Hardware Podcasts

S7E21 Rod Scholl | Pro Tips from 30-Year Analyst For Accurate Simulations (FEA & CFD)

Being an Engineer · 15 May 2026 · 48m · Episode 21

What this episode covers

Rod Scholl, founder of Epsilon FEA, discusses the critical role of engineering judgment in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), contrasting his early career at Honeywell and PADT with his current consulting work. He explains that simulation is most valuable when used as a calculator for specific decisions rather than for open-ended information gathering, emphasizing the importance of knowing what action will be taken based on the results. Scholl shares anecdotes about navigating complex technical challenges, such as a difficult evaporation simulation, and highlights the dangers of 'unknown unknowns' where engineers lack the ancillary knowledge required for accurate fatigue or stress analysis. He advises companies to bring in external expertise to transfer knowledge and avoid the pitfalls of siloed internal teams.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Epsilon FEA, Honeywell, PADT
Tools
ANSYS
Also
CFD, FEA

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