How can you balance manual calculations and software tools in aerospace engineering?

1 Why balance is important

Balancing manual calculations and software tools is important for several reasons. First, it helps you develop a solid understanding of the underlying physics and mathematics of aerospace engineering, which can enhance your creativity and problem-solving skills. Second, it allows you to verify and validate your results, as well as identify and correct any errors or inconsistencies. Third, it prepares you for different scenarios and challenges, such as working with limited resources, adapting to changing requirements, or collaborating with other engineers and disciplines.

2 When to use manual calculations

Manual calculations are useful when you need to perform simple, quick, or preliminary analyses, such as estimating the order of magnitude, checking the feasibility, or comparing different options. Manual calculations can also help you gain intuition and insight into the behavior and performance of your system, as well as identify the key parameters and assumptions that affect your design. Manual calculations can be done by hand, using a calculator, or using a spreadsheet.

4 How to choose the right software tools

When selecting a software tool for your project, you should consider factors such as objectives, requirements, preferences, and budget. Ask yourself questions such as what is the purpose and scope of your analysis, what are the inputs and outputs of your software tool, how accurate and reliable it is, how easy and flexible it is to use and modify, how compatible and interoperable it is with other tools and platforms, and how much time and money you have to invest in your software tool.

5 How to integrate manual calculations and software tools

Integrating manual calculations and software tools can help you achieve a balance between simplicity and complexity, speed and accuracy, and confidence and uncertainty. You can start by using manual calculations to define the problem, set the boundaries, and make initial guesses. Then, use software tools to refine the solution, explore the variations, and test the sensitivity. After that, you can use manual calculations to verify and validate the results, check for errors, and assess the uncertainty. Finally, you can use software tools to visualize and communicate the results, document the process, and support the decisions.

6 How to improve your skills and knowledge

Improving your skills and knowledge in both manual calculations and software tools is an ongoing and lifelong process. To do this, you should practice and apply your skills to different problems and projects, learn new methods and tools, seek feedback from peers and mentors, and share your knowledge with colleagues and the community. Doing all of these things will help you build your skillset and stay up-to-date with the latest trends.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?