Latest Posts
Size Parameters for Free Tetrahedral Meshing in COMSOL Multiphysics
COMSOL Multiphysics® has 9 built-in size parameter sets when meshing. In this blog post, we’ll discuss size parameters for 1 of these sets: free tetrahedral meshing.
Overview of Integration Methods in Space and Time
Integration is an important mathematical tool for numerical simulations. For example, partial differential equations are usually derived from integral balance equations.
Using the General Extrusion Coupling Operator in COMSOL: Dynamic Probe
Consider a laser heating example with a moving heat source (laser) and moving geometry. How can you use the General Extrusion coupling operator to probe a solution at a point in the geometry?
Modeling a Displacement Ventilation System
There are 2 different types of ventilation systems: mixing ventilation and displacement ventilation. Displacement ventilation is mainly found in offices, schools, and other public spaces.
Hybrid Parallel Computing Speeds Up Physics Simulations
Remember 20 years ago, when the TOP500 list was dominated by vector processing supercomputers equipped with up to a thousand processing units? Let’s take a walk through history to the future.
Multiphysics Analysis of Advanced Materials: Ceramic Matrix Composites
A guest blogger from AltaSim Technologies discusses ceramic matrix composites and how to accurately analyze the production of such an advanced material.
Modeling Electromagnetic Waves and Periodic Structures
Oftentimes, it is of interest to model an EM wave (light, microwaves) incident upon periodic structures, such as diffraction gratings, metamaterials, and frequency selective surfaces.
Modeling PSU Cooling with COMSOL
A forced convection cooling system, such as a PSU, is used for removing excess heat produced by electrical computer components. You can model this device in COMSOL Multiphysics®.
Solving Algebraic Field Equations
COMSOL Multiphysics® is commonly used to solve PDEs, ODEs, and initial value problems. However, did you know that you can also solve algebraic and even transcendental equations?
New Technology Advancements for Indoor Navigation
Global position systems, more commonly known as GPS, make it easy to navigate from place to place. But what about navigating inside an actual building? Indoor navigation makes this possible.
Differentially Pumped Vacuum Systems for Spectroscopic Imaging
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is an imaging technique used extensively in R&D to characterize the chemical and electronic properties at the surface of a material. Learn about this technique.
Parameterizing the Dimensions of Imported CAD Files
Learn how to modify an imported geometry with some clever usage of the Deformed Geometry interface in COMSOL Multiphysics®.
Simulating an RF MEMS Switch
An RF MEMS switch is typically made up of a micromechanical bridge or cantilever, a substrate, and an electrode or dielectric layer. You can design such a device using RF simulation.
Conjugate Heat Transfer
Get an introduction to the concept of conjugate heat transfer and see some of its applications and modeling considerations.
Red Blood Cell Separation from a Flow Channel
Lab-on-a-chip technology can be used to separate red blood cell via magnetophoresis — for example, motion induced by magnetic fields. Simulation can be used to optimize such devices.
MEMS Microphone Model Presented at ASA 166 in San Francisco
What is a MEMS microphone? Learn about this versatile device, as well as how to model it using COMSOL Multiphysics® with the add-on MEMS Module and Acoustics Module.
Submodeling: How to Analyze Local Effects in Large Models
Modeling a particularly large structure with a lot of boundary conditions? Learn how to use submodeling, a technique for analyzing local effects in large models in COMSOL Multiphysics®.
Visualization for 2D Axisymmetric Electromagnetics Models
Today we’ll look at how to make 3D plots of vector fields that are computed using the 2D axisymmetric formulation found in the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface within the RF and Wave Optics modules.
The Linac-MR Project: Tumor Tracking and Treatment
Not too long ago, my colleague Jennifer wrote a blog post about the Cross Cancer Institute, and the research being conducted there into the design of a new device for treating cancerous tumors. The device, known as the Linac-MR, is revolutionary due to its ability to both image and treat cancer cells simultaneously — a capability that had previously been regarded as near impossible due to the conflicting physics interactions involved. Such a device would allow for extremely precise radiation […]
Using Adaptive Meshing for Local Solution Improvement
One of the perennial questions in finite element modeling is how to choose a mesh. We want a fine enough mesh to give accurate answers, but not too fine, as that would lead to an impractical solution time. As we’ve discussed previously, adaptive mesh refinement lets the software improve the mesh, and by default it will minimize the overall error in the model. However, we often are only interested in accurate results over some subset of the entire model space. […]
Learning to Solve Multiphysics Problems Effectively
One of the questions we get asked often is how to learn to solve multiphysics problems effectively. Over the last several weeks, I’ve been writing a series of blog posts addressing the core functionality of the COMSOL Multiphysics software. These posts are designed to give you an understanding of the key concepts behind developing accurate multiphysics models efficiently. Today, I’ll review the series as a whole.
Optimizing Recloser Performance with Simulation
During snow storms or windy days, a branch might break and short-circuit a power line’s electric current as it falls. The first task of a recloser is to interrupt this short-circuit, i.e. to open or disconnect the affected overhead line from the feeding network source. The second task is to try to re-establish power after a short time by to re-closing the line, taking advantage of the fact that most of the reasons for a short-circuit of an overhead line […]
Improving Convergence of Multiphysics Problems
In our previous blog entry, we introduced the Fully Coupled and the Segregated algorithms used for solving steady-state multiphysics problems in COMSOL. Here, we will examine techniques for accelerating the convergence of these two methods.
Modeling Bone Strength Using Isotropic and Anisotropic Materials
The question of exactly how strong living bones are poses many important considerations for the medical industry. There is not currently a single-purpose device in the field to test bone strength. However, it is possible for researchers to get measurements of bone strength by modeling the entire makeup of the bone and using multiphysics simulation to perform stress and strain analyses. Simulating bone strength starts with a simple map of the external topology of the bone and then delves into […]