ENGR: 2110
Spring 2017
“Failure is Always an Option”
In 2003, after the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated while reentering the Earth’s atmosphere, civil engineer
Henry Petroski wrote a short essay for The New York Times. His goal was to explain to the general public how
engineers factor into their work the reality of failure. He explained, “The design of any device, machine or
system is fraught with failure. Indeed, the way engineers achieve success in their designs is by imagining how
they might fail” (Petroski, 2003).
Like Petroski, you have been invited to write a guest article for The New York Times about the significance of
learning the principles of statics. Writing for a general audience, you will explain how a specific structure or
system failed – for instance, was it a design flaw involving insufficient consideration of moments, loads, and
forces? Was it a lack of redundant safety mechanisms in the event of structural failure? Was it preventable?
What steps could have been taken before it failed?
What You Need To Do
(1) Choose a structure (building, bridge, dam, etc.) whose failure can be used to explain basic statics concepts
to a general audience. To jumpstart your essay, here is a short list of well-documented failures – you may
choose one of these to write about or find one on your own:
Hartford Civic Center, 1978
Oakland Bay Bridge, 1989
Autoroute 19 de la Concorde Overpass, 2006
Sando Arch Bridge, 1939
Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building, 1995
Ashtabula Bridge, 1876
L’Ambiance Plaza, 1987
Charles de Gaulle Airport, 2004
Banqiao Reservoir Dam, 1975
Rana Plaza Building, 2013
World Trade Center Attack, 2001
Sewol Ferry, 2014
Sampoong Superstore, 1995
Falls View Bridge, 1938
St. Francis Dam, 1928
Peace River Bridge, 1957
Antelope Valley Freeway, 1971 and 1994
Quebec Bridge, 1907
Kemper Arena, 1979
Schoharie Creek Bridge, 1987
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, 1173 - Present
Bomber Crash into Empire State Building, 1945
(2) Write a short essay (1000 to 1250 words) for readers who lack your technical expertise but are curious
about how engineers strive to prevent failures. You should:
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Explain for a non-engineering audience why/how your structure failed: incorporate your knowledge of
the statics concepts you have been learning about in class, like loads, forces, moments, etc.
Discuss the ethical failure(s) that led to the structural collapse.
In light of your research and your reading of the Petroski article, reflect on the broader ethical
implications of this disaster. What responsibilities do engineers face in the design and maintenance of
structures?
Include at least one figure (with citation and caption) to enhance your discussion.
Your essay should combine an analysis of the structural failure with a discussion of the ethical
situation engineers faced either before, during and/or after the disaster. Answer this question:
Where do we go from here?
(3) You must cite at least three credible sources (one source can be Petroski) and include a References page
in APA format; do not cite Wikipedia – its anonymously written articles lack credibility.
Format Guidelines
Title page: Center and double-space. Include a line for each of the following: Full title of the essay, your
name, course name and section number, professor’s name, and due date.
Format: double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, page numbers.
Name your file using this template: Last name, First name, Statics Course Section, Draft/Final.
Example: “Smith, Jane, 0BBB, Draft”
For APA reference guidelines, consult the Purdue Online Writing Lab:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Due Dates
Feb. 21 (Tues)
Feb. 23 (Thurs)
Mar. 22 (Weds)
Week of April 3
Feb. 22 to
April 25
April 26 (Weds)
Week of May 8
In-class visits by Hanson Center to introduce the assignment.
First Draft (1000-1250 words) due to Canvas Assignment module by 4:00 p.m.
First drafts returned online.
Schedule a 25-minute appointment with the Hanson Center. Note: must successfully
complete your appointment no later than April 25, 2017.
Final Paper due to Canvas Assignment module by 4:00 p.m.
Final papers returned online.
PLEASE NOTE: When you come to the HCTC for your appointment, bring a printed copy of your paper. If
your first draft has been evaluated, print 1) your rubric and 2) your paper with the grader’s comments.
Late Policy: Late work will not be accepted. Rare exceptions will be made for documented illnesses or
emergencies on a case-by-case basis. Further information can be found at
https://registrar.uiowa.edu/sites/registrar.uiowa.edu/files/wysiwyg_uploads/reason_for_absence_from_clas
s_1.pdf.
Required Reading and Other Resources
The following documents (including this assignment) can be found on the Hanson Center’s Course Support
page: http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/hctc/hanson-center-technical-communication/course-support
1. The Henry Petroski article. Note: you must read this to complete the assignment.
2. A slideshow with additional information about the assignment.
3. A case study of the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse. This covers both the structural and ethical reasons
for the failure. Note: you may not use this failure as the subject of your own essay.
4. Model essays from previous Statics classes.
5. Engineering Case Studies Online: A useful database with resources about many structural failures that you
might wish to use as sources.
6. A link to the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics.
Questions? Visit the Hanson Center for Technical Communication
Hours: Monday-Friday, 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: 2224 SC (in the Student Commons area)
Scheduling: Use our online calendar: ( https://hanson.mywconline.com/ )
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