Post Your Favourite Piece Of Engineering

I'm at Exeter. Mainly I've been looking at management opportunities, but QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce & Siemens all interest me. It'd be great to use at least some of what I've learnt. Despite my ambitions in these areas I'm incredibly passionate about my subject, but I don't think I could financially support further study, plus theres the time factor- I'd like to be out there earning and working my way upwards. Hmmm, off topic central :p
 
cymatty said:
Just beautiful.

hooverdamuu2.jpg
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I'd probably go with that too. I still don't know how they made it really, you can't build the dam till the water stops surely (?), but then how do you stop the water without a dam, argh! And with the technology back then, it's remarkable.

I've visited JET as part of my AS Physics course (which I did terribly at, it wasn't for me :o ). Anyhow, it was an interesting visit. I think visits can be organised quite easily, but you won't get into the part that man is in (it was open once briefly to the public the first time they re-tiled it. Any re-tiling is done by mechanical arms now so it won't be opened again. Saw the arms control centre on the visit though :) ). You are unlikely to even see the machine (we didn't) because if it is running it has to be sealed off due to radiation. On days it isn't running you may be able to get nearer. You'd see the control centres and other experiments there (they have a lightening test facility there, that actually sounded more fun. Heard it go off a couple of times).
 
Dr.EM said:
I still don't know how they made it really, you can't build the dam till the water stops surely (?), but then how do you stop the water without a dam, argh!
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Divert the river upstream :p
 
Might have a go @ visiting JET then, looking for a career change, particle physics is quite interesting so...

And that damn, that the 1 where they built huge tunnels in the surrounding bedrock to divert the flow? also had a little, like, ghetto like town for the workers nearby..think i saw a documentary on it once if so, twas quite interesting.
 
Dr.EM said:
With what though? I'll have to find some documentaries on its construction I reckon.
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They blasted some tunnels that diverted the river through the bedrock around the dam. They then built a temporary dirt dam at the entrance to the tunnels to bring the water level up to them.

That left the area where the dam was to be built bone dry.

Then when the dam was completed, they blasted away the temporary dirt dam and filled in the entrances to the tunnels (or used doors, don't remember which).
 
Fusion said:
I'm at Exeter. Mainly I've been looking at management opportunities, but QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce & Siemens all interest me. It'd be great to use at least some of what I've learnt. Despite my ambitions in these areas I'm incredibly passionate about my subject, but I don't think I could financially support further study, plus theres the time factor- I'd like to be out there earning and working my way upwards. Hmmm, off topic central :p
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You do realise that you get paid to do a phd? It's not big money, but what with it being tax-free, and with no fixed 9-5 hours, it's not exactly the worst way to spend 3-4 years. Plus it will seriously boost your job prospects with a lot of those companies. Always worth considering... :D
 
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