COMSOL Multiphysics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

COMSOL Multiphysics
Developed by	COMSOL
Latest release	3.4 / 2007
OS	Cross-platform
Genre	Finite Element Analysis Simulator
License	Proprietary EULA
Website	www.comsol.com

COMSOL Multiphysics (formerly FEMLAB) is a finite element analysis and solver software package for various physics and engineering applications, especially coupled phenomena, or multiphysics. COMSOL Multiphysics also offers an extensive and well-managed interface to MATLAB and its toolboxes for a large variety of programming, preprocessing and postprocessing possibilities. A similar interface is offered to COMSOL Script. The packages are cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix.) In addition to conventional physics-based user-interfaces, COMSOL Multiphysics also allows for entering coupled systems of partial differential equations (PDEs). The PDEs can be entered directly or using the so called weak form (see finite element method for a description of weak formulation).

COMSOL was started by graduate students to Germund Dahlquist based on codes developed for a graduate course at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)^[1] in Stockholm, Sweden.

Contents 1 Modules 1.1 AC/DC Module 1.2 Acoustics Module 1.3 CAD Import Module 1.4 Chemical Engineering Module 1.5 Earth Science Module 1.6 Heat Transfer Module 1.7 Material Library 1.8 MEMS Module 1.9 RF Module 1.10 Structural Mechanics Module 2 External links 3 References

[edit] Modules

Several application-specific modules are available for COMSOL Multiphysics ^[2]:

• AC/DC Module
• Acoustics Module
• CAD Import Module
• Chemical Engineering Module
• Earth Science Module
• Heat Transfer Module
• Material Library
• MEMS Module
• RF Module
• Structural Mechanics Module

[edit] AC/DC Module

Simulates electrical components and devices that depend on electrostatics, magnetostatics and electromagnetic quasi-statics applications, particularly coupled to other physics. Consists of specific interfaces for rotating machinery applications and SPICE circuits lists import.

[edit] Acoustics Module

Contains built-in application modes and boundary settings for the modeling of acoustic propagation in solids and stationary fluids. Also models aeroacoustic applications in moving fluids.

[edit] CAD Import Module

Facilitates the reading of most industry-standard CAD formats. Includes add-in packages that support the file formats for specific CAD programs' geometry kernels.

[edit] Chemical Engineering Module

Analyzes CFD and mass and energy balances coupled to chemical reaction kinetics. Incorporates a plethora of application models for the field of transport phenomena including ionic transport and multi component diffusion.

[edit] Earth Science Module

Models single and coupled processes for geological and environmental phenomena particularly based around subsurface flow. Ideal for porous media flow coupled to other physics such as poroelasticity applications.

[edit] Heat Transfer Module

Consists of advanced application modes for the analysis of heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation. Specific for industrial applications such as electronics cooling and process engineering.

[edit] Material Library

Internal material property database with more than 2500 materials and 20000 properties. The database contains temperature dependence of electrical, thermal, and structural properties of solid materials.

The material library can also accept files generated by the MatWeb material property database. This is a searchable database of over 59,000 material data sheets, including property information on thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, metals, and other engineering materials. MatWeb is a division of Automation Creations, Inc. (ACI) of Blacksburg, Virginia [www.matweb.com].

[edit] MEMS Module

Represents coupled processes in microelectromechanical and microfluidic devices. Incorporates specific multiphysics couplings for applications such as electroosmotic flow, film damping, piezoelectricity and fluis-structure interaction.

[edit] RF Module

Characterizes electromagnetic fields, currents and waves for RF, microwave, optical and other high-frequency devices. Allows for extensive post-processing such as S-parameter computations and far-field analyses.

[edit] Structural Mechanics Module

Performs classical stress-strain analysis with full multiphysics capabilities. Comprises non-linear material models, large deformation and contact abilities; all able to be freely coupled to other physics.

[edit] External links

• Official site
• COMSOL at Stanford
• Blog for COMSOL users to discuss COMSOL (FEMLAB) Models and related topics

[edit] References

1. ^ SIAM Obituary - Germund Dahlquist
2. ^ COMSOL website