Design Paradigms: Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering (Paperback)

by Henry Petroski (Author) "The concept of failure is central to design process, and it is by thinking in terms of obviating failure that successful designs are achieved..." (more)
Key Phrases: trussed girder, design climate, torsional instability, Britannia Bridge, Menai Strait, Dee Bridge (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This book is now on my list of required reading for all engineering students." IEEE Spectrum

"...draws on examples from the 4th century BC onwards to identify common features in engineering failures, and offers guidance on how to avoid failure while encouraging innovation...extremely well documented and illustrated...can be read by all those interested in engineering, not just structural engineers." New Scientist

"...nicely done and the case for using engineering history to comprehend the nature of design is well made...the general reader will be well served, especially because the case histories are so interesting and well presented in themselves..." Nature

"...Petroski makes the case for investigating classic and historical case studies rather than recent design failures, the analysis of which is often complicated by ongoing litigation and distortions or, even more critically, by court-imposed secrecy...provides a cogent argument for reintroducing engineering history..." Robert Mark, School of Architecture, Princeton University, Science

"...should be required reading for all engineering students and all practicing design professionals..." Journal of the Performance of Constructed Facilities

"...discusses several models to explain how errors are introduced in design and how designers can prevent similar mistakes from occurring. Case studies present historic and recent examples of engineering failures..." Civil Engineering

"...the anecdotal nature of the paradigms presented is intended to evoke associations with the real situations in which designers find themselves every day." Mechanical Engineering

"...students of all branches of engineering can learn from the case studies presented. Not only engineering students but also practicing engineers will learn from the book." Choice

"The intention of Petroski's book is to present an incontrovertible paradigmatic argument for the value of case histories, ranging from the ancient to the modern, in illuminating and elucidating the causes and results of human error in the design process, mostly of structures. The further stories, including those about many well-known bridge failures, will prove fascinating and intelligible to the non-technical reader." Times Higher Education Supplement

"Highly recommended." ASME International

Product Description
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 modern America, serve as paradigms of error and judgment in engineering design. By showing how errors were introduced in the design process and how they might be avoided, the book suggests how better quality and reliability might be achieved in designed devices, structures, and systems of all kinds. Clearly written, with striking illustrations, the book will appeal to engineering students, practicing engineers, historians of science and technology, and all those interested in learning about the process of design.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; illustrated edition edition (May 27, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521466490
• ISBN-13: 978-0521466493
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #215,187 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Towards More Successful Development, November 24, 1997

By	339 ways to spot a scam "Booker" (Everywhere) - See all my reviews

I came across this title while researching the parallels between traditional professional engineering and systems engineering. Petroski makes a compelling case for us to formally study our failures in systems engineering - not for laying blame, but in order to continually improve our processes, assumptions, beliefs, methods, and thinking patterns. Using case studies from bridge building, ship building, and other construction feats, Petroski show us how errors in scalability, design changes, selective use of history, logic, and human factors can lead to disasterous consequences. If you care about public safety and want to see any industry progress to a real level of professionalism, read and study this work.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for Every Technical Professional..., April 23, 2006

By	Rai Chowdhary "Rai" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Many technical professionals (and others as well) think technology has the answers and the solutions to many of the issues / failures we have experienced in the past. WRONG!!

Read this precious book to understand why.

Although somewhat dated (considerting we are in 2006) - the basic tenets still apply. Be forewarned - you need to read it with an open mind and a willingness to be brutally honest about your answers when the author poses some questions to you.
With such a paradigm, you will find the book full of value in understanding the types of errors we make as humans. Once you recognize these, preventing them can become feasible. But, just realizing that is not enough, you will need to change (which is very hard to do) some habits that the workplace has built into you over time.

Enjoy - and be error free...if you can, if you care...

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" for Structural Engineers, August 23, 2008

By	Irfan A. Alvi (Towson, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book when it first came out in 1994, and have just finished re-reading it.

I can attest that the lessons which emerge from Dr. Petroski's study of structural engineering failures have proved valuable throughout my career, particularly when designing bridges which pushed the envelope. Indeed, any engineer aiming to be innovative in any way needs to temper that laudable ambition with a serious and even somber study of how things have gone wrong in the past, and this book is an excellent vehicle for that purpose.

Beyond the study of engineering failure, as a fringe benefit, the book also provides nice discussion of important episodes from the history of structural engineering. Such historical perspective is usually lacking among engineers both in practice and academia. Yet this is a subject which engineers would ideally be exposed to throughout their careers, not just during the leisurely and retrospective years of retirement.

To give a balanced review, allow me to point out a few minor negatives. First, the writing style is sometimes a bit stuffy, and a more plainspoken style would have made the book more appealing. Second, there's a good bit of repetition throughout the book; shortening and focusing the book would have improved it. Third, the case studies mostly involve bridges; this will obviously please bridge engineers, but will reduce appeal for readers seeking a more diverse range of case studies.

In sum however, the book is an excellent and valuable contribution from Dr. Petroski, and we should be especially thankful that it exists considering the lack of literature on this important topic, especially at a scholarly level.

Highly recommended for bridge engineers and other structural engineers at all stages of their careers - indeed, a "must read."