Causality in structural engineering: discovering new knowledge by tying induction and deduction via mapping functions and explainable artificial intelligence

Abstract

Causality is the science of cause and effect. It is through causality that explanations can be derived, theories can be formed, and new knowledge can be discovered. This paper presents a modern look into establishing causality within structural engineering systems. In this pursuit, this paper starts with a gentle introduction to causality. Then, this paper pivots to contrast commonly adopted methods for inferring causes and effects, i.e., induction (empiricism) and deduction (rationalism), and outlines how these methods continue to shape our structural engineering philosophy and, by extension, our domain. The bulk of this paper is dedicated to establishing an approach and criteria to tie principles of induction and deduction to derive causal laws (i.e., mapping functions) through explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) capable of describing new knowledge pertaining to structural engineering phenomena. The proposed approach and criteria are then examined via a case study.