Do you only make models virtually or do you also make them like prototypes?

Question: Do you only make models virtually or do you also make them like prototypes?
- Keywords:
  model,
  prototype,
  virtual
Asked by Julia to Alessandra on 16 Jun 2017. This question was also asked by 594smaj48.
- Alessandra Treviso answered on 16 Jun 2017:
  
  Hi both,
  the answer yes and no. I don’t pesonally make the prototypes but my models can be used to make them and it is actually very very important that tests on physical prototypes are made because only then we can understand how a component will behave. In addition to that, my models in order to be reliable need to use real data, like the material properties and in that case you can only get them if you take a piece of material and you test it. Testing can be quite fun too. Especially when you start breaking things!

Question: Do you only make models virtually or do you also make them like prototypes?