ME 450 - Failure Analysis

3 Credit(s)

This course will highlight how machines, structures and systems fail through the case study approach. We bring awareness to the engineer’s responsibilities for safe operations by asking “what could go wrong.” This approach is based on Henry Petroski’s “Success Through Failure” philosophy, e.g., that it is better for engineers to study and learn from past failures rather than to simply apply and build on past successes. The course incorporates concepts from Process Safety Management to highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. After the student has finished this course, they will have an appreciation of where potential hazards may lurk.
Prerequisite(s): ME 217