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Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] TANK / PSI QUESTION
There is a common misconception by the layperson that engineering is a
precise science. It it not, at least, not in the pure sense as with
physics or mathematics. Engineering constitutes a method of using the
aforementioned pure sciences to help make approximations about
real-world phenomena, but it is still impossible to model any real-world
system exhaustively, nor is it necessary. In engineering design, for
example, we design a part to withstand V amount of force, plus or minus
W, X % of the time, with Y probability of failure after Z hours in
service - there are no absolutes. This is why we do tedious
calculations to several decimal places to determine our best guess, and
then overbuild by a safety factor of some integer, depending on how
paranoid we are. The main difference between professionals and amateurs
in this respect (apart from formal training) is that professionals are
paid to produce designs that are as close to insufficient as possible,
within the service requirements. Hobbyist projects are often impressive
simply because they incorporate engineering overkill that you just don't
see in commercial projects.
-Sean
Joseph Perkel wrote:
Now that...is what you call an *engineering analysis!*
/"but also of concentric cross-section
>as you travel along its length. Anything outside of that is
>extranneous material, as far as the calculations are concerned"/
That is what I find so impressive about engineering, the ability to
minimally design for the required stressors, and why amateurs like
myself have to overbuild a bit to feel good about it!
Great job Sean!
Joe
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