Modular computing in structural engineering

Abstract

Computers should be used as an aid to help engineers reach a design solution. An engineer should have an instinct of what the design solution is going to look like. One should not use a computer as a black box simply putting in data and collecting solutions giving little or no thought to how the program arrives at the answer or whether the solution is correct. It is important to be familiar with the basic theories involved to be able to identify mistakes. Most programmers assume that the users are familiar with the basic theories involved to be able to identify mistakes. Various combinations of information are possible and no program is completely bug free.