Many legal professionals are exposed to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the courtroom. Having a fundamental understanding of how the method works can help an attorney (i) recognize when FEA can strengthen a case, (ii) choose a capable expert and (iii) develop meaningful challenges to the opposition’s expert. But how does it work?
Courtroom FEA: But my expert has hand calculations
It is very important that design engineers do hand calculations. It is very important that engineering expert witnesses do hand calculations. Hand calculations are good. But they aren’t good enough in a high stakes courtroom battle.
Courtroom FEA: Does FEA apply to my case?
Many attorneys hire metallurgists to study failures across many industries. Similarly, finite element analysis is regularly applied to a vast array of products. As discussed in previous issues of Courtroom FEA, FEA applies when something bending or breaking is an issue.