New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
(OP)
I have applied for a good job which will (after the two year training period) turn me into a fully fledged aerospace stress engineer.
Now, I know what stress analysis is all about - it was one of my favorite subjects at uni - but I am asking for advice on how to turn myself into a decent stress engineer (assuming I get the job!!). What are the 'secrets', rules-of-thumbs etc.
cheers
Now, I know what stress analysis is all about - it was one of my favorite subjects at uni - but I am asking for advice on how to turn myself into a decent stress engineer (assuming I get the job!!). What are the 'secrets', rules-of-thumbs etc.
cheers





RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
You need to be open to the possibility that you don't know what it is all about.
It sounds like you are starting out in your career. At this point, if you already think you know what stress analysis is all about, chances are, you won't develop. This may be due to:
a) no one will help you because you already know it all
b) because you already know it all
A good engineer, in any field, is one who is constantly strives to be better.
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
Congratulations on your new job. The good stress engineers I have worked with over the years, had the following "characteristics":
1) Did not claim to know it all.
2) Did know quite a bit.
3) Asked questions.
4) Listened to the designers, and participated in the design.
5) Looked, touched, examined the hardware broken or not.
6) Walked the factory floor regardless if called or not.
6a) Knows the machinists/technicians by name.
There are probably others that will come to mind, but that popped in head first.
By the way, those "characteristics" would apply to any mechanical or hardware type of engineer.
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
2) Loadpaths. Practice all the textbook structural problems that you can. Read books. Run test models. Do all you can to learn how structures react under load. When you think you have it down, go learn some more.
3) Bruhn. Get a copy and treat it well. It will save you many times over.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing in a year.
ZCP
www.phoenix-engineer.com
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
You have the theoretical knowledge, now you have to learn the trade.
Good luck!
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
2. Time = Money...
3. FOS = 1.5
4. composits, composits, composits...
5. Learn the right questions to ask...
6. Learn when the "rules of thumb" DONT APPLY... or when they can be broken...
7. Why guess when you can test...
8. Not everything needs a formal testplan...
Wes C.
------------------------------
When they broke open molecules, they found they were only stuffed with atoms. But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions...
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
I can build a model of a piping system in my stress program and make it show fail or make it show pass. Experience comes from knowing which one is "true."
Good luck. While I'm sure things are somewhat different in the aircraft industry as the focus on weight is critical, I've found my work in stress to be a challenging and rewarding way to work.
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
corus
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
It seems that it's always the new grads and management types who think we can type a few keys, push a button to run an analysis and BOOM, the engineering is finished.
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
Thank you for your excellent comments.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the job! So i'm now back to square one and getting depressed!
sughew
RE: New 'Stress analyst/engineer'
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.