how do you find errors

huangyhg

how do you find errors?
having a bit of time on my hands i have decided to put together a "tips manual" this is my first post out of the manual, i will probably post more of the manual (even the whole thing) as i go along, depending on the response.
part of this manual is checking to find errors, how to identify errors in calculations.
i found these ten questions on the web, and i was wondering if anyone had a particular method for checking or prompting checking,i don't want a check list like

do beams deflect more than permitted?

when in doubt, just take the next small step.

does it "look right"?   does it "feel right" based on your experience, or are you fighting to sell it to yourself; and trying to justify something that "doesn't pass the smell test"?
intuitively and instinctively, would you want to walk under it, live above it, and climb on it?

rowingengineer,
i love your list.  where i work, we have calculations and drawings go through a quality review, but i don't expect the reviewer to find math errors.  i do expect him or her to find things that don't make sense.
when i review the work of others, i generally catch such things as joints in a computer model showing up as supports when they should really be free, or a bolt being checked for double shear when it is in single shear.
daveatkins
i like to visual load paths to see if there are any flaws in the lateral system.
there are a lot of rules of thumb for beam depth as related to span, that can indicate if something is grossly underdesigned, (i.e. i don't need to see the numbers to know that a w12x16 on a 40' span is wrong, it should most likely be at least a w18).
rowingengineer: doesn't relate directly to your "finding errors" question, but have you checked out
i review a lot of calculations that involve attaching something to an existing structure.  the thing i find the most mistakes with is the load path for lateral loads.  i see many calculations that do not address all or part of the load path.  the whole load path should be checked, including the underlying structure.  so this is where i start checking first.
   
you should google it. some items that came up are:
everyone thanks thus far, i am thinking of posting the manual in the faq area, but i will probably put a few more chapters in threads first.
the other chapters are:
1.    what is an engineer, how do you fit into the design process? (this will be my next post)
2.    some good engineering quotes
3.    design methodology (concept)
4.    preliminary design
5.    rule of thumbs
6.    identifying errors
7.    checklists (i am yet to decide how detailed this will be or if it will be a chapter)
8.    cover sheet
the chapter identifying errors is the one i am having most trouble with, struggling to tell someone with no experience how to develop experiences is hard, hence the questions idea.
i especially like the "intuitively and instinctively, would you want to walk under it, live above it, and climb on it", this will be added. and the lateral loads idea's are good, will be putting a complete page on checking of lateral loads i think now.
ys,
thanks for the thread tip but i had already gone through this and a few other threads with a fine tooth comb, there were some really good posts, am using a few in other chapters.
csd72,
i have been doing heaps of goggle searches for information, but you managed to get three that i hadn't already viewed, thank you.  but if you know of more i would be more than grateful.
  
when in doubt, just take the next small step.

where i work, we are a multi-discipline firm with mechanical, architectural, civil, electrical and structural on the same project.  many of our structures are repetitive (boxes, single story buildings, etc.) and there are very few strict structural errors, like not enough reinforcing, beams too small and poor load path understanding.  these are easy to check with experience.  where i find the biggest errors is where disciplines interface.  pipe penetrations, hvac supports, electrical manholes, civil elevations and locations and the like.  has the conduit been considered? if you overlay the plans, do things line up.  are there dimensional errors between discipline drawings?  the most common error i've found is the locations of building using coordinates.  if you check the coordinates on the corners of a building, does the dimensions match the structural drawing?
as a young engineer i was given what was possibly the best advice i have ever received.
before passing on any work to the next stage ask yourself, are you happy with it?
doug jenkins
interactive design services