Sir Karl Popper argued that the scientific method was cyclic in nature and that the growth of scientific knowledge took place when we focused on the falsification of theories, as opposed to their verification. This paper demonstrates the relevance of these ideas to engineering processes and approaches, which can be seen as cyclic problem solving where the notion of failure plays a vital role. It also shows how some of these concepts are embodied in genetic algorithms, used for both optimisation and design, and in reflective practice loops that are advocated for organisational learning. Professor W. P .S. Dias, PhD, DIC, MIStructE Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Engineers have lost a great part of their influence on large projects, and even bridge design – the essence of structural engineering – is more and more attributed to architects. In this situation it is important to remind us what is the real field of structural engineering, and to show that progress and architectural achievements in this field are due to great engineers who also were frequently great characters. This paper, revised and adapted from the Dundee conference, pays special attention to concrete constructions and to the designers who pioneered and created in this domain. Dr-Ing Michel Virlogeux Légion d’Honneur, Chevalier; fib Honorary President; CEng, FIStructE