Joe Carter came to intern at Coreform after taking a class with Dr. Michael Scott at BYU. In the final year of his mechanical engineering bachelor’s program, he was already deeply engaged in finite element analysis (FEA) through his research. Following his advisor’s recommendation, he enrolled in a linear finite element analysis class, which proved to be a transformative experience. During the course, he gained knowledge in shape functions, change of basis, Python programming, and version control with Git and GitHub. Most importantly, he developed a lasting interest in finite element analysis. By the end of the class, he began exploring internship opportunities in FEA research, which ultimately led him to Coreform.
What were the highlights of your internship at Coreform?
For my first year of interning, I used Coreform Flex to solve stress concentration problems for use in a verification manual. The verification manual’s purpose was to probe Coreform’s software to see if it could solve basic problems successfully. I learned a lot in that first year: I solidified my Python skills and git/GitLab skills; I used Python to automate FEA codes; I solidified my hex meshing ability with Coreform Cubit; and I got to use cutting-edge visualization software with ParaView.
For my second year of interning, I was still doing some verification problems, but I also got to work on customer problems. These customers came from various aerospace, biomedical, and manufacturing companies. I did these problems to show these companies that Coreforms’ software could solve complex problems. These problems were more complex than the verification problems I was doing; I got to learn how to solve contact, dynamic, plasticity, and nonlinear problems.
What was your M.S. research and how did your time at Coreform help?
My M.S. research is an attempt to increase maize (corn) stalk strength through geometric optimization. The M.S. student before me created a high-fidelity 3D parameterized model of maize stalk geometry; my goal was to perform a sensitivity analysis of geometric parameters in this model and then begin performing geometric optimization to create stronger corn stalk models. The sensitivity and optimization analyses were performed using Abaqus. I did not perform geometric optimization, but I submitted a paper to In Silico Plants for results on the geometric sensitivity analysis of the 3D parameterized maize stalk model.
My internship at Coreform was extremely important for my research and studies. The increased exposure to Python at Coreform directly helped me excel in several Python-based classes at BYU. These included Numerical Optimization, Material Modeling, Flight Vehicle Design, etc.
I also gained increased exposure to automation at Coreform, both from automating Coreform Flex and from automating some Paraview operations. This exposure directly helped me in the automation I was doing in my research.
However, the most meaningful impact of my internship at Coreform was the direction it gave to my personal study path. Before working at Coreform, I thought FEA was a useful tool, but I had no ambition to pursue it as a career path. After my internships, I applied for jobs in FEA and chose FEA classes. For example, my internship at Coreform directly influenced me to take a mechanical vibrations class and an advanced mechanics of materials class.
What concepts were you exposed to during your internship that will help in your career?
One of the most important things I learned was the importance of verification problems. When you have a difficult problem, the most efficient approach is to start with a scaled-down version that has a known solution. Doing verification problems at Coreform gave me multiple examples to apply to more complicated problems. Using these verification problems gives me confidence that my approach to a problem is correct.
I was also exposed to problem types that I did not encounter in my classwork. For example, none of my classes showed me how to solve FEA problems involving contact or dynamics. My time at Coreform exposed me to those problems, and I am a more capable analyst as a result.
Where has this opportunity opened doors for the future of your career path?
I accepted a job at Lawrence Livermore National Labs as a Mechanical Engineering Analyst and will start work in February 2025. My work there will involve dynamic simulations using LLNL’s in-house explicit analysis code. One of the first things I will do while waiting for my security clearance is to work through a large set of verification problems! I am excited to meet new people and learn new things at LLNL.
Do you have any advice to other undergraduate or graduate students pursuing STEM education, research, and career search?
My advice for any student is to put yourself in learning situations, especially research and internships. I had two internships before my internship with Coreform, and those experiences revealed what I liked and didn’t like about engineering. Engineering is so open-ended that it can be difficult to find an area in which you want a career. I was lucky enough that my third internship showed me a career path I was interested in.