University of Maryland: Terp Young Scholars | A. James Clark School of Engineering Recently Updated

The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland serves as the catalyst for high-quality research, innovation, and learning. Through Terp Young Scholars, students gain a hands on experience with engineering design and fire safety.

Program Details: 

ENES250: Why Do Things Fail?

Why did the Silver Bridge between Ohio and West Virginia collapse on Christmas Eve, 1967? What caused the top of an Aloha Airlines flight to rupture, creating a convertible airplane? How do these kinds of massive structural damage occur, and how might we prevent them? This course will introduce students to topics of stress and strain and their importance in determining the safety and reliability of engineering structures. Some of the major structural failures worldwide will be identified and researched as to the circumstances leading up to the failures. Reasons for failures will be investigated and are expected to include engineering, social, political, ethical, and economic explanations. Other possible failures to be researched and analyzed would be the collapse of a walkway in Kansas City, the failure of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington, the collapse of a bridge on Interstate 95 in Connecticut, and the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York after 911. This course fulfills the following General Education requirements: Natural Sciences (DSNS) and Big Question (SCIS).