EDP Phase Framework
Identifying project constraints and target audience budget occurs in which EDP phase?
Phase 1 (Problem Definition & Conceptualization)
A rule stating that a prototype must cost less than $20 is a ______.
Constraint (limit on resources)
An unbraced vertical leg bends outward under heavy weight. What failure mode is this?
Structural Geometry Buckling
What type of testing involves pushing a model until it breaks?
Destructive Testing
What binding type is legally required for an engineering notebook used in patent court?
Permanently Bound (stitched/perfect) Binding
*Loose-leaf is Legally Voided!
Building a preliminary index card bridge model takes place in which stage and phase?
Phase 2, Stage 4 (Build Prototype)
A statement that a bridge "must hold at least 500g for 10 seconds" is a ______.
Criteria (goal/requirement the solution must achieve)
What is the primary difference between a failure symptom and a root cause?
A symptom is the visible outcome (i.e., deck folding), while the root cause is the underlying physical mechanism (i.e., tension shear at the joint)
Why do engineers perform destructive testing on cheap models in a lab?
To discover exact failure limits safely without financial loss or human safety risks
How must an error be corrected in an official engineering notebook?
A Single-line Strikethrough, Initialed, and Dated
*(No Erasing or White-out)
What happens during Phase 3, Stage 6 of the EDP?
Iterate & Refine (modifying geometry/materials based on test failure points)
*Give an example of an environmental constraint in an engineering project.
*Using only 100% recyclable paper or limiting carbon emissions during manufacturing
*Answers may vary!*
What does RCA stand for, and what is its main goal?
Root Cause Analysis; Goal: Finding out why a system failed rather than just what failed
The Factor of Safety (FoS) value always be greater than _____ to avoid structural yielding.
1.0
What should an engineer draw across unused blank space on a notebook page?
A diagonal line or "X"
*To prevent retroactive additions
Why is the EDP called an "iterative cycle" rather than a linear process?
Testing reveals failure data that forces engineers to loop back and modify earlier steps
If a team runs out of tape during a challenge, what constraint did they exceed?
Material Constraint
Why does re-folding paper fail to fix a bridge if the tape joint was separated?
Re-folding treats a paper symptom without addressing the joint shear root cause
If a bridge is designed for 100 lbs but holds up to 300 lbs before snapping, what is its Factor of Safety?
*Hint: FoS = Max Stress/Design Stress
FoS = 3.0
*FoS = (300/100)
What does "Reduction to Practice" mean in intellectual property law?
Physically proving an invention works by building and testing a functional prototype
True or False: Constructing a scale prototype occurs before selecting a design matrix option. (Explain)
False - Conceptualization/Selection (Stage 3) comes before Building (Stage 4)
Explain how a project requirement can become a constraint.
When strict requirements limit the choices, budget, or materials available to the engineer
In a C-E-R response, what evidence should be included regarding a structural failure?
Specific quantitative load numbers and exact qualitative observations of the break point
Name two factors that influence the Factor of Safety chosen by an engineer.
Material Type (i.e., Brittle vs. Ductile), Load Predictability (i.e., Static vs. Dynamic loads), and Consequences of Failure (i.e., Human Life)
Why is a non-inventor witness signature required on an engineering notebook page?
To provide independent third-party proof that the work was disclosed and understood on that date