How to enlarge my intuitive ability ? (the structural behavior) 4

[envc77]

I am short of the structural intuitive power. And I am let down because of that.

How to enlarge my intuitive ability ?

1 . Solving a problem of text (ex . Meachnics of matrial)
or 2. Going to the structural field.
or 3. Modeling structure and anlysis
or 4. Native ability

Anybody can advice me how to enlarge this power.

 

[civeng80]

What do you define as structural intuitive power?

 

[rb1957]

to me "intuitive ability" means "anticipating how a strcuture will behave".
1) will help a little, but textbook problems are usually complete (in the real world you have to assume stuff) and idealised (real world problems usually don't present themselves in such a neat and orderly description).
2) yes, get a job (presumably you're a recent grad.) and learn.
3) no ... you shouldn't model untill you understand the subject.
4) i suspect that your "native ability" needs to be awakened by some expreience (otherwise you wouldn't be asking this question).

good luck

 

[HgTX]

Experience, experience, experience.

Hg


Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[whyun]

To increase one's intuition, try to anticipate or predict a certain behavior before calculating anything. Calculations will show how close or far off you were with your intuition. Over time, your prediction will get closer and closer to the true answer.

 

[JJMT]

http://www.lego.com

 

[graybeach]

I think drawing things by hand helps. For me drawing something is like inputting it into my brain. I kind of feel the load path when I draw.

When I do structural analysis, I like to draw the model by hand, number the joints and members myself and type it all up in a batch file. After the analysis is done, I like to scrutinize the reactions and displacements to make sure everything makes sense. I am dating myself here because, back in college, this was the only way to do it - on punch cards! This might not be realistic for mass production work with extensive code checking, but it can't be beat if you just want to understand how something behaves before doing the big model. And when you are just doing a simple structure it is so easy for someone to check the analysis.

The junior engineers I work with often resist doing the analysis this way but I insist and spend a lot of time helping them to model a structure in a simple elegant way and not kill a fly with a sledge hammer. It is amazing how much time this saves in the long run.

So, to summarize, DRAW!!

 

[cvg]

spending time out on a construction site (preferably as an inspector) always seems to help understand the business a lot better. I believe this is just as true for civil as it is for structural

 

[PMR06]

I hate to ask a question with a question, but here it goes:

In what area of life do you feel you have the most intuitive ability?

I mean no disrespect in suggesting your choice of profession is incorrect, but it has been my experience that people who choose a profession related to what they are naturally best at are more successful and happier in the end.

If structural engineering truly makes you happy, then I agree with what others have suggested.... get as much experience as you can, visit job sites to get a sense of scale of what you have designed and how it is constructed, sketch things out, read trade magazines, and stay involved with design organizations and websites like this.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Think outside of the proverbial "box". Many young engineers and I assume that is you - simply do not think enough before solving the problem. Sometimes they don't seem to even understand the problem.

Day dream a lot --- you will see things in different light.

 

[lkjh345]

I agree with graybeach. I have the ability to draw things in CADD, and worked through college as a CADD tech, but I definately get a much better feel for a structure when I draw things out by hand. It seems to force me to think about each piece of the structure and what it is 'doing' much better.

When I draw in AutoCadd, I focus more on the mechanics of drawing, rather than the engineering aspects of the structure.

 

[271828]

Another vote for sketching by hand. I think that's a critical skill and really helps to get the mind *actively* thinking about hte problem rather than passively. For me, and the folks I've worked with, there also seems to be something to freehand sketching vs sketching with an edge. It's more like "doodling" which seems to open up the mind. I quit sketching anything with an edge after 2-3 years on the job and only use one about every other month since then--also simply makes me faster.

It's helpful to have a great understanding of basic mechanics, especially mechanics of material -- VQ/It, principal stresses, virtual work, etc.

Running computer models of simple problems also helps at times.

 

[civeng80]

After 20 years of designing structures, I find I still learn new tricks by just looking at buildings being built and designing the structure with my mind. e.g. beam and column designs are not a problem nor is structural analysis and a great way of analysing is as suggested by graybeach above. However framing an open space with constraints given by owners or architects can be quite challenging and conceptual ideas need to be tossed around before anything firm goes on paper or CAD.

Looking, imagining, talking to colleagues, sketching, browsing at mechanics of materials texts, are amongst some of the things that really improved my structural senses. If you like doing this then your half way there.

 

[jike]

Always take the opportunity to take a look at others drawings and others structures under construction. Ask yourself the question, "Why is that engineer designing that way, instead of perhaps the way I would have done it. Does he have a better or way?"

Always dig for the real answer. Don't be snowed by others who say "We have always done it that way". The real answer could be ease of fabrication or erection, cost, function, code requirements, etc. but dig until you find out the reason. This will make you a better engineer.

 

[Qshake]

I couldn't agree more with graybeach.

I used to draw every structure I was to analyze first by hand and then as times went on by CADD. Nowadays, if I have a really complex structure, I don't hestitate to sit down and get to work with drawings.

Based on my previous work drawing structures, I can now look at simple to moderately complex structures and 'see' all that I need to know, what is priority, and how long it should take to analyze/design.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[plasgears]

You might want to take distance training in engineering creativity. I taught such a course many years ago, and it was a life changing experience for students and for me, too.

 

[KCRatnayake]

Plasgears,
I would like to get some information re. these distance training courses. Can you pls give me some details.

Regards,
Clefcon

 

[plasgears]

clefcon,
Try google: distance learning, correspondence course, creativity training, engineering creativity, effective creativity.

 

[DRC1]

First, I would say very few people have a good feel for how structures behave when they start. Most of the engineers I have brught along don't, I didn't. What I think seperates the good engineers from the mediocre is that they, like you, recognize they need to have a better feel for the structures. I still read textbooks and I have been doing this for a while. Don,t just learn but have agood comand of basic analysis, esp. trusses, moment distribution, & slope deflection. As Vince Lombardi said "The three most important things in footbal are Fundementals, Fundementals, Fundementals" When I look at a strucure I try to see the reactions, the loads, and imagine an exaggerated deflection and identify tension and compression areas. I don't care about magnatude of stresses, just type. This gives me a little understanding of what is happening and allows me to see if I screwed something up. If you want to be a structural engineer, get a job where you can get some experience with some one who is willing to show you the ropes. Finally when you do get a job, try to get out to the site, because designing is only half the story, building is the other.

 

[csd72]

DRC1 beat me to it, but I will expand on it.

Basic fundamental analysis methods are crucial, 3 examples are:
1. as noted by DRC1 learn how to judge deflection shapes and relate this to the shape of a moment diagram.
2. Basic static boundary conditions(e.g. reactions) - these do not change whether it is a solid lump or a 3d space truss so it is very important to use this to check the analysis reactions.
3. Method of sections - great for trusses and also for understanding internal forces on much more complicated structures.

Experience is key, but understanding the above will certainly help.