Expanding Multiphysics Applications with COMSOL Version 4.

COMSOL V4.2 Product Suite

COMSOL V4.2 Product Suite

New Products and Major New Functionality

Microfluidics Module Geomechanics Module Electrodeposition Module LiveLink for AutoCAD LiveLink for SpaceClaim One Window Interface for the LiveLink for SolidWorks

Microfluidics Module
The Microfluidics Module includes existing microfluidics features previously available in the MEMS module
Electrokinetic flow Creeping flow Two-phase flow with level set and phase field (wetting, surface tension etc.) Fluid-Structure Interaction additionally requires either the MEMS or Structural mechanics modules Two phase flow moving mesh interface
Precise capillary effects Transport phenomena within one phase When molecular mean-free path is greater than geometry For vacuum system simulations
Simulations of an electrowetting lens (left) and molecular flow in an ion implanter (right) using the Microfluidics Module.

Expanded and improved features include

Molecular flow interface

Both MEMS and Microfluidics modules will in future versions be expanded further in a more focused manner.

Geomechanics Module
A specialized add-on to the Structural Mechanics Module. For plasticity, deformation, and failure of soils and rocks, as well as their interaction with concrete and human-made structures. Material Models
Nonlinear Soil Model:
Modified Cam-Clay Drucker-Prager Capped Drucker-Prager Mohr-Coulomb Capped Mohr-Coulomb Matsuoka-Nakai Lade-Duncan Bresler-Pister Willam-Warnke Ottosen Hoek-Brown Generalized Hoek-Brown von Mises Tresca

Simulation of soil deformations when subject to load from a building.

Elastoplastic Soil Models:

Concrete Models:

Rocks Models:

Ductile Materials and Saturated Soils

User-defined Materials

Electrodeposition Module
For electrochemical processes
Chrome plating in automotive industry E-coating Electro-coloring Decorative electroplating Electrodeposition for PCB manufacturing Anodizing
Thickness of the decorative deposited layer in a furniture fitting modeled with the Electrodeposition Module.

The Electrodeposition Module is able to model arbitrary reaction mechanisms

Electrode kinetics using Butler-Volmer or by just typing in arbitrary expressions Multiple competing reactions Adsorption reactions including diffusion of adsorbed species at the electrode surface

Material balances are defined for the deposited species Surface diffusion and active site density can be accounted for in the model The deposited layers thickness
Thin layers: Calculated on a fixed geometry by surface equations Thick layers: Modeled using moving boundaries based on the ALE method.

One Window Interface for the LiveLink for SolidWorks

The LiveLink for SolidWorks product has been extended with a One Window Interface where a SolidWorks user can stay inside of the SolidWorks environment and work synchronously with COMSOL Multiphysics.

LiveLink for AutoCAD

Electric current simulation of a foil wire from a solar collector based on a surface geometry created in AutoCAD.

LiveLink for SpaceClaim

Thermal simulation of an exhaust manifold based on a CAD model created in SpaceClaim.

Report Generator

The new Report Generator creates HTML reports for models. Each report includes a table of contents with hyperlinks. The Report Generator uses a built-in Style Sheet, which you can customize to change the appearance of the report in a web browser.

Virtual Geometry Operations

New way for mesher to skip over unimportant CAD features
sliver surfaces misaligned edges

Also known as sloppy meshing Faster and more memory efficient solving with focus on the essential parts of the original CAD model Difference compared to CAD defeaturing (already in 3.5a, 4.0, 4.1)
Keeps the underlying surface curvature

The picture shows an exhaust manifold that has been meshed using unprocessed CAD data (bottom left) and with the virtual geometry tools applied (bottom right).

Time-Dependent Adaptive Mesh Refinement

Important applications:
two-phase flow simulations with sharp diffusion fronts

Enables higher accuracy simulations for the same memory cost. Automatically refines mesh where the solution changes quickly or based on a user defined error indicator like sqrt(Tx^2+Ty^2)

Time-dependent adaptive meshing is not limited to two-phase flow and diffusion but is available for any time-dependent simulations.

The picture shows an example of transient mesh adaption for the simulation of an inkjet.

Fast Parallelized Assembly and Solvers

The COMSOL Multiphysics direct solvers have been multicore and cluster-enabled for several years. Supported cluster platforms are Linux and Windows HPC Server. New parallelized multiphysics assembly algorithms and iterative solvers bring faster and more memory efficient computations. Benchmark test indicate speedup of 425% for laminar flow static mixer and 164% faster for a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip simulation.

CFD Module: Compressible High-Mach Number Flow

Acoustics Module: Thermoacoustics for cell-phone speakers/microphones and hearing aids.

Batteries & Fuel Cells Module: New Advanced 3D models AC Impedance Spectroscopy

The picture shows the temperature field in the cooling channels and the Li-ion batteries of a battery pack for automotive applications. The model includes a highfidelity electrochemical model of the batteries coupled to a thermal analysis for the batteries and the components in the battery pack and a fluid flow simulation in the cooling channels.

Demo of new GUI Features

Geometry and Mesh

Coordinate-Based Selections
Coordinate-based selections based on x-y-z box and ball Boolean operations on box and ball primitives Usage:
When working with slightly modified versions of the same part. Quick way of repeating a simulation without having to change any material settings, boundary conditions or mesh parameters. Box & ball can be parameterized in the same way as geometry objects.

Fixed Constraints

Cap Faces
Covering the ends of fluid channels and subsequently mesh the interior of imported CAD parts. Select the edges that trace out the surface to be formed. Easier transition from a purely mechanical model to a fluid or fluidstructure interaction (FSI) model.

Parametric Surfaces
The new Parametric Surfaces feature allows for creation of surfaces based on analytical expressions (sin, exp) or look-up table data (interpolation tables). The resolution of the underlying NURBS surface can be tuned by the user (number of knots) and enable a more detailed surface representation and finer mesh when called upon.

C:\COMSOL42\models\COMSOL_Multiphysics\Geophysics\rock_fracture_flow_aperture_data.txt

Studies and Solvers

Automatic Remeshing for Moving Meshes

Use for Moving Mesh (ALE) When the mesh is deformed beyond a user-defined mesh quality threshold, the automatic remeshing kicks in and the simulation is automatically continued starting from the new mesh.

Examples of automatic remeshing: Left: Remeshing steps for a prescribed sinusoidal deformation of the top surface of a block.

Right: Elements before and directly after an automatic remesh. This copper deposition model is available in the Electrodeposition Module Model Library.

Fast Parallelized Assembly and Solvers

The COMSOL Multiphysics direct solvers have been multicore and cluster-enabled for several years. Supported platforms are Linux and Windows HPC Server. With Version 4.2, also the multiphysics assembly algorithms and iterative solvers are parallelized which brings faster and more memory efficient computations for a wide range of applications on virtually any type of computer platform from laptop to cluster.

Results and Visualization

Histogram Plot

Nyquist Plot

Ribbon Plot

RMS & Variance Operations

Variable Aspect-Ratio

Mathematics Interfaces

New PDE and ODE Interfaces

Coefficient Form PDE, General Form PDE, Weak Form PDE on surfaces & edges. Applications:
surface diffusion accumulation of material on boundaries equation-based shell modeling for any type of physics.

Distributed ODE and DAE interfaces. Applications:

bioheating damage computations material creep any material-memory simulations where the material state is represented with a unique state-variable at each point in the computational volume.

Convection-Diffusion Equation and Heat Equation in Classical PDEs

Important Module News

AC/DC Module: Small-signal analysis

Acoustics Module + Structural Mechanics Module: Acoustic-Shell Interaction

Acoustics Module: Acoustic-Piezo Interaction

Acoustics Module: Poroelastic Waves for damping materials

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module: Parameter Estimation is back (3.5a) Optimization Module is required

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module: Infinite Elements for Diffusion: Transport of Diluted Species

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module and Plasma Module: Surface Reactions

Heat Transfer Module: Fan & Grill Boundary Conditions with fan-curve table import

Structural Mechanics Module, MEMS Module, Acoustics Module: Prestressed Study Types for eigenmode and frequency -response

Structural Mechanics Module, MEMS Module, Acoustics Module: Piezo PMLs

Structural Mechanics Module and MEMS Module: Infinite Elements for Solid Mechanics

Structural Mechanics Module, MEMS Module, Acoustics Module: Spring, Damper, and Mass Boundary Conditions

Structural Mechanics Module: Beam Cross-Section Library

More Feature Details

Studies and Solvers

Convergence Plot for Solvers

Convergence plots are now available for monitoring convergence of nonlinear, iterative, and time-dependent solvers. For nonlinear simulations, separate convergence plots show the convergence of the nonlinear iterations and the core linear algebra solver iterations.

Physics Selection in Study Steps

A new Physics Selection utility makes it easy to activate or deactivate select Physics Interfaces during the modeling process. You can use this to control which physics should be considered for a particular study step.

Results and Visualization

Improved 2D Renderer
The new, faster 2D renderer comes with improved axis labels, easier selection of overlapping pair boundaries, and a new drawing table with grid and rulers that show the position of the pointer.

Default Plots and Adjustable Position of Color Legends

In the Results node of the Model Builder tree, new default plots are now adapted to the physics in the model with descriptive names of the created plot groups. You can now position the color legends to the right, to the left, above, below, or on alternating sides of the plot.

Histogram Plots
Histogram plots, available in Results, is used to show the distribution of data throughout volumes, surfaces, edges, or points in a model. You can control bins based on number of bins or data limits. Plots can be continuous or discrete and data normalization options include Neutral, Peak, or Integral.

Streamline Ribbon Plot

Streamlines can now be visualized using ribbon plots where the width and color of the ribbons can be controlled by an arbitrary expression. The pictures show two different ribbon plots for a turbulent flow simulation.

RMS, Square Root, and Variance of Data Series

For Derived Values, you can apply an operation such as the integral or maximum of the averaged quantity for the data series. For example, you can immediately display the integral or maximum of the averaged quantity for each step in the data series. Additional operations made available with Version 4.2 are RMS (the root mean square or quadratic mean), Square Root, and Variance.

Nyquist Plots
A Nyquist plot shows the magnitude and phase of a frequency-response simulation result. This type of plot shows the magnitude as the distance from the origin and the phase as the angle using a curve with the frequency as the parameter. Nyquist plots have important applications for users of the AC/DC, RF, Structural Mechanics, Acoustics, MEMS, and Batteries & Fuel Cells Modules. The picture shows a Nyquist plot from an AC-impedance analysis of a fuel cell at two different electrolyte conductivities. The model is available in the Model Library of the Batteries & Fuel Cells Module.

Variable Aspect-Ratio Visualization

High aspect-ratio models can now easily be visualized also in a nonaspect-ratio preserving mode. The picture shows a thermal actuator using actual aspect-ratio (left) and with Preserve aspect ratio turned off (right).

Mathematics Interfaces

New PDE and ODE Interfaces

The interfaces for partial differential equations (PDEs) are extended with an additional set of templates for equations defined on surfaces and edges. Applications include using the new Coefficient Form Boundary PDE interface for surface diffusion, accumulation of material on boundaries, and equation-based shell modeling for any type of physics.

A new set of interfaces are available for spatially distributed ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and differential algebraic equations (DAEs). Applications include material-memory simulations, such as bioheating damage computations or material creep, where the material state is represented with a unique state-variable at each point in the computational volume.
The Classical PDE interfaces now include templates for the Heat Equation and the ConvectionDiffusion Equation. All PDE, ODE, and DAE interface templates can be used freely in multiphysics combinations with any application-specific modules.

General COMSOL Desktop Functionality

Drag-and-Drop in the Model Builder Tree

Drag-and-drop is now supported in the Model Builder tree. Using this feature, you can change the order of existing nodes or copy or duplicate nodes.

Updated Progress and Log Windows

Progress and Log information is now available in separate windows. The Progress window features Auto-clearing. The Log window supports Clear and Lock as well as Resume scroll. There is now an extra log divider with model name when opening a new model.

AC/DC Module

Small-signal Analysis
Small-signal analysis is now generally available for all modules, including the AC/DC Module. The picture shows a typical application: an inductor with a nonlinear magnetic core and an inductance that changes with increased current. The variable inductance is also known as the small-signal, or differential, inductance.

Lumped Ports for AC/DC Analysis

A Lumped Port boundary feature is now available in the Magnetic Fields interface and in the Magnetic and Electric Fields interface. This feature is used for easier excitation of coils and other conducting structures. It also gives access to S-parameters.

Acoustics Module

Thermoacoustics
The Acoustics Module features new dedicated modeling tools for thermoviscous acoustics that enable highly accurate simulation of miniaturized speakers and microphones in handheld devices. The need for thermoacoustics emerges whenever the dimensions of an acoustic device become small compared to the viscous and thermal boundary layers.

The picture to the left shows the thermoacoustic wave-field in a shallow uniform waveguide with results matched to an analytical solution. The picture to the right shows an acoustic coupler with a damped Helmholtz resonator. The model includes thermal conduction and viscous losses.

Acoustic-Shell Interaction
A new multiphysics interface for Acoustic-Shell Interaction enables modeling of vibrating thin elastic structures and their induced sound pressure field. The coupling is bidirectional and is available for frequency domain and the time domain studies in 3D. The Acoustic-Shell Interaction interfaces combine features from the Pressure Acoustics and Shell interfaces and requires both the Acoustics Module and the Structural Mechanics Module.

The picture shows a vibrating baffled membrane and the sound pressure level (dB) in the air that surrounds it.

Acoustic-Piezoelectric Interaction
A new multiphysics interface for Acoustic-Piezoelectric coupling makes piezo-acoustics functionality easier to use. Analyses are available for frequency domain and time domain studies and combine features from the Pressure Acoustics, Solid Mechanics, Electrostatics, and Piezoelectric Devices interfaces.

The picture shows a vibrating baffled membrane and the sound pressure level (dB) in the air that surrounds it.

Elastic and Poroelastic Waves

The Acoustics Module features two new interfaces for waves in solid and porous media. The Elastic Waves interface, for general elastic solids, can be combined with a new Poroelastic Waves interface for frequency-domain analysis of poroelastic wave propagation.

The picture shows the frequency characteristics of a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Although its main function is filtering of the exhaust flow, the DPF also has acoustic damping properties which relate to the muffler system. The filter is made of a porous material and the Poroelastic Waves interface is here used to compute the acoustic transmission losses.

Batteries & Fuel Cells Module

Batteries & Fuel Cells Module

The Batteries & Fuel Cells Module features a new AC Impedance Study type for simulating Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). A new Surface Reactions interface enables modeling of surface reactions on boundary surfaces. A Material Library comes with common battery electrode materials and electrolytes. Several new tutorials are available:
Edge Effects In a Spirally Wound Li-Ion Battery Thermal Modeling of a Cylindrical Li-Ion Battery in 2D Thermal Modeling of a Cylindrical Li-Ion Battery in 3D (additionally requires the Heat Transfer Module) Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy in a Fuel Cell Primary Current Distribution in a Lead-Acid Battery Grid Electrode Soluble Lead-Acid Redox Flow Battery

The picture show the Temperature field in the cooling channels and the batteries in a battery pack for automotive applications. The model includes a high-fidelity electrochemical model of the batteries coupled to a thermal analysis for the batteries and the components in the battery pack, and the fluid flow in the cooling channels.

CFD Module

High-Mach Number Fluid Flow

The new High-Mach Number Fluid Flow interface applies when the flow velocity is large enough to introduce significant changes in the density and temperature of the fluid; the thermodynamic properties of the fluid are coupled. Appreciable changes in the fluid properties are encountered as the flow velocity approaches, or exceeds, the speed sound. As a rule of thumb, velocities greater than 0.3 times the speed of sound are considered to be high Mach number flows.

The picture shows a benchmark model for turbulent compressible flow in a twodimensional converging-diverging diffuser (Sajben diffuser). The flow enters the diffuser at a velocity of Ma = 0.46, accelerates through the converging part, and reaches supersonic conditions at the throat of the diffuser. The supersonic flow is terminated with a shock in the diverging part, after which the flow is subsonically decelerated.

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module

Reacting Flow
A new physics interface for Reacting Flow, Diluted Species, makes coupled mass and momentum transport in free and porous media available from one single user interface. A similar physics interface for Concentrated Species is also available. The model coupling for the velocity field and mixture density is set up automatically. In addition, the effective transport coefficients in a porous matrix domain can be derived based on the corresponding values in for a non-porous domain.

The picture shows an experimental reactor for heterogeneous catalysis, demonstrating the principle of coupled free and porous media flow in fixed bed reactors.

Parameter Estimation in Chemical Reaction Models

By combining the Chemical Reaction Engineering with the Optimization Modules, you can use a new Parameter Estimation feature for predefined reactor types in the Reaction Engineering interface.

The picture shows a tutorial model for finding the Arrhenius parameters of a first-order reaction where Benzene diazonium chloride decomposes to benzene, chloride, and nitrogen.

Infinite Elements for Diffusion

COMSOL Multiphysics Version 4.2 introduces a new way of defining Infinite Elements for simulation of unbounded regions. Since different physics can share the same Infinite Elements, you can now define Infinite Elements in the Model Definitions node, eliminating redundant action on each Physics Interface. The interface for Transport of Diluted Species now provides Infinite Elements for diffusion simulations using the new mechanism. The picture shows the new Model Builder tree node.

Infinite Elements for Diffusion

COMSOL Multiphysics Version 4.2 introduces a new way of defining Infinite Elements for simulation of unbounded regions. Since different physics can share the same Infinite Elements, you can now define Infinite Elements in the Model Definitions node, eliminating redundant action on each Physics Interface. The interface for Transport of Diluted Species now provides Infinite Elements for diffusion simulations using the new mechanism. The picture shows the new Model Builder tree node.

Surface Reactions
A new Surface Reactions interface is used for reactions involving surface adsorbed species and species in the bulk of a reacting surface. The interface is applied to the boundary of a model and is coupled to a mass transport interface in the adjacent bulk domain. The Surface Reactions interface can be used together with the Chemical Species Transport, Reacting Flow, and the Electrochemistry interfaces. Predefined expressions for the growth velocity of the reacting surface makes it easy to set up models with moving boundaries.

The new Surface Reactions user interface.

Subsurface Flow Module

Subsurface Flow Module

The Subsurface Flow Module (previously named the Earth Science Module) benefits from many of the new features of Version 4.2. Combining the new Geomechanics Module with the Subsurface Flow Module enables new geotechnical multiphysics combinations such as elastoplastic soil models with poroelasticity as well as rock material models with solute transport. A new Thin Diffusion Barrier boundary condition for interior boundaries in the Solute Transport interface enables modeling of thin layers of much thinner diffusion coefficient than that of adjacent domains. This feature is also available in the Chemical Reaction Engineering Module.

The new Thin Diffusion Barrier user interface.

Heat Transfer Module

Thermal Wall Functions with Radiation

Thermal wall functions with turbulence now support the Surface-toSurface Radiation and Highly Conductive Layer features. This enables very sophisticated thermal simulations: including any combination of turbulent flow, heat transfer in fluids, heat transfer in solids, heat radiation, and thin thermally high-conducting layers such as metal sheets.

The Conjugate Heat Transfer user interface with options for combining turbulence and surface-to-surface radiation.

Heat Transfer in Multilayered Structures

For heat transfer in thin layers, a new multilayer option of the Thin Thermally Resistive Layer makes it possible to quickly model thin structures with multiple layers of different conductivity.

The new Thin Thermally Resistive Layer user interface.

Thermal Light Color Table

A new default Color Table (color scale) named Thermal Light is optimized for visualization of heat transfer simulations. The color range is truncated at the lower end and eliminates the darkest shades of red.

Fan and Grill Boundary Conditions

Electronic cooling simulations are made easier by the new Fan and Grill boundary conditions. A new Fan boundary condition is also available on interior boundaries, called a slit condition. Fan curves can be entered, or loaded from file, in table format for use at inlets in flow models.

New Structural Mechanics Features of the Structural Mechanics, MEMS, and Acoustics Modules.

Prestressed Analysis
The Structural Mechanics, MEMS, and Acoustics Modules offer new powerful and easy-to use tools for prestressed analysis of eigenmode and frequency-response. Structures modeled with the Solid Mechanics interface can be prestressed by mechanical, thermal, or arbitrary multiphysicsbased loads.

The picture shows one of the tutorial models in the Model Library of the Structural Mechanics Module, which compares the frequency response of an unloaded case with that of a prestressed case.

Piezoelectric PMLs
New Piezoelectric Perfectly Matched Layers (PMLs) are capable of simultaneously absorbing the elastic and electric components of an outwards traveling piezoelastic wave. his feature is important for modeling piezo transducers and acoustic wave filters such as BAW and SAW. The functionality is available in the Structural Mechanics Module, MEMS Module, and Acoustics Module.

Infinite Elements for Solid Mechanics

For Solid Mechanics, certain modeling tasks require the computation of stress and strain for a large slab of material. For practical reasons such models are artificially truncated close to a region of interest and the analyst then faces the problem of what boundary conditions to apply to the truncated domain boundaries. Modeling with Infinite Elements avoids this problem entirely by automatically scaling the computational domain to infinity. The Structural Mechanics and the MEMS Modules offer Infinite Elements as a new feature under the Model Definitions node in the Model Builder tree.

Springs and Dampers

For simulating non-rigid boundaries, new boundary conditions for springs and dampers have been added for points, edges, boundaries, and domains. This functionality is available for all interfaces in the Structural Mechanics Module and for the Solid Mechanics interfaces in the Acoustics and MEMS Modules. Similarly, a new Thin Elastic Layers boundary condition is available on interior boundaries and between pairs in assemblies. Added mass can now be specified for edges, boundaries, and domains for all interfaces in the Structural Mechanics Module for the Solid Mechanics interfaces in the Acoustics and MEMS Modules.

Springs and Dampers

For simulating non-rigid boundaries, new boundary conditions for springs and dampers have been added for points, edges, boundaries, and domains. This functionality is available for all interfaces in the Structural Mechanics Module and for the Solid Mechanics interfaces in the Acoustics and MEMS Modules. Similarly, a new Thin Elastic Layers boundary condition is available on interior boundaries and between pairs in assemblies.

Added Mass
Added mass can now be specified for edges, boundaries, and domains for all interfaces in the Structural Mechanics Module and for the Solid Mechanics interfaces in the Acoustics and MEMS Modules. Important applications are:
modeling non-structural added mass for a vibrating structure immersed in a fluid adding mass from thin layers that are not contributing to the structure's stiffness correcting for mass changes due to CAD defeaturing including mass from components that are not represented by any geometry in the model.

Beam Cross-Section Library with Common Sections

The Structural Mechanics Module now features a tool for automatic computation of beam cross-section properties for a number of common cross sections when using the Beam interface.

Plasma Module

Surface Reactions for Plasmas

New tools are available for modeling surface reactions and species.
The picture shows the accumulated height of Silicon deposited on the wafer surface as a function of time. The model verifies that the total mass in the system is conserved. The principle can be applied to study processes like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and plasma enhanced vapor deposition (PECVD).

Surface Reactions for Plasmas

New tools are available for modeling surface reactions and species. The picture shows the accumulated height of Silicon deposited on the wafer surface as a function of time. The model verifies that the total mass in the system is conserved. The principle can be applied to study processes like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and plasma enhanced vapor deposition (PECVD).

RF Module

Far-Field in a Medium (RF) and New Models

For computing radiation patterns from antennas and radiating components, far-field evaluation is an essential tool. The far-field feature has been extended and now supports computing the far field in a medium other than vacuum. It has changed from being a boundary feature to being a domain feature with a domain selection and a boundary selection.

The picture to the left shows a new tutorial models for impedance matching of a lossy anisotropic ferrite 3-port circulator. The picture to the right shows a model of a plane wave incident on a wire grating on a dielectric substrate. Coefficients for refraction, specular reflection, and first order diffraction are all computed as functions of the angle of incidence. This analysis is made possible by a new port boundary condition for Floquet-type periodic boundary conditions.

Material Library Tools

Material Rendering
Materials are now rendered using color, texture, and reflectance. Gold, copper, air, water, concrete, and some other common materials have their own specific material appearance properties. A materials appearance can be customized and includes separate settings for specular, diffusive, and ambient colors as well as texture noise levels. To enable texture rendering, set the Visualization preferences to be Optimized for Quality.