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Engineering Practice
By Pang Soo Mooi
History of Value Engineering
The concept of value engineering started in the 1940s at General Electric Co . This was during the Second World War when there was a shortage of raw materials , component parts , and skilled labour . The engineers at General Electric had to find alternative components and raw materials to ensure the continuity of the production process .
Therefore , Lawrence Miles , Harry Erlicher , Jerry Leftow , and other engineers sourced for acceptable substitutes that would reduce the production costs without compromising the functionality of the products .
What started as an accident turned into a systematic process that not only reduced the cost of production but also provided better final products or better performance . The engineers named this technique “ value analysis ” and later as Value Engineering .
2,500 year old brackets protect China ’ s Forbidden City from earthquakes - INHABITAT
As early as 500 BC , builders in China developed disaster-resistant structures with interlocking flower-shaped brackets called dougong that reduce the impact of earthquakes on buildings . These joints are so effective , they have helped the Forbidden City in Beijing withstand 200 earthquakes in 600 years .
Specialist carpenters decided to find out how the Forbidden City survived so many earthquakes , including the 20 th century ’ s deadliest quake . They constructed a scale model of a structure atop a shake table . To strive for accuracy , they drew on traditional techniques and tools . They then put the structure , a fifth of the size of buildings in the Forbidden City , through simulated earthquakes . The largest earthquake we ’ ve ever recorded in history had a 9.5 magnitude . But the scale model withstood not only that but a 10.1 magnitude simulated earthquake – and in a video showing the quake , didn ’ t fall down . Dougong are often found nestled beneath the eaves and roof , and in case of a quake , they transfer roof weight to the supporting columns found on these old buildings . They don ’ t need nails or glue to hold together . The brackets don ’ t shake apart easily , but also aren ’ t so stiff they ’ ll shatter under pressure . Multiple joints help them remain stable .
One of the more mind-boggling aspects of the test was that the columns of the building designed like those in the Forbidden City were freestanding , and weren ’ t sunken into foundations . They wobbled in a 10.1 magnitude simulated earthquake , but didn ’ t collapse . Dougong can be glimpsed on palaces and temples , for example , and according to People ’ s Daily Online was utilised widely during the Spring and Autumn Period in Chinese history , which spans from around 770 to 476 BC .
First Female Engineer - ESILV
Edith Clarke was the very first female engineer . Born in 1883 , she created the Clarke calculator for graphing electrical properties . She used her inheritance from her deceased parents to attend college and study mathematics . She created the Clarke calculator after graduating . Before that , problems were solved manually . Her invention saved a lot of time and effort . Despite her talents , it took her several attempts to finally be hired at General Electric to eventually become the first female engineer . The American Institute of Electrical Engineers awarded her the Best
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