ECEG-5431: Research Methods and Presentation

Instructor: Dr. Ing. Gossaye Mekonnen

(PhD in Robotics Engineering)

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Chapter 1 Introduction to engineering research

1.1 Why engineering research?

 Engineering research is based on the principles of scientific research which, in turn, are based
on the scientific method, in which
 Observations (experiments), theories, calculations and models are derived from the existing
body of scientific knowledge and
 Verified independently by others who are experts in the field.
 Engineering research is based on precisely the same scientific method; however, the research
is directed toward the practical application of science to products, services and infrastructure.

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 Most research starts with a hypothesis; that is, a statement which can be either proved or
disproved.
 In most cases it is easier to disprove a hypothesis because only one counter example is
required to discredit the idea.
 To prove a hypothesis, it is necessary to exhaustively examine every possible case and make
sure the hypothesis applies.
 Often this results in the creation of limiting conditions.
 The conclusion becomes slightly modified in that the hypothesis is valid providing certain
conditions are met.
 A full evaluation of a hypothesis may take many years without a conclusive resolution.

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Example 1.1 Hypothesis statements
 “All mechanical systems can be described by damped simple harmonic motion
equations.” You could test many mechanical systems and find that this is true. However, if
you find one example where this is not true, then the hypothesis fails. In this case, it is
necessary to apply some limits to the statement.
 “The maximum efficiency of a solar cell is 28%.” If you find one example of a solar cell
which has a higher efficiency, then the hypothesis fails.
 “The laws of physics apply throughout the universe.” Physicists and astronomers continue
to assume this is true when describing the formation of stars.

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 The history and philosophy of science encapsulates the scientific method and the creation of
new knowledge based on a new theory which has been subsequently verified by
observation, experimentation and the logical development from previously accepted
theories.
 In some cases theoretical concepts are deduced long before experimental verification.
 In other cases, theoretical concepts are deduced from experimental observations.
 The history of science is full of examples of both.

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 So how does engineering research differ from research in science?
 A preliminary answer is to require engineering research activities to fulfill all of the
following objectives:
 The research must be applied to human systems;
 The research must yield practical outcomes;
 The research must yield outcomes which benefit humanity;
 The research must be ethically based;
 The research should consider environmental outcomes;
 The research must be based on standard industry based testing.

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 Clearly scientific research and engineering research are not mutually exclusive.
 All medical science is directly related to improving the human condition through medical
practice.
 Other human related fields, for example physiology, pharmacy, dentistry, psychology,
education, etc also have some outcomes relevant to improving the human condition.
 Similarly many engineers engage in purely scientific research to test ideas with the long term
aim of finding solutions to the practical implementation problems associated with the research
outcomes.
 As there is no clear dividing line between these fields, many conferences and scientific
journals report both scientific and engineering based research.

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 Engineers, and hence engineering research, are constrained by quite formal codes of ethics.
 Every discipline of engineering has a code of ethics covering engineering practice in one or
more different countries.
 The codes should influence how the research is conducted and ensure that the outcomes are:
 Improvements to humankind through improved environmental outcomes and
 Minimal risk to users of the technology.

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 In particular the concept of economical engineering design must be balanced with aspects
of:
 Fail-safe and an understanding of materials and
 Product reliability.
 In many cases these aspects are inherent in the research design, but good engineering research
outcomes will require independent verification of not only the research itself, but also the
applicability of systems designed from these research outcomes.

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 A research project is not complete until the results have been presented publicly for other
experts in the field to comment and review.
 Thus publication of findings in the open, refereed, international literature and/or presentation
at a meeting of research peers is an essential requirement of any research project.
 Only when the research outcomes have been reviewed by suitably qualified peers can the
researchers declare that new knowledge has been created.
 This means that work conducted in secret (for example in a military research facility, in a high
security research laboratory, or in other private venues), does not contribute to the world-
wide body of knowledge, and therefore can not be described as research.

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Example 1.2 Unsubstantiated claims
 Claims that top secret research by the US Government had revealed the existence of
unidentified flying objects and the landing of extraterrestrial creatures have never been
subjected to international critical observation and so must not be regarded as contributing to
new knowledge.
 Some claims of aromatherapists, chiropractors, water diviners, etc have never been
substantiated by rigorous scientific examination and so do not contribute to new scientific or
engineering knowledge.

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 Similarly, a search of previous publications and patents does not constitute research.
 Thus, when a primary school child conducts ‘research’ on the Great Wall of China by copying
the outcomes located using a computer search engine, this does not constitute rigorous
scientific or engineering research.
 This student is gathering well established and previously reported information.
 This is an important distinction: research outcomes which are new to the researcher but
are well known to others does not constitute original, publishable research.
 As a logical consequence of this argument, any original research must clearly identify all
relevant prior work before the authors can claim to have developed new knowledge.
 This can be a significant challenge as the volume of published works continues to grow at an
accelerating rate.

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1.2 Next step research
 All research is built on the background and understanding of science developed over the
centuries.
 When a person plans to engage in a research project to create new knowledge, it is vital that a
recent and thorough understanding of the field is gained before designing the research project.
 A new research project will be built on the work of others, from Newton and Maxwell to
Mohr and Edison.
 In addition, the research strategy and methods applied should be well regarded by the world-
wide community of scholars.

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 In order to emphasise this concept, it is possible to describe two approaches to research:
(a) A new fundamental innovation that changes the way we think about the world in
scientific terms. This can be described as a paradigm shift.
(b) A step forward in our understanding of the engineering world based on one or more
of the following ideas:
 The application of techniques commonly used in one field to another field;
 The modification of an existing concept or technique with improved outcomes;
 The modification of current technologies for improved efficiency, miniaturization,
sustainability or environmental outcomes.

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Example 1.3 Translational research opportunities
 Mechanical engineers used the finite element method for many years before the
electromagnetic equations were solved numerically using the method. This resulted in a new
field of computational electromagnetics in the 1980s.
 Imageanalysis techniques used for face recognition and satellite based vegetation
categorization can be applied to two and three-dimensional data sets in any field of
engineering.
 Inertial sensors used in the automotive industry as air-bag triggering devices are now used to
transduce inertial force into measurable electrical signals in engineering for measuring
acceleration, angular velocity along three mutually perpendicular axes, inclination,
movement and vibration analysis of an object.

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1.3 Research questions
 A common method of focusing on a research project is to phrase a research question.
 The design of a single, succinct question is a challenge for all researchers and the research
team may consider several iterations before it is accepted.
 The research question will directly lead to one or more methods of investigation, and these
can be divided into a number of research aims.
 The research question can be phrased using one of the following questioning words:
 Why? What? How? When?

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Example 1.4 Research question ‘why?’
 Why did the wind turbine fail in 100 kph winds?
 This question suggests a number of avenues of investigation. For example the researchers
might:
– review the literature for previous failure reports,
– assess the wind conditions at the time of failure,
– undertake numerical modelling experiments,
– review fatigue and possible points of weakness,
– conduct inspections of other wind turbines located in the area.

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Example 1.5 Research question ‘what?’
 What is the effect on the strength of concrete when recycled concrete is used in the mix?
 This question suggests a number of avenues of investigation. For example the researchers
might:
– review the literature seeking results from previous trials,
– conduct compression and shear experiments using different mixtures of concrete,
– conduct strength calculations based on aggregate strength theory.

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Example 1.6 Research question ‘how?’
 How can the braking system of a railway carriage be self-activating when its velocity exceeds
a threshold value?
 This question suggests a number of avenues of investigation. For example the researchers
might:
– review the literature and patentsfor automatic braking systems,
– calculate the braking power required,
– conduct model-based experiments on braking systems.

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Example 1.7 Research question ‘when?’
 When will the roof bolts in an underground tunnel fail through environmental degradation?
 This question suggests a number of avenues of investigation. For example the researchers
might:
– review the literature for previous studies in different rock types and environmental
conditions,
– review the types of roof bolts in common use,
– conduct a survey of rock bolts in different tunnel environments to assess
degradation,
– conduct experiments to measure the degradation of the roof bolts under accelerated
environmental conditions.
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 These examples might suggest some of the work that has been previously reported.
 A review of the literature will mean that the research team does not have to ‘re-invent the
wheel’, and can build their research on the published reports of others.
 It will also suggest that even if the same problemhas not been solved previously, the methods
used to solve similar problems might be appropriate to solve their specific problem.
 A good literature review can impact positively on the research methods that the research team
might use.
 This is of significant value as the use of previously reported and peer reviewed methods adds
confidence about the reliability of the research method and the subsequent independent
review of the journal and conference papers arising from the research.

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 Novice researchers should also note that a number of different methods of approach are
suggested for each research question.
 It is mandatory that more than one method of investigation is used in all research projects in
the hope that the results from a number of different approaches can be used to substantiate
the conclusions from the project.
 This adds confidence in the research outcomes.

1.4 Engineering ethics

 Engineers are involved in all major infrastructure projects (dams, bridges, roads, railway
lines, electricity distribution, telecommunications, vehicles, etc).

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 One of these facilities fails, caused by
 Natural events (earthquakes, adverse weather, landslides, material failure, etc)
 Human intervention (terrorist attack, stadium overloading, land contamination, water
contamination, air pollution, lack of maintenance of facilities, land subsidence due to
mining, etc).
 Inevitably some of the blame and responsibility is levelled at the engineers who
undertook the design, construction, maintenance and control of the facilities.

 Over the past 200 years, there have been engineering failures that have resulted in loss of
human life, medical problems, the extinction of species, damage to the environment, and
damage to the economic wellbeing of towns and entire countries.

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 As a consequence of these disasters, the professionals engaged in engineering
activities have created and joined professional societies.
 These societies are designed to minimize the likelihood of repeat occurrences through
member registration and mandated self-improvement.
 This is achieved through two methods;
 Firstly by the free exchange of information between practitioners, and
 Secondly, through an adherence to codes of ethics which are designed to
eliminate poor practice and, in extreme cases, to prevent negligent and
incompetent people from placing the community at risk by working on such
projects.

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 These professional engineering societies therefore engage in processes of accreditation of
individuals and university degree programmes, and the publication of research, engineering
standards (best practice) and failure analyses.
Example 1.8 Engineering disasters
 The mining of phosphate on small islands has resulted in untenable farmland, local climate
change and water shortage for the inhabitants.
 The draining of a lake in CentreAsia resulted in the destruction of the environment and
subsequently village life.
 The incorrect fitting of the fuel tank seals in the Challenger space shuttle resulted in the
vehicle exploding during launch.
 The meltdown of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl killed many people, caused significant
radiation damage to those who survived, and caused the local area to be contaminated for the
next several hundred years.
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 Engineering societies require that practising engineers take a holistic view of projects which
deliver a complete solution providing maximum benefit to all stakeholders (e.g. the
community, the users of the product or service, their company or organization commissioned
to undertake the work, and the environment both local and international).
 Must initiate to work within the guidelines of a Code of Ethics.
 The adherence to a code of ethics maintains the reputation of the engineering profession.
 For example:
 The Institution of Engineers Australia code of ethics begins with the words: ‘As
engineering practitioners, we use our knowledge and skills for the benefit of the
community to create engineering solutions for a sustainable future. In doing so, we
strive to serve the community ahead of other personal or sectional interests.’

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  The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) use the following fundamental
principles: ‘Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of human
welfare and the environment by:
1 Using their best knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and
the environment;
2 Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers
and clients;
3 Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession;
and
4 Supporting the professional and technical societies of their discipline.’

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 The codes of ethics commonly restrict the unauthorised copying of designs and other
intellectual property.
 For this reason, engineering researchers must acknowledge the work of others in the
development of their findings.

1.5 What constitutes conclusive proof?

 Research is designed to create new knowledge.
 This new knowledge needs to be substantiated appropriately, initially by the research team,
and subsequently through the peer review process by the world-wide community of scholars
who are experts in this field.

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 Thus novice researchers must convince themselves that their results and conclusions are valid
and supported by strong evidence.
 This is commonly done using more than one of the following techniques:
 Experimental measurement (particularly using standard tests);
 Theoretical development;
 Logic and mathematics;
 Numerical simulation;
 Statistical analysis;
 Comparison with previously published research outcomes;
 The use of multi-parameter optimization methods to obtain the best outcome of the
design.

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1.6 Why take on a research project?
 There are many reasons for an engineer to become involved in a research project.
 There are benefits to society as part of an engineer's contract as well as personal rewards.
 There is significant excitement in new discoveries.
 The possibility of developing something completely new, something of benefit to humanity
and something to add to the world-wide body of knowledge is a strong motivation for
undertaking research.
 A successful research project can enhance your career.
 The peer review process and open publication means that the team is capable of work at
the highest possible standard.
 This recognition is world-wide and can be used to advantage in developing proposals for
international projects.

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