M​ultiphysics Conference 2026

Panel Discussion

Engineering organizations across industries are facing unprecedented demands to deliver increasingly complex products with greater speed, higher performance, and enhanced reliability. As technologies continue to converge and traditional development timelines shrink, multiphysics simulation has emerged as a critical enabler of innovation, providing deeper insight into the interactions between physical phenomena and supporting more informed engineering decisions throughout the product lifecycle.

This panel session will bring together leading experts from industry and academia to explore how multiphysics simulation is evolving to address these challenges. Panelists will share perspectives on the latest advances in coupled physics methodologies, reduced-order and multi-fidelity modeling approaches, verification and validation strategies, and the growing role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in enhancing predictive capabilities and improving engineering efficiency.

The discussion will also examine the practical realities of deploying multiphysics simulation within organizations, including data integration, model management, scalability, and the skills required to adopt these technologies successfully. Through real-world experiences and forward-looking insights, the panel will highlight emerging trends, identify current technical gaps, and discuss opportunities to accelerate innovation through more intelligent and connected simulation practices.

Attendees will gain a broader understanding of how multiphysics simulation is shaping the future of engineering across diverse application domains, and how organizations can leverage these capabilities to develop the next generation of products and systems with greater confidence, agility, and impact.

Panelists

• David Kepczynski - Chief Officer Digital Transformation, Ford Motor Co.
• Darrel Meffert - Division Director, Caterpillar
• Michael Balchanos - Professor, ASDL Georgia Tech University
• Alfred Svobodnik - CEO, Mvoid Audio Technologies, and NAFEMS Multiphysics Working Group Chair
• Vijay Ambarisha - Manager NVH, Dauch (Formerly AAM)
• Song He - Senior Technical Specialist, GM

Panel Session Chair

• Mario Felice - Principal & Founder, virsolTech Engineering Consulting, LLC and NAFEMS Technical Fellow

Discussion Topics

The Future of Coupled Physics Simulation

• What are the most significant advances in fluid-structure, electro-thermal, thermo-mechanical, and other coupled analyses?
• Where are the current limitations and opportunities for improvement?

Artificial Intelligence in Multiphysics Simulation

• How are AI and machine learning transforming model setup, prediction, optimization, and decision-making?
• What challenges remain in establishing trust and interpretability?

Accelerating Engineering Through Reduced-Order and Multi-Fidelity Models

• How can ROMs and surrogate models reduce computational cost while maintaining predictive accuracy
• What applications are seeing the greatest benefits today?

Building Confidence: Verification, Validation, and Uncertainty Quantification

• How should organizations balance speed with credibility?
• What best practices are emerging for V&V and UQ in increasingly complex simulation environments?

Scaling Multiphysics Across the Enterprise

• What barriers exist to broader adoption, including data management, process integration, workforce skills, and governance?
• How can organizations democratize simulation while maintaining quality standards?

The Next Decade of Engineering Innovation

• What emerging technologies and methodologies will redefine multiphysics simulation over the next 5–10 years?
• How will digital twins, cloud computing, AI, and real-time simulation influence future engineering workflows?

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