The University of Missouri Bulletin
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN GENERAL SERIES VOLUME 14 NUMBER 9 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 1913-1914 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA, MISSOURI September, 1913 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Historical Sketch of the Engineering Profession . 3 Scope of the Engineering Profession. Civil Engineering . 5 Electrical Engineering . ...... _. 7 Mechanical Engineering . 7 Chemical Engineering ...... , . 8 Relation of Engineers to Society.. 8 Opportunities for Engineers. 9 Training of Engineers . 10 Officers of Instruction and Administration, School of Engineering . 14 Laboratories and Equipment . • . 18 Library . 21 Entrance Requirements . 22 Curricula. Civil Engineering . 24 Electrical Engineering . 26 Mechanical Engineering . 26 Chemical Engineering . 27 Statement of Courses . 28 Automobile Engineering . 34 Engineering Experiment Station , . 35 Engineering Societies . 37 Athletics . 38 Employment Bureau . 39 Fees and Expenses . 41 Calendar . 46 THE MODERN ENGINEER. In the year 1828 the Institution of Civil Engineers was organ- ized in London. In the charter of the Institution, Civil Engineering was defined as the "art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man, as the means of produc- tion and of traffic in states, both for external and internal trade, as applied in the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation and docks for internal intercourse and exchange, and in the construction of harbors, moles, breakwaters and light houses, and in the art of navigation by artificial power for the purpose of commerce, and in the construction and adoption of machinery, and in the drainage of cities and towns." For many years this definition has been a classic, regarded as expressing a definite view of the field covered by engineering prac- tice. Many changes have occurred since the organization of the great Institution, and the enumeration of lines of work might be considerably modified and extended if it were to be written at the present time. To prepare a complete statement of what constitutes the entire field of engineering would be a large task, and it is only proposed here to give some brief account of the various fields of activity in which engineers may be engaged, and of the demands of practice upon the modern engineer. HISTORICAL SKETCH. Previous to the middle of the eighteenth century, the art of the engineer was applied almost exclusively to purposes of war. In a few instances public works intended for other purposes had been constructed, but the engineers were usually military officers and the works executed by soldiers. At about this period, however, a new class of engineers appeared, who concerned themselves with works of much the same character, but not military in purpose and not executed by soldiers. These men were known as "Civil Engineers" to distinguish them from the ''Military Engineers." The increase in urban population and development of trade made a demand for public works, and for machinery, which soon caused the importance of the new profession to be recognized, and the number of its mem- bers to rapidly increase. During this early period there was no division of the field of engineering into specialties, and civil engineers covered the whole range of works included in the definition. Amongst these early (3) 4 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN engineers were a number of very able men, who with but little train- ing in the laws of science, and without precedents of practice to guide them, succeeded in accomplishing difficult engineering feats, and in. establishing a safe and rntional practice. About the middle of the nineteenth century the industrial de- :F.Ttgi.neering Buil<ling. velopment which followed the invention of the steam engine had so widened the field of engineering practice, and so increased the de- mands upon the engineering profession that a single engineer could no longer cover the whole range of practice, and engineers beg,an to devote their attention to more restricted lines of work. This soon resulted in dividing engineers into classes, each devoting its atten- tion to a special field. DIVISION INTO SPECIALTIES. The demand for motor power and machinery for industrial en- terprises and transportation caused many engineers to devote them- selves exclusively to such work. These men were called "Mechanical Engineers" and were soon recognized as a distinct branch of the l,:-: \~ "·:.,. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING profession; the term civil engineer being &tiII applied to those not primarily concerned with the production or operation of machinery. Almost immediately following the separiation of mechanical en- gineers into an independent profession, mining engineering became in the same way a separate branch. The demand for metals and coal consequent upon the industrial development already mentioned c1aused many engineers to devote their whole attention to the open- ing and operation of mines, and these were denominated "Mining Engineers," the term civil engineer being still used to include all those not belonging to the special branches. Near the close of the nineteenth century the rapid discovery of methods of applying electricity to numerous uses, and the conse- quent immense development of electrical plants and appliances caused many men to devote their attention primarily to electrical work. These men were soon recognized as a distinct branch of the profession and called "Electrical Engineers." More recently still, the development of chemical industries has created a demand for men who give their attention primarily to the construction and operation of plants for manufactures in which chemical processes play a leading part. These men are called "Chemical Engineers." At the present time these five divisions of engineering practice are commonly recognized as distinct profes~ions, or as distinct branches of the engineering profession. Schools of engineering commonly give separate curricula leading to degrees in each of these divisions, and while much of the training necessary to make an engineer is common to several or all of them, each engineer is usually recognized as belonging in one division, and limits his prac- tice to his special branch. The field of engineering practice is constantly widening. Great changes have taken place during the past few years in the standards of living of the people; urban populations have grown rapidly; man- ufacturing industries have greatly increased in ·number and become .more diversified. The result of all this has been to make larger demands· for the services of the engineer and to enlarge the scope of his activities. This growth has ·naturally caused a further sub- division of the various branches of engineering practice into nar- rower specialties, not usually recognized as separate professions, but each offering a sufficient opportunity for the exercise of the best endeavors of the men who follow them. CIVIL ENGINEERING. The term civil engineering is still often used m its original sense 6 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI BULLETIN .as covering all engineering not military, but commonly it is limited to those fields of practice not included in the other branches. In the number of special fields of work included, it is much the broadest branch of engineering practice. 1 t comprises: Surveying, which in simple forms is used by all civil engineers, but which when applied in geodetic and topographic work may con- stitute a distinct field of practice. Hydraulic Engineering, which includes the design and construc- tion of harbors and docks; river improvements, canals, irrigation Sti·eam l\teasLuen1ent. works, drainage and flood prevention, and water power projects. Sanitary Engineering, covering all works designed to protect the public health, such as water supply and water purification, sewerage and sewage disposal, and the disposal of garbage and refuse. Highway Engineering, in which may be included both the main- tenance and improvement of country roads and the construction and maintenance of city streets and pavements. Railway Engineering, which deals with the design, construction and maintenance of all the works required for steam and electric railways. Structural Engineering, which is concerned with the design and construction of bridges and of the structural features of large build- ings that carry heavy loads, masonry and concrete structures, and heavy foundations. SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 7 General Construction, under which head may be included the execution of large works of construction, and the transportation and handling of heavy materials. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. The term mechanical engineering is usually employed to desig- nate the work of those engineers who have to do primarily with steam or other engines, machine tools, mill work and moving ma- chinery in general. The lines of work included in the practice of a mechanical engineer may be: Power Engineering, which consists in the design, construction, and operation of machines and plants for the generation of power. These may include steam, gas, oil, or other engines, with all the auxiliary appliances necessary to their operation, as well as the va- rious methods of power distribution. Design of Plants and Machinery for the Utilization of Power, requiring the study of special processes for which machinery may be required, and the adaptation of machines and arrangement of plants for purposes of economical production. Shop Management, dealing with the control and management of shops in the operation of manufacturing plants. Gas Engineering,