Using AI to Analyze Stresses in Engineering Materials

In this assignment, students compared hand calculations with AI-generated solutions for stress transformations using Mohr's Circle. They evaluated AI responses, refined prompts, and examined the importance of prompt design, verification, and engineering judgment when using AI.

Authors: 

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

  • Mohamad Mahdi Hallal, Assistant Professor
  • Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, Associate Professor
  • Arwen Gosch, Graduate Student
  • James Nguyen, Project Engineer

Course Number & Title: CIVENG 175, Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Details
Assignment Title
 		Using AI to Analyze Stresses in Engineering Materials
Delivery FormatIn-person
Learning Objectives
  • Apply the method of the pole on Mohr’s Circle to determine stress states and their corresponding plane orientations.
  • Critically evaluate the accuracy and limitations of AI-generated engineering solutions by verifying results, identifying errors, and assessing the influence of engineering conventions and prompt specifications.
  • Develop prompt engineering skills by designing and refining prompts that improve the quality and accuracy of AI-generated engineering solutions.
  • Evaluate the strengths, limitations, and appropriate applications of AI-assisted approaches to stress analysis.
Brief Summary of Assignment

Students analyze stress transformations using Mohr's Circle by comparing traditional hand calculations with AI-generated solutions. The exercise emphasizes prompt engineering, verification, and engineering judgment by having students evaluate AI responses, identify errors, and refine prompts using discipline-specific conventions. Students explore how prompt design affects AI performance and learn why expert oversight remains essential when using AI for engineering problem solving. The assignment was developed after testing multiple AI tools, which frequently produced errors in engineering conventions and assumptions. 

GenAI tools used: Any comparable large language model.

Guardrails Shared with StudentsThe assignment includes AI-use indicators that communicate expectations at the question level. These indicators can distinguish between questions where AI is not permitted (NAI), partially permitted (PAI), or fully permitted (FAI). In the NAI category, AI tools are not permitted at any stage of the task. In the PAI category, AI tools may be used for limited purposes, such as brainstorming, outlining, debugging, or providing feedback, but not for generating final solutions. In the FAI category, AI tools may be used throughout the task, including generating content or final solutions. These AI-use indicators would then be included next to each question to clearly and explicitly communicate AI use expectations.
Assignment Details
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