The Benefits of Fluid Simulation
Computational Fluid Dynamics: Smarter Engineering, Better Products From cooling electronics to designing next-generation aircraft, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) enables engineers to predict performance before investing in costly prototypes. CFD goes beyond simply modeling fluid flow. It also simulates heat transfer, mass transfer, chemical reactions, and complex fluid–structure interactions, delivering insights that physical testing alone often […]
Importance of Material Properties
Choosing Materials in Engineering Design Selecting the right material for a part or assembly is a critical step in engineering. Whether using traditional methods or advanced computer simulations, accurate material data is essential to making sound design decisions. Where to Find Material Data Several reliable resources are available to engineers: Matweb – An extensive […]
Prototype Development
Types of Prototypes in Product Development When developing a new product, the terms prototype and proof of concept are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different stages in the design process. Understanding these stages can prevent confusion and ensure a smoother path from idea to full production. Proof of Concept (PoC) A proof of […]
Analysis Paralysis
Overcoming Analysis Paralysis in Engineering Engineers often face situations where not all the necessary information is available. Boundary conditions may be unclear, or material properties may be incomplete. These gaps can create uncertainty about the reliability of the analysis, leading to what many call analysis paralysis. The Challenge It’s tempting to think: “I can’t proceed […]
Implicit vs Explicit Analysis Methods
Implicit vs Explicit Methods in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) When running impact or collision simulations in FEA, one of the first questions is: Which solver should I use — implicit or explicit? From my experience, explicit solvers are best for impacts and collisions. Here’s why. Static vs Dynamic Analysis Static analysis uses an implicit solver […]
Overdosing on FEA
When a 30-Million-Node CFX Model Makes Sense — and How to Keep It Sane I recently spoke with an analyst who runs CFX on large steam turbines for a military program. One recent model used ~30 million nodes to resolve coupled flow and thermal behavior—inputs that ultimately drive structural life and integrity. With budgets outside […]
The Critical Design Review Needs to be Impartial and Professional
Why Good Product Development Needs a Critical Design Review Introduction Good product development follows clear principles. One of the most important is the critical design review (CDR)—an unbiased process that challenges complexity and ensures designs meet real-world constraints. Years ago, I worked on a project for Hewlett-Packard (HP) that highlighted this principle. The goal was […]
Solyndra – Where Was The Critical Design Review?
Solyndra’s $570M Solar Failure: How a Critical Design Review Could Have Prevented It Solyndra once promised to revolutionize solar energy. Their tubular solar module design was marketed with style — a solar ray–emitting logo and the tagline “The new shape of solar.” But behind the branding was a flawed concept that cost U.S. taxpayers more […]
Cheap Design and Cheap Analysis Turns out to be Very Expensive in The Long Run!
Finite Element Analysis Is Not a Magic Tool Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is one of the most powerful tools in modern engineering. It helps shorten product development cycles, reduce costs, and improve performance. But FEA is often misunderstood — and when misused, it can create serious problems. Cheap or inexperienced analysis doesn’t save money; it […]