The Appliance of Science

Author:  Dr. David Kirk, Coventry University
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 34, Issue 1, Winter 2020
Doc ID:  2020009
Year of Publication:  2020
Abstract:  
INTRODUCTION The following is a quotation from a previous article in this series: “Science is almost always able to provide answers to questions about observed phenomena. Consider as examples: “Why are honeycombs made up of regular hexagons?”, “Why are snowflakes sometimes large and sometimes small?” and “Why will a glass of warm water solidify more quickly than an identical glass of cold water when placed together in a freezer?” The ability of science to provide answers to these problems also applies to subject areas such as metals science, aka metallurgy. We do not, however, need to be subject specialists in order to appreciate and utilize the answers. This article describes the general methodology that is involved when science is applied to the solution of problems. The three universal problems quoted above are used as examples. A Google search for solutions to these problems was surprisingly unrewarding. As a consequence, the author’s own attempts are presented. Science can, of course, also be applied to all aspects of shot peening. Graphical representation is included here as being a particularly relevant topic.