Design Paradigms: Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering
From classical temples to twentieth century towers, engineers have learned more about design from failure than from success. The concept of error, according to the author of Design Paradigms, is central to the design process. As a way of explaining the enduring aspects of engineering design, Henry Petroski relates stories of some of the greatest engineering successes and failures of all time. These case studies, drawn from a wide range of times and places, from Ancient Greece and Rome to...
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Case histories of engineering success and failure are presented to enrich understanding of the design process.
Preface1Introduction12Paconius and the Pedestal for Apollo: A Paradigm of Error in Conceptual Design153Vitruvius's Auger and Galileo's Bones: Paradigms of Limits to Size in Design294Galileo and the Marble Column: A Paradigm of a Design Change for the Worse475Galileo's Confirmation of a False Hypothesis: A Paradigm of Logical Error in Design646The Design and Collapse of the Dee Bridge: A Paradigm of Success Masking Error817The Britannia Tubular Bridge: A Paradigm of Tunnel Vision in Design998Failure as a Source of Engineering Judgment: John Roebling as a Paradigmatic Designer1219The Design Climate for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge: A Paradigm of the Selective Use of History14410Historic Bridge Failures and Caveats for Future Designs16611Conclusion180Bibliography187Index201
