Serving the Numerical Simulation community since 1989 
Remembering Ivo Babuška
Dr. Szabo shares some memories of his friend, mentor, collaborator, and co‑founder of ESRD, Ivo Babuška, who would have turned 100 this month.
Honored in the Breach
I am often asked to comment on how it is possible that, although everybody agrees simulation governance is a good idea, it is not being practiced — or, as Shakespeare would put it more elegantly, “more honour’d in the breach than the observance.” — The short answer is that changing minds and habits is hard. A more detailed explanation follows.
The Differences Between Calibration and Tuning
Anyone who relies on information generated through numerical simulation must know the difference between calibration and tuning, and understand the interactions between finite element modeling and finite element analysis. This blog post covers the main points.
Lessons From a Failed Model Development Project
Some years ago, I attended a meeting of senior engineers at a Fortune 100 company. The topic of discussion was: What should be done about the significant discrepancies between outcomes predicted by finite element models and those observed in physical tests? The chief engineer, who called the meeting, vented his frustration, declaring he was tired of hearing that the finite element mesh was the problem. He no longer believed the predictions from finite element modeling and had lost confidence in the engineers who produced those results. How could this have been prevented?
Variational Crimes and Refloating the Costa Concordia
In one of my conference presentations, I discussed variational crimes, noting that using point forces and point constraints in finite element analysis serves as examples of such crimes. In the question-and-answer session, I was asked: “If using point constraints is a variational crime, then how is it possible that the structure designed to refloat the Costa Concordia was full of those crimes and yet it worked just fine.” This question presented an opportunity for me to explain that finite element modeling (FEM) and finite element analysis (FEA) are complementary methods when analysts correctly understand their respective domains of application and use them accordingly. However, problems arise when FEM is used outside its scope, which is an all too frequent error.
Why Is Solution Verification Necessary?
We at ESRD preach and practice solution verification. We believe that reporting data computed by an approximate method is incomplete without providing an estimate of the size of the relative error. This simple and self-evident statement tends to trigger fierce resistance from those who were schooled in the use of legacy finite element modeling tools. But why?
Chaos in the Brickyard Revisited
In a letter published in Science in 1963, Bernard K. Forscher used the metaphor of building edifices to represent the construction of scientific models, also called laws. These models explain observed phenomena and make predictions beyond the observations made.
Building models consistent with the science of numerical simulation should never be confused with finite element modeling, an activity rooted in pre-1970s thinking. We should keep Forscher’s metaphor in mind when evaluating claims about the benefits AI integration is expected to bring to numerical simulation.
Why Finite Element Modeling is Not Numerical Simulation?
The term “simulation” is often used interchangeably with “finite element modeling” in the engineering literature and marketing materials. It is important to understand the difference between the two.
Obstacles to Progress
The development of the finite element method (FEM) consists of two main branches: the art of finite element modeling and the science of finite element analysis. Learn why in this blog.
Why is Simulation Governance Essential for the Reliable Deployment of FEA-Based Engineering Simulation Apps?
How can the vision for expanding the use of numerical simulation by persons who do not have expertise in finite element analysis (FEA) be safely realized? The solution lies in the establishment of Simulation Governance through the development and dissemination of expert-designed Engineering Simulation Apps. Read more[…]
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