The semester project was more challenging than I thought it would be, but also more fun and rewarding. I can see the value of computing software, such as excel, this software allows the efficient processing of data based on a shape when dimensions are varied. Once the formula in each cell is verified, computing new data becomes much easier.

Free Body Diagrams (FBD) and dimensional diagrams were still invaluable in conceptualizing what information, dimensions and forces I was looking at.

Back to critical thinking, I waited a few weeks between the class on cross-sectional properties and actually working on the semester project. As I worked through the formulas, it took time for my brain to make sense of the math at work and why, for example, to calculate Moment of Inertia “Ixx”, it made sense to multiply Ixi, in^4 by “A(delta yi)^2. It is almost impossible to explain this without the class or the book content, but writing my own notes during the class (including color coding where data came from) was extremely useful in remembering why some data was used and why it makes sense.

I understand I am not the only one this applies to, but practice makes perfect. In the Navy we get “reps and sets” for evolutions, to make sure we are proficient before we actually perform a task and this holds true for engineering. Practicing different problems provides different data points and experiences that help understand and better apply concepts when new problems are precented.

I must admit I was a little jealous and frustrated when I saw my Strength of Materials professor look at a problem and figure out the best way to work a solution in his head, based on the data provided, without looking at notes or the textbook… but I had to remind myself, that came with approximately 12 years of practice and over 10 years of teaching.

Ultimately, from this class I take away that all the forces acting on a body have more than likely been worked out by an engineer… the builder may not understand why a certain number of beams are required, or that a 2X4 beam is a constant factor that can be used in construction, but someone has though of and calculated this, that is why we comply with engineering requirements and bending the rules is not a practice any engineer would want to involve themselves with.