How do you present your CFD results to clients?

1 Know your audience

Before you start preparing your presentation, you need to understand who your audience is and what they expect from you. Are they engineers, managers, investors, or regulators? What is their level of knowledge and interest in CFD? What are their main concerns and questions? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your presentation to their needs and preferences, and avoid unnecessary jargon, assumptions, or details.

2 Define your objectives

Next, you need to define the objectives of your presentation. What are you trying to achieve with your CFD results? Are you trying to demonstrate the performance, feasibility, or reliability of a design, concept, or system? Are you trying to compare different alternatives, optimize a parameter, or identify a problem? Are you trying to persuade, inform, or educate your audience? Defining your objectives will help you focus your presentation on the most relevant and impactful results, and structure your presentation accordingly.

3 Choose your visuals

One of the most important aspects of a CFD presentation is the visual representation of your results. Visuals can help you convey complex information in a simple and engaging way, and capture the attention and interest of your audience. However, not all visuals are equally effective. You need to choose the right type, format, and style of visuals for your results and objectives. For example, you can use contour plots, vector plots, streamlines, iso-surfaces, or animations to show different aspects of the fluid flow, such as pressure, velocity, temperature, or vorticity. You can also use charts, tables, or graphs to show quantitative data, such as coefficients, forces, or efficiencies. You need to make sure that your visuals are clear, accurate, and consistent, and that they have appropriate labels, scales, colors, and legends.

4 Explain your methods

Another key element of a CFD presentation is the explanation of your methods. You need to provide enough information about how you performed the CFD analysis, such as the geometry, mesh, boundary conditions, solver settings, and validation methods. This will help you establish the credibility and reliability of your results, and show that you followed the best practices and standards of CFD. However, you also need to avoid overwhelming your audience with too much technical detail, and focus on the main features and assumptions of your methods. You can use diagrams, schematics, or code blocks to illustrate your methods, and highlight the advantages and limitations of your approach.

5 Interpret your results

The most crucial part of a CFD presentation is the interpretation of your results. You need to explain what your results mean, how they relate to your objectives, and what implications or recommendations they have for your project or client. You need to use clear and simple language, and avoid using too many numbers or equations. You need to emphasize the key findings and insights, and support them with evidence and logic. You need to address any uncertainties, errors, or limitations of your results, and acknowledge any gaps or areas for improvement. You need to answer any questions or objections that your audience may have, and show that you have considered different scenarios, perspectives, or alternatives.

6 Engage your audience

Finally, you need to engage your audience throughout your presentation. You need to use a confident and enthusiastic tone, and avoid using a monotone or a script. You need to use eye contact, gestures, and pauses to connect with your audience, and vary your voice, speed, and volume to emphasize your points. You need to use stories, examples, or analogies to make your presentation more relatable and memorable. You need to invite feedback, questions, or comments from your audience, and respond to them politely and professionally. You need to thank your audience for their attention and time, and end your presentation with a clear and strong message.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?