Reverse Engineering: Structural Analysis

As you may already know, engineers like to take things apart! By exploring the inner mechanisms of a device, engineers gain valuable information about the structure and function of each component. Typically, an engineer completes three separate analyses during the reverse engineering process. A visual analysis allows the engineer to describe the object using visual design elements and principles. A functional analysis explores the operations of each component and their interactions to provide further information about an object's purpose and design. Finally, a structural analysis provides information about the organization, materials, and manufacturing methods used to create an object. Reverse engineering is a detailed, sequential process that engineers use carefully to ensure that a dismantled object can be reconstructed fully again.


In this lesson, you will learn the purpose and technique of a structural analysis. Additionally, you will learn about a morphological matrix that ties the function of a product with its structure. Along with the Product Teardown Chart, the documentation used in reverse engineering tracks all information gathered during the process to enable engineers to make valid, reasoned judgments about the product. By the end of the lesson, you will learn how to carefully dismantle an object while analyzing the structure of each component, as engineers do during the reverse engineering process.


Objectives

Practice reverse engineering techniques and apply them to a design.

Determine the goals of reverse engineering of a product.

Define and understand the structural requirements of a design.

Explore a career in computer engineering.

Vocabulary


exploded view

a detailed diagram that shows all parts of an object removed from the base structure and connected by dotted lines to show where the components should fit together


morphological matrix

concept generation table; allows an engineer to analyze structure and function of each parameter as well as to determine cross-functionality

(essay)