# An Interview with Steve Kreuzer

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-07-16
- Length: 1h 18m
- Episode: 399
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/399-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer/

## Summary

Steve Kreuzer, a mechanical engineer and PhD from UT Austin, explains his transition from academic biomechanics to consulting at Exponent, where he analyzes failures in physical products. He details how Exponent uses finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate issues like battery thermal runaway and BGA solder joint failures in electronics. Kreuzer discusses the specific mechanical risks of lithium-ion cells, the importance of protecting cells from environmental stress and containing thermal events, and how simulation guides design fixes like stiffeners and spacing.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [3:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=189) From Biomechanics to Consulting
- [17:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=1024) Exponent's Role and Client Base
- [24:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=1463) Battery Safety and Samsung Case Study
- [30:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=1822) Battery Mechanics and Simulation
- [38:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=2328) Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Explained
- [54:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=3260) BGA Solder Failures and Thermal Stress
- [1:03:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=3812) CFD and Heat Transfer in Electronics
- [1:00:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer#t=3627) Practical Design Advice and Hiring

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Exponent (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Abaqus (tool)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Ansys (tool)
- COMSOL (tool)
- MatWeb (tool)
- Intertek (company)
- GE (company)
- Case Western (company)
- UT Austin (company)
- Duke (company)
- Tesla (company)
- 18650 (product)
- FR4 (material)
- CPSC (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2E52 Robert States | Solving Failures and the “Been There Done That” Engineering Strategy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-10-s2e52-robert-states-solving-failures-and-the-been-there-done-that-engineering-st) (Being an Engineer)
- [Ep 131: Have a Heart, Transputer Pi, Just the Wing, and a Flipped Cable Fries Radio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-08-13-ep-131-have-a-heart-transputer-pi-just-the-wing-and-a-flipped-cable-fries-radio) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [S1E21 Weird Al, Strong Creative-Analytical Linking, & Bomb Squads | Margaret Koga Ward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-17-s1e21-weird-al-strong-creative-analytical-linking-bomb-squads-margaret-koga-ward) (Being an Engineer)
- [S2E55 Greg Trees | FEA, EHD, and Other Useful Engineering Acronyms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-31-s2e55-greg-trees-fea-ehd-and-other-useful-engineering-acronyms) (Being an Engineer)
- [iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari on the hidden design of modern electronics, CES-week manufacturing headlines, and a Reconstruction of Juicero, the $700 connected juicer that defined over-engineering.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-01-06-ifixits-shahram-mokhtari-on-the-hidden-design-of-modern-electronics-ces-week-man) (Go/No-Go)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-16-an-interview-with-steve-kreuzer. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.