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What Engineers Know and How They Know It: Analytical Studies from Aeronautical History (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology) New Edition

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Walter G. Vincenti (Author)
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4.6 out of 5 stars 5 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0801845888
ISBN-10: 0801845882
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Product Details

  • Series: Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology (Book 11)
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press; New edition (February 1, 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0801845882
  • ISBN-13: 978-0801845888
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,130,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 starsa glimpse into engineering information gathering and use
By G W Thielman on October 2, 2000
Format: Paperback
One commonly held view of the relationship between scientists and engineers assumes that the latter represent an applied form of the former. Vincenti shatters this notion by showing how engineers develop their knowledge and use that information in the context of the problems they solve. While engineers and scientists share in their formative education a curriculum heavily devoted to mathematics (at least through differential equations) and fundamental physical forces, their priorities diverge at the context of their assigned tasks and in the type and quality of information that can be made available to complete their purposes. In particular, engineering knowledge does not exist for its own sake, in contrast to science.
Vincenti cites several examples from the aeronautics industry. While these descriptions take on an anecdotal character, these collected narratives nonetheless impose his conclusion as well as any philosophical essay could and probably better. In each case, _What_Do_Engineers_Know_?_ demonstrates that incomplete information may yield intermediate results having little or no effect on the intended problem.
The first example relates to a wing design for the B-24. The history of the Davis airfoil design is explained, as well as its incorporation for the B-24 wing. At the time of its adoption, various airfoil shapes had been investigated, and the Davis form subsequently was found to resemble the high performance laminar-flow airfoil. But did this form benefit the B-24 performance. Probably not, answers the author.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsVincenti shows the way technologies mature
By Andy Gibbons (gibbons@cc.usu.edu) on July 10, 1998
Format: Paperback
I am an instructional technologist dealing a lot with the design and development of products in a young technology, computer-based instruction. My technology is in its youth compared to other technologies that have become essential to our social and economic operations. I am interested in knowing the stages my technology will go through and the types of knowledge it must accumulate as it matures, which seems certain, given current interest and ferment.
Vincenti describes how aeronautics technologies grew and went through their stages, and this has given me insight into my own. This is not a book of idealized process for implementing technology. It is s set of historical case studies, some of which Vincenti himself participated in, others of which he researched.
The book is not easy to read, but I have found it very rewarding. It is full of technical terms and heavy technology. At the same time, if you pay the price in effort and study this book carefully, you will not be disappointed. You will see how technologies develop, and knowing this, you will be able to anticipate developments and needs in your own area of growth.
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4.0 out of 5 starsinteresting chapters from aeronautical history
By Peter Gasparovic on February 25, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
As Prof. Vincenti points out in the preface, the people interested in the history of aviation may prefer to omit epistemological parts of the book. I must agree. The epistemological part (introduction of the book, introductions and conclusions of the chapters, 50 pages after the chapter 6) is too wordy to my taste. I can't say it isn't interesting (based on what I learned about differences between engineers and scientists I can say that I am engineer) but it is definitely not easy to read (with lot of redundancy and abstraction).

The narrative part of the chapters 2-6 is other case. There are very interesting stories about:
2. airfoil design and use (laminar flow, Davis's airfoil used in B-24 Liberator)
3. flying quality specification
4. development of control volume analysis (in Prandtl's aerodynamics)
5. air-propeller test (by Durand and Lesley)
6. development of flush riveting

The notes in pages 259-318 contain also comprehensive bibliography to all stories.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA classic with broad application
By Grizanthropy on January 28, 2011
Format: Paperback
Even though this book is about the nature of engineering, we read it in our strategy curriculum. It has transfer value for studying the essence of design. The author was 73 when he published this book after a life time of living and teaching the business. He then developed a passion for the history of technology which is what he finished up teaching at Stanford. The book unfolds in a continuous story telling style as Vincenti walks you though five case studies in engineering science from the pioneer era of aviation. The book is replete with substantial "front porch" gems of the engineering business. So much so that it warrants more than one reading to take it all in like Kuhn or Hawking. This same statement was made by Dr. Michael Jackson author of "Structured Design" and "Problem Framing". See [...]
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5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars
By V. Reinhardt on June 8, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Not ordered for me, no complaints
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