COMSOL Multiphysics® 4.3a
COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3a
New 4.3
New4.3
New4.3
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is a registered trademark of Parametric Technology Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S and/or in other countries. Soli d Edge is a registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software
Inc. SpaceClaim is a registered trademark of SpaceClaim Corporation. MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc. Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
New Products
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Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
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Pipe Flow Module
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Nonlinear material models for structural mechanics.
Elastoplastic, hyperelastic, viscoplastic, and creep material models.
Large strain plastic deformation.
1D flow, heat, and mass transport in 2D and 3D pipe networks.
Direct coupling between pipe flow and volumetric CFD.
Pipe cross-sections, friction models, valves, pumps, elbows, T-junctions.
Corrosion Module
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Corrosion and corrosion protection simulations based on electrochemical principles.
Galvanic, pitting, and crevice corrosion.
Cathodic protection.
Major New Features
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Geometry and Mesh
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Electromagnetics
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Turbulent mixing for mass transport simulations.
Heat Transfer
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New nonlinear solver for mechanical contact and highly nonlinear simulations.
Load cases for easy setup of multistep simulations.
CFD
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AC/DC: 3D rotating machinery and automatic coil excitation.
RF: New polar plots for far field in 2D and 3D.
Structural Mechanics
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Faster meshing for imported CAD files and the LiveLink products for CAD.
Mesh selections for creating new boundaries and domains for any imported mesh.
Solar irradiation from latitude, longitude, date, and time.
Particle Tracing
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Brownian force and particle-particle interactions.
Secondary emission and sticking probabilities.
Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
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Description:
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Nonlinear Material Models for Structural
Mechanics and MEMS.
Add-on to the Structural Mechanics Module or
MEMS Module. A few of the listed material
models were previously available in the
Structural Mechanics and MEMS Modules.
Flattening of a pipe
with large strain
elastoplastic
deformation.
Applications:
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Any structural deformations where
deformations are large enough or operating
conditions are such, e.g. high temperature, that
material nonlinearities become important.
Animation:
Flattening of a pipe
(animation in
presentation
mode).
Necking of a metal bar.
This example is a classical
benchmark for large strain
plastic deformation.
Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
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Features & User Interfaces:
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Elastoplastic Material Models
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Viscoplastic Material Model
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Anand
Creep Material Models
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Isotropic, Kinematic, and Perfectly Plastic
Hardening
Large-strain plasticity, for elastic and
hyperelastic materials
Orthotropic Hill Plasticity
Tresca and von Mises Yield Criterion
User-defined Flow Rules
Coble, Deviatoric, Garofalo, NabarroHerring, Norton, Norton-Bailey, Potential,
User-defined, Volumetric, Weertman
Hyperelastic Material Models
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Arruda-Boyce, Money-Rivlin: two, five, and
nine parameters, Murnaghan, NeoHookean, Ogden, St Venant-Kirchhoff,
User-defined
Pipe Flow Module
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Description:
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Flow, heat, and mass transport in pipe
networks.
The pipe systems are modeled as
geometrical 1D lines or curves embedded in
2D or 3D and are created using the existing
drawing tools in COMSOL Multiphysics.
Add-on to COMSOL Multiphysics.
Cooling of a plastic mold of a
steering wheel – including
pipe flow in cooling channels.
Applications:
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Hydraulics
Water distribution systems
Energy: nuclear, hydropower, geothermal
Cooling systems in combustion engines and
turbomachinery
Heating systems
Chemical process industry such as plant
distribution systems
Oil refinery pipe systems
Lubrication
Pipe system for geothermal
heating.
Pipe Flow Module
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Features & User Interfaces
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Seven Physics user interfaces:
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Pipe Flow, Single Phase
Water Hammer
Non-Isothermal Pipe Flow
Heat Transfer in Pipes
Reacting Pipe Flow*
Transport of Diluted Species in Pipes*
Pipe Acoustics, Transient**
*=more advanced user interfaces available when combined
with other transport modules
**=when combined with the Acoustics Module
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Bidirectional couplings can be made between pipes
and 2D and 3D solid or fluid domains, as well as
between flow, heat, and mass applications.
Pipe cross-sections, automatic transition between
laminar and turbulent flow, surface roughness, and
different friction models.
Preset options for valves, pumps, elbows, T-junctions.
A reactor simulation for synthesis
of phtalic anhydride under
autothermal conditions using the
Pipe Flow Module together with the
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Module.
Corrosion Module
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Description:
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Corrosion and corrosion protection simulations based
on electrochemical principles.
Galvanic, pitting, crevice corrosion, and more.
Cathodic protection.
Add-on to COMSOL Multiphysics.
Applications:
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Corrosion and corrosion protection of:
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Off-shore structures such as oil rigs
Ships and submarines
Civil-engineering structures
Chemical process industry equipment
Automotive parts
Mechanical structures in aerospace applications
Galvanic corrosion of a
Magnesium Alloy (AE44) - mild
steel couple in brine solution (salt
water). The electrode material
removal is represented with a
moving mesh.
Corrosion Module
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Features & User Interfaces:
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Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Current
Distribution
Corrosion and Moving Mesh:
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Secondary Currents
Tertiary Currents, Nernst-Planck Equation
Thin shell electrodes
Influence of material transport and material
concentration on corrosion and corrosion
protection including diffusion, migration and
fluid flow effects
Include effects of heat transfer on material
transport and corrosion rates
AC impedance simulations
Major News in COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3a
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New Products:
– LiveLink™ for Excel®:
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Run COMSOL simulations from Microsoft™ Excel®.
– Fatigue Module:
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Mechanical fatigue based on stress or strain
evaluations.
– ECAD Import Module:
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Import of ECAD layouts with new functionality for
easy filtering of cells, nets, and layers.
– LiveLink™ for Solid Edge®:
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Support for cloud computing with Amazon
Elastic Compute Cloud™ (Amazon EC2™).
Parameter optimization
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Bidirectional associativity with Solid Edge.
Optimize on geometric dimensions and other
parameters.
More efficient CFD solvers.
Faster multicore and cluster computing.
LiveLink™ for Excel®
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Run COMSOL Multiphysics simulations from
an Excel spreadsheet:
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Synchronize or import/export parameters and
variables between Excel and COMSOL
Multiphysics:
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Adds a COMSOL-specific toolbar to the Excel
ribbon for displaying geometry and mesh as well
as running a simulation
Visualize COMSOL Multiphysics results in
Excel.
Display and edit only the most important
simulation parameters
Interactive 3D visualizations are presented in a
separate dedicated canvas
Excel 2007 and 2010 for Windows is
supported
Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
How Does it Work?
Establishes a two-way connection between COMSOL and Excel
parameters, variables etc.
Excel
XLSX-files
parameters, variables etc.
Excel
COMSOL
parameters, variables, results etc. Model window
Load/Save Data to/from the COMSOL Desktop
• Load/save data:
– Parameters
– Variables
– Functions
COMSOL Tab and Toolbar
• A COMSOL toolbar is used to
interact with the COMSOL Model
from Excel
– Retrieve and update parameters,
variables, and functions
– Compute the model
– Show results as graphics and import
COMSOL images into Excel
– Extract numerical data to Excel
worksheets
The COMSOL Model Window
• The COMSOL Model window
– Contains the model in memory
– Shows interactive graphics
– Gets commands from the
COMSOL toolbar
Platforms
• Excel 2007 and Excel 2010 are supported
• Only Windows is supported
• Both COMSOL and Excel have 32-bit and 64-bit versions
– Many users choose to install the 32-bit version of Excel even on 64-bit
computers
– LiveLink for Excel works with any combination of Comsol and Excel
Benefits
• Ease-of-use in organizations that regularly base their data handling
on data stored in Excel
• Use Excel as a customized user interface for (complicated)
COMSOL models
• Allows the combined presentation of inputs and outputs e.g. for
reporting
Fatigue Module
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Fatigue = structural damage from repeated loading
and unloading.
Stress levels aren’t providing enough information.
Need Fatigue Life
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Number of load cycles before structural failure.
Fatigue is probabilistic – statistical methods
needed.
Add-on to the Structural Mechanics Module.
Fatigue Life Plot
Available Fatigue Evaluation Methods
* Available with the Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
ECAD Import Module
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Import of 2D layouts
– Automatic conversion of 2D layers into
3D CAD models.
– Filtering of individual cells, nets, and
layers with settings stored on file.
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Use ECAD data for any type of physics
simulation
Supported ECAD formats
– GDS-II
– ODB++(X)
– NETEX-G
Part of this functionality was previously
available in the AC/DC, RF, and MEMS
Modules. License holders of these modules
will get the ECAD Import Module free of
charge until next subscription renewal.
Capacitance and
inductance extraction for a
planar transformer model
imported as an ECAD file.
LiveLink™ for Solid Edge®
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Solid Edge® is a CAD software provided by Siemens PLM®.
The LiveLink™ for Solid Edge® offers fully associative integration with Solid
Edge for multiphysics simulations involving parametric sweeps and
design optimization.
Contains the functionality of the CAD Import Module.
Corrosion potential of an
oil rig structure surrounded
by 52 sacrificial anodes
Solid Edge is a registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
Cloud Computing
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Run simulations on Amazon Elastic
Compute Cloud™ (Amazon EC2™).
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Types of computations:
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Multicore Computing on one virtual
computer with lots of RAM.
Cluster Sweep for parallel parametric
studies.
Cluster Computing for large distributed
memory simulations.
New remote access tools:
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Access high-end hardware on a pay-peruse basis.
Optimized data transfer to minimize
upload/download of data.
Dial-back to on-premise license manager.
Run from GUI or batch mode.
Available for any COMSOL Multiphysics
user with a Floating Network License.
Amazon EC2 and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud are trademarks of Amazon Web Services, LLC or its affiliates.
The new user
interfaces for Remote
Access.
Cloud Computing Setup
SSH
Tunnel
Port forwarding
Local desktop
computer
Data
Local license
server
License
info
The Cloud
Cloud Computing Setup
• Open an Amazon AWS Account
• Install either PuTTY or use local linux installation
• Start an, or several Amazon Cloud Entity(ies) dependent on the
size/type of job
– High Memory
– High CPU
– HPC (both of the above)
• Upload local installation(typically once, but has to include all files
except from doc and model library)
• Run job, as you would do on your local cluster
• Terminate when finished.
Cloud computing setup
• Tips and tricks
– Read the manual(!)
– Use StarCluster-software from MIT to
run the Amazon cluster entities (Free)
• star.mit.edu/cluster/
– Test with free usage tier before
running your BIG model.(max 500MB
of memory..)
Swifter Parallel Computing
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More efficient parallel computing for both shared-memory/multicore and distributed
computing.
Multicore computing:
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Greatly improved handling of constraint boundary conditions such as fixed temperature,
electric potential, and displacement speeds up computations for most physics.
Performance increase is thanks to new constraint elimination algorithms.
Distributed computing:
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Solvers have been optimized by the introduction of a very efficient sparse matrix reordering
algorithm for direct solvers.
Communication for matrix-vector data has been optimized.
An evanescent-mode
cavity filter.
Parameter Optimization
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Gradient-free parameter
optimization can now be applied
due to three new optimization
methods:
– Nelder-Mead.
– Coordinate Search.
– Monte Carlo.
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Optimize with respect to one or
more geometric dimensions:
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for a CAD model created directly with
COMSOL Multiphysics.
for a model from a CAD package linked
through any of the LiveLink™ products.
Parameter optimization is not
limited to geometric dimensions but
can be applied to any parameters of
a model.
Tunable MEMS capacitor
where a target capacitance
of 0.1 pF is found by
optimizing the distance
between capacitor plates.
Group Boundaries Based on Continuous Tangent
• Select and group adjacent
boundaries with continuous
tangents between.
• Minimizes the number of
mouse clicks for selecting
adjacent boundaries.
• New cylinder selection.
Selection of boundaries in this
exhaust manifold is made easier
by the new continuous tangent
boundary selection feature.
Logical Expression-based Mesh Selection
• Based on Coordinate Variables:
– Use the x, y, and z coordinate variables in a logical expression, such as
(y<-40)&&(z>2.5) to partition an imported mesh into new domains or boundaries.
• Visualization of coordinate box and ball.
Partitioning a mesh based on a
logical expression in terms of
coordinate variables x, y, and z.
Geometry Modeling: Import of Contour Plots
• Contour plots can now be
exported on the Sectionwise
data format:
– allows them to be imported and
reused as an interpolation curve in a
geometry model
– this enables contour plots to be part
of a 2D or 3D geometry model
– 2D curves can be extruded,
revolved, or swept into 3D geometry
objects.
An isothermal contour line is
imported as an interpolation
curve, extruded, and used to
partition this geometry of a
power transistor and circuit
board.
Tailored Mesh Settings for CFD
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Automatic corner refinement.
Splitting at sharp corners
instead of trimming.
Robust and accurate for larger
geometry models.
Integrated with multigrid solver
for CFD.
A boundary layer mesh with
automatic corner refinement and
new handling of sharp edges.
FLUID
One-Way Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
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Solving for One-way Coupled FSI is
more efficient when there is no coupling
from the structure back on to the fluid
(i.e., no ”flexing back”)
New study types for FSI:
– Stationary, One-way Coupled
– Time-dependent, One-way Coupled
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Solves for the fluid first, then for the
structure.
Other physics can be included in either
or both study steps.
Requires Structural Mechanics or
MEMS Module.
More Robust and Easier-to-use Pseudo TimeStep Solver for Stationary CFD and FSI
• Pseudo-time stepping is used for
robust convergence towards steadystate solution:
– Available for all stationary flow physics user
interfaces and FSI.
– Faster solutions for simple models.
– More robust behavior for large models.
• CFL number controlled by a new PID
regulator:
– Instead of built-in expression.
– Much easier to tune.
• Pseudo time-derivative removed from
continuity equation:
– Removes models that ”resonate”.
– More robust.
Much Improved Default Solver for CFD
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Implemented for all flow interfaces.
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Mesh building triggered when
retrieving default solvers:
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This shows when default solvers take longer.
Direct solver for small models:
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Reduced memory requirements for large models.
More automation and less manual tuning.
Small is 100,000 elements in 3D and
300,000 elements in 2D
Default geometric multigrid (GMG)
solver automatically adjusted based
on the number of mesh elements.
Additional multigrid levels are
automatically added for large models:
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First additional level at 600,000 elements
Maximum of four levels including the finest
mesh for first order elements. Additional
levels for higher-order elements.
Reacting Flow User Interface
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New Reacting Flow User Interface for
Laminar and Turbulent Mass Transport:
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Combination of Laminar or Turbulent Singlephase Flow with Transport of Concentrated
Species.
Includes turbulent wall functions for mass
transport, turbulent reaction modeling, and
reaction kinetics.
Built-in algebraic models automatically
computes the Schmidt number.
Also features turbulent low-Reynolds mass
transport for high Schmidt number (for
reactions in liquids).
Based on the so called Eddy Dissipation
Concept (EDC).
Moist Air Fluid Model
• Heat Transfer in Fluids now
contains a new Moist air fluid
type:
– Contains thermodynamics properties of
unsaturated humid air.
– Dedicated postprocessing variables.
• Verify if the saturation level has
been reached during the
simulation.
• Available in the Heat Transfer
Module
MECHANICAL
Load Cases for Heat Transfer
• Loads and constraints for heat transfer is
now available using the same load and
constraint group concept as in the
Structural Mechanics Module.
• Use load groups for heat sources and
heat fluxes.
• Use constraint groups for temperature
conditions.
New Hyperelastic Material Models
• Nonlinear Structural Materials
Module comes with three new
hyperelastic material models:
– Yeoh
– Varga:
• Nearly incompressible, nonlinear
elastic materials such as rubber.
– Blatz-Ko:
• Highly compressible materials such
as foam rubber.
Acoustics Module
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New tutorial model of the Brüel & Kjær
4134 condenser microphone:
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New Boundary layer approximation fluid
model for pressure acoustics:
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Compares the simulated sensitivity level
to measurements performed on an actual
microphone.
allows for simulation of the thermal and
viscous losses at boundaries of a duct as
a bulk loss (an equivalent fluid).
The viscous characteristic length can
now be entered directly in the Biot
equivalent fluid models.
The Thermoacoustics user interface
now features a heat source option which
is used for optoacoustics and acoustic
heat exchangers.
Model geometry and
measurement courtesy of
Brüel & Kjær Sound &
Vibration Measurement A/S,
Nærum, Denmark.
CHEMICAL
Film Resistance
• Used for resistance modeling
in electrochemical
applications:
– Passivation.
– Growing oxide layers
– etc.
• Introduced for all boundary
conditions that model an
interface between an
electrolyte and an electrode.
• Available in the Corrosion,
Electrodeposition, and
Batteries & Fuel Cells
Modules
Equation
New Section
(No film resistance
is default)
ELECTRICAL
RF Module
• A new general 2.5D formulation for waves
– Use for disk antenna modeling, accurate scattering modeling,
laser (Gaussian) beam models, and cavity model analysis for
accelerators, for example.
• Dedicated port for periodic structures in 2D models.
– Easier to model excitation of Floquet periodic structures and
includes automatic setup of diffraction orders.
• Support for volumetric currents
– Set a volumetric external current density in domains.
MULTIPURPOSE
Particle Tracing Module
• New boundary conditions are available for the following types of
particle reflections:
• Diffuse reflection.
• General reflection, where you can supply your own expressions for the
particle velocity after collisions with a wall.
• Pass through, which can be used on interior boundaries in conjunction with
a sticking probability or expression.
• New variables have been added for the particle release time,
particle stop time, and particle status.
• Now possible to specify a logical expression for the particle to
include in the Filter subnode for the Particle Trajectories plot.