BENCHMARK January 2025

In this Issue (click on the titles to download the individual articles)

• News
• Polymer Testing for FE Modelling: How can I Model my Material?
• The Room Where it Happens
• Python Scripting – The Main Playeer in Finite Element Analysis
• Speaking of Simulation Part 3 – Optimisation
• Performance Optimisation in Simulation
• Debugging Finite Element Models

BENCHED

View From Your Editorial Team

Contradictions – don’t you just love them? I don’t mean in the line of work you’re likely in –obviously– where contradictions in results usually mean someone somewhere has made a mistake. I’m talking about contradictions in the realm of opinions. The Benchmark team have spent the past month or so working on this shiny new issue (happy 2025 by the way!!!), focusing partly on content inspired by a few of our new online training courses launching this January. And then, at the last minute, one of our columnists (you’ll need to work out who), starts talking about how nothing beats in-person training and interaction.

Beyond the swear words, our initial reaction was, ‘Thanks for that’. But reading further, and thinking about it more, they are absolutely right. There is something about attending events, courses, meetings and other gatherings in person that just can’t be replicated by the online version. We saw that in 2023, when we held our first in-person World Congress since COVID in Tampa – the consistent feedback was that attendees were over the moon to be back in a conference centre, bouncing between tracks and presentations, enjoying catching up with colleagues old and new, exchanging ideas, and learning an awful lot more than they would have done in the office over those 3 or 4 days. And we’re absolutely delighted that more than 400 of you have decided to submit your abstracts for the 2025 World Congress this May in Salzburg – that’s a massive ringing endorsement of the power and impact of in-person events, and the quality and standing of the Congress itself.

But we also are keenly aware that travel budgets and time out of the office need to be balanced against shorter, less ‘resource-intensive’ ways of keeping yourself ahead of the game. Bringing events and training online, particularly during the pandemic, demonstrated that learning, communicating, and developing your skills can happen remotely and in a more bite-sized way. Instead of having to limit yourself to one training course per year, spending 3 or 4 days at the Linton Travel Tavern or similar (niche reference, I know), you can sign up to online training on a multitude of topics, take courses when it suits you and your workload, and is less disruptive of your personal commitments.

It comes down to balance. At NAFEMS, we’ve learned that there is a place for both types of interaction and that having access to multiple ways of learning, networking, and communicating is key to being part of a rounded and valuable community.

So, enjoy it all. Register for the NAFEMS World Congress and be part of an immersive engineering simulation experience like no other. Sign up for our latest e-learning training courses, online seminars, and webinars.

Do it all. Do it in the way that suits you, and take advantage of every opportunity you have to grow professionally and personally. After all, whilst an online seminar doesn’t quite give you the chance to catch up in a bar with a former colleague and hear their fantastic idea about something or explore the history of Mozart in Salzburg during your downtime as the NWC will, it does mean you get to polish up your skills and still be home in time for the school play that evening. Do it all. Take your skillset to the next level. We've got you covered. 

Enjoy this issue of benchmark.

David Quinn - Editor

If you have feedback or would like to see your article featured in benchmark contact benchmark@nafems.org