide 16Alumni ProfileWhat is an Engineer?“To Engineer”Why is Engineering Such a Mystery?Four Key Elements of Engineering Problems:Slide 22ChangeSlide 24Slide 25The Final State (B) Cannot Be Fully Known!Slide 27Unforeseen ConsequencesSlide 29BestTelevision Example: BestSlide 32Slide 33What is the Best?Slide 35Available ResourcesTime as a ResourceSlide 38UncertaintySlide 40The Engineer and the MethodEGR 1310Introduction to EngineeringWhat is Engineering?“The profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to use, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.” Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET)What is Engineering?•What is the difference between…–a scientist and an engineer?–a mechanical engineer and a mechanic?–an electrical engineer and an electrician?•Engineering vs. Engineering technologyWhy Study Engineering?•To become a–Professional engineer–Business consultant for a prestigious consulting firm–Lawyer–Physician•To use my God-given gifts and talents to serve others in the best possible way –“Vocation”The Engineering Disciplines•The three big disciplines (a large majority of all engineers)–Civil Engineering–Electrical and Computer Engineering–Mechanical Engineering•Additional disciplines–Chemical Engineering–Industrial Engineering–Biomedical Engineering–Nuclear EngineeringCivil Engineering•Oldest engineering disciplineCivil Engineering•Origins back to ~4000BCMechanical Engineering•Developed after civil engineering•Concerned with the design of mechanical and thermal systems–Many final products, such as cars & airplanes–Most equipment that makes other products–Heating and air conditioning systemsMechanical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringAlumna Profile•Karen Davis, BSME, 2009•Propulsion test engineer and test conductor•SpaceX, McGregor, Texas•“I work on the in-space team, so I work with second stage engines and Draco thrusters for the cargo carrying capsule (the Dragon). As a TE/TC, I am responsible for controlling the many different systems on our test stand that make testing the Draco possible. I will also be doing some design work to expand the test stand for a module of Draco's (five thrusters in flight configuration) and helping to develop a test plan for that series of testing.”Karen in Rwanda with Engineers with a MissionSpace X Falcon 9 EnginesAlumna Profile•Jonathan Crabtree, BSME 2009•Level 1 Mechanical Engineer•Black and Veatch, Kansas City, KA•“I work in the energy division and retrofit projects for older power plants (coal, gas, and combined cycle). Retrofits include emission control equipment (scrubbers for SO2 reduction, SCR for NOx reduction, etc.) and fuel conversion projects. I work on detailed designs, studies, proposals, and also the cost estimate for a new solar thermal power plant that will be the biggest of its kind. I feels that my Baylor education trained me well. Besides starting work, I am getting married in October. Woowho!!”Jonathan and Katie on the Waco Suspension BridgeA Solar Thermal Power PlantElectrical and Computer Engineering•Design of electrical systems•Very large engineering discipline as all industries will need some electrical engineers•Computer portion of this discipline is much newer, having developed since the 1960’s•Primarily concerned with information and/or powerElectrical and Computer EngineeringElectrical and Computer EngineeringAlumna Profile•Amy Bowen, BSECE, 2006•Engineer, National Wind Technology Center•NREL, Boulder, CO•“I have been a field test engineer for small turbine independent testing at the National Wind Technology Center since September 2007. I am involved in duration, power performance, and safety and function testing for small wind turbines. I am also currently involved in software development for small turbine testing, blade testing, LabVIEW programming, data acquisition, and data analysis.”Amy visiting wind farmLarge and Small Wind TurbinesAlumni Profile•Chris Matcek, BSECE 2006, ME/MBA 2008•Engineering Management Trainee•Raytheon, San Diego, CA•“I am member of the Rotational Engineering Leadership Development Program (RELDP). I rotate between three assignments around the USA for 2 years, experiencing different areas of the company. Then I move into management upon graduation. I am currently working on organizational strategy and business continuity for the company.”Raytheon’s KillerBee UAVChris with MBA students in Washington DCWhat is an Engineer?•An Engineer is not defined by her product–Nano-robots–Airplanes–Suspension bridges•An engineer is defined by her m ethod–Finding the best change–Using available resources–In an environment of uncertainty“To Engineer”•The clergy in Iran engineered the firing of the president.•The chessmaster engineered a perfect countermove.•The general engineered a coup d'état without the loss of life.Why is Engineering Such a Mystery?•The Scientific Method–Well-understood, even by the layperson.–“Science is theory corrected by experiment.”–All variables held constant except one.–“Answer in the back of the book.”•Extensively analyzed by philosophers•None of these are true for the Engineering Method–Although engineers often employ science and scientific reasoningFour Key Elements of Engineering Problems:•Change: the situation requires a change.•Best: the best change is desired...•Resources: using the available resources.•Uncertainty: knowledge about the situation is incomplete and sometimes inconsistentFour Key Elements of Engineering Problems:•Change: the situation requires a change.•Best: the best change is desired...•Resources: using the available resources.•Uncertainty: knowledge about the situation is incomplete and sometimes inconsistentChangetimeMeasure of ChangeABChange•Four practical difficulties in getting from A to B:–Engineer lacks complete knowledge of the world at A–The exact final state, B, is unknown and cannot be anticipated–There is no single path from A


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