Introduction to Infrastructure: An Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering

Chapter Nine

Analysis Fundamentals

Chapter Outline

• Introduction
• Introductory Case Study: Bridge Inspection
• The Nature of Analysis
• The Analysis Process
• Case Study: Creation of the Rational Method
• Analysis Applications
• Outro

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Describe why engineering analyses are conducted.
2. Explain the steps in the analysis process.
3. Conduct a simplified engineering analysis in the major sub-discipline areas of infrastructure engineering.

Introduction

To many people, “engineering” and “design” are nearly synonyms. Herbert Hoover, a civil engineer and 31st president of the United States, had this to say about engineering:

“It is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the a id of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings jobs and homes to men. Then it elevates the standards of living and adds to the comforts of life. That is the engineer's high privilege.”

This eloquently worded description fits many people's image of engineering, namely an occupation centered on design and creation of something that did not previously exist. Indeed, a large portion of an engineer's work is focused on designing new infrastructure or designing a retrofit of an existing portion of the infrastructure. However, a significant portion ...