Engineering Testing and Failure Analysis

The video explains the importance of identifying and fixing failure points in engineering solutions. It emphasizes the need for a structured plan to test solutions, using examples like a bowling alley and a bridge model. Engineers isolate variables and conduct trials to find failure points, then improve designs to ensure safety and success. The video concludes with a review of the steps engineers take to enhance their solutions.

Why is it important for engineers to identify failure points?

• To avoid using any variables

• To improve and refine the solution

• To make the solution more expensive

• To ensure the solution is aesthetically pleasing

What is the first step engineers take when testing a solution?

• Make a plan

• Jump in randomly

• Ignore failure points

• Change all variables at once

In the bowling alley example, what variable was isolated?

• The angle of the ball ramp

• The speed of the ball

• The weight of the ball

• The color of the ball

What is one method engineers use to test a solution in its early stages?

• Skip testing altogether

• Build a full-scale model

• Build a small model

• Use computer simulations only

What was identified as a failure point in the bridge model test?

• The length of the bridge

• The material used for the bridge

• The amount of mass it could hold

• The color of the bridge

What caused the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to fail?

• Flooding

• Earthquake

• Too much weight

• Wind speed and angle

Why is it important to test for multiple failure points?

• To reduce the number of tests

• To ensure the solution is as safe as possible

• To make the project more expensive

• To make the solution more complex

What is the purpose of isolating a variable during testing?

• To increase the number of variables

• To make the solution more colorful

• To focus on one aspect of the solution

• To simplify the design

What does planning to fail actually help achieve?

• It ensures the project will fail

• It makes the solution worse

• It improves the solution

• It reduces the number of tests

What is a key part of the plan engineers make to test solutions?

• Ignoring all variables

• Isolating and testing one variable at a time

• Testing all variables simultaneously

• Avoiding any changes to the design