120 Scaling Fallacy
Designs that work at one scale often do not work at smaller or larger scales.
• Designs often perform differently at different scales because the forces involved scale in different ways. Two types of scaling assumptions result in scaling errors: load and interaction.
• Load assumptions are assumptions that working stresses will be the same when a design changes scale.
• Interaction assumptions are assumptions that the way people and other systems interact with a design will be the same when a design changes scale.
• Minimize scaling assumptions in design by raising awareness, testing assumptions, and researching analogous designs. When you are unable to verify scaling effects, build in factors of safety.
See Also Factor of ...
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