Engineering decision making
processes are not always rational. Intuition, feeling, common sense and other
forms
of pre-rational mechanisms are used as well. They are based on knowledge
accumulated while "being-in-the-world", and particularly during
breakdowns. In the first part of the paper these claims are supported using
recent findings in philosophy, psychology and AI. Studies of
engineering disciplines are predominantly theoretical and students have few
opportunities to learn in the most effective way - from experiences with breakdowns. It is
proposed that information technology, particularly virtual reality and
multimedia would allow them to share the experience of those that had such
opportunities. In the second part of the paper, an electronic publication is
presented, that uses breakdown cases to convey structural engineering knowledge
of earthquake resistant design of reinforced concrete structures. It is based
on more than 500 commented and classified digitised images. The system proved efficient
and was found to complement the related theoretical knowledge.