Mina W.

Nashed
mina@elnadycompany.com;

Agenda
Day 1 Agenda

Introduction to COMSOL Multiphysics

COMSOL Demonstraion
Coffee Break
Tutorial session: Getting started with COMSOL

Parallel plate capacitor

Thermal cube
Stresses on a wrench
Electrical heating and thermal stresses in a busbar

Day 2 Agenda

Background on Finite Element Analysis

Advanced Meshing TechniquesSolver Sequence and settings
Model of Day: Heat Sink

Day 3 Agenda
Results and Post Processing
Advanced Structural Mechanics examples

Elbow Bracket, different Force Analysis

Elbow Bracket, Elasto-plastic Analysis
Tube Connector
Fluid Structure Interaction

World leader in multiphysics simulations

Headquarter in Stockholm.
16 offices in Europe, India and USA.
225+ employess.
14 000 licenses and 60 000 users.

History Highlights

PDE Toolbox in MATLAB in 1995

FEMLAB in 1999

COMSOL Multiphysics in 2005

COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3 2012

86

95

96

PDE
Toobox

Selling
MATLAB

Coding
FEMLAB

99

00

03

FEMLAB 3.0
(Standalone)

FEMLAB 1.0

FEMLAB 2.0
(3D)

05

06

COMSOL 3.3

COMSOL 3.2

Power Inductors
Electronic
cooling

07

08

09

COMSOL 3.5

COMSOL 3.4

12

COMSOL 4.3

COMSOL 4.0

Passive
Fuel Cell

Stresses on blood
vessel

Turbulent modeling
Speaker systems

COMSOL Multiphysics

Modeling and Simulation of any Physical

Phenomenon that can be described by
Partial Differential Equations
Finite element analysis

3D mesh of a power
transistor

Flexible Graphical User Interface

Single physics
Multiphysics
Unlimited Multiphysics combination
All steps in modeling procedure
Material databases
Mathematical tools
Parameterization jobs

Visualization of
temperature distribution

Adaptable

Predefined Multiphysics
User defined Multiphysics
Non-linear equations

PDE
ODE and Algebraic differential equations

Model just about any physics

Traditional approach to modeling

Acoustics

Structural analysis

Mass transport

Electromagnetism

Fluid dynamics

Heat transfer

Multiphysics

Induction heating

Acoustic-Structure interaction

Non-isothermal fluids

Joule heating with thermal expansion

Fluid-Structure interaction

User defined

Piezoelectric button for elevators

COMSOL Multiphysics supports it all

Multiphysics example

Thermal Expansion
Electric current

Joule heating

Temperature distribution

Change in material
properties

COMSOL Multiphysics :
A complete FEA simulation environment
and a single modeling procedure for all physics
Select your Physics
Select the physics interface or combination of interfaces

Create Geometry
Use the built-in CAD tools or import from external CAD software

Specify your Physics

Specify material properties
Specify boundary conditions, sources and sinks

Mesh
Create structured or unstructured meshes

Solve
Stationary, transient, eigenfrequency, frequnecy response, and parametric analyses
Direct and iterative solvers

Postprocess the Results

Visualize your results
Compute functions of the solution variables like integral, fluxes, forces etc.

COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3 Product Suite

Structural Analysis Module

COMSOL Products for Structural Analysis

COMSOL Multiphysics
The COMSOL Multiphysics base product is required for all add-ons.

Structural Mechanics Module

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
Available as add-on to the Structural Mechanics Module or MEMS Module.

Geomechanics Module
Available as add-on to the Structural Mechanics.

Acoustics Module
MEMS Module
Subsurface Flow Module

COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3 Product Suite

Products with structural analysis capabilities

AutoCAD and Inventor are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. LiveLink for AutoCAD and LiveLink for Inventor are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or supported by Autodesk, Inc.
and/or any of its affiliates and/or subsidiaries. CATIA is a registered trademark of Dassault Systmes S.A. or its affiliates or subsidiaries. SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systmes
SolidWorks Corporation or its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries. Creo is a trademark and Pro/ENGINEER is a registered trademark of Parametric Technology Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S
and/or in other countries. MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.

Physics Model Wizard

*
**
***
*

***
* Additional features with Nonlinear
Structural Materials and Geomechanics
Modules
** Subsurface Flow Module necessary
*** MEMS Module necessary

Acoustics Module

Acoustics Analyses
Pressure Acoustics

Acoustic-Structure Interaction

Vented loudspeaker model with

3D far-field response.

Aeroacoustics

Thermoacoustics

Brel & Kjr 4134 microphone

model (in model library
update).

Physics Model Wizard

**

* Structural Mechanics Module

necessary
** Pipe Flow Module necessary

Applications
Pressure Acoustics

Automotive industry
Sound insulation
Scattering problems
Noise radiation problems
Waveguide problems
Bio-heating
Non-linear acoustics for ultrasound
(user defined to some extent)

Acoustic scattering tutorial

model from the model library.

Bio heating of a human tissue

sample by focused ultrasound.

10

Applications cont.
Acoustic-Structure Interaction
All problems involving coupled elastic
waves and pressure waves
Transducers (Sonars, Loudspeakers)
Automotive industry
Porous materials (Poroelastic waves
interface)

Piezoacoustic
Transducer: single
row piezoacoustic
transducer.

Aeoacoustics
Jet engine noise
Fan noise propagation
Noise propagation in external flows

Flow Duct model of a jet

engine.

Applications cont.
Thermo-acoustics
Acoustics in small devices

Mobile devices
Transducers
Microphones
Hearing aids

Damped vibrations of structures with

small air gaps/slits

Occluded ear canal simulator (acoustic

711 coupler). Geometry courtesy of
Brel & Kjr

Pipe Acoustics
sound propagation in elastic pipes in
Only for propagating plane waves
Is not suited for narrow pipes at low
frequencies where thermal and viscous
losses are important

Probe tube microphone model:

acoustics in the probe tube with
pipe acoustics coupled to 3D
pressure acoustics model.

11

Structural Mechanics Module

Study Types and Space Dimesions

Study Types
Stationary
Eigenfrequency

Prestressed

Transient

Direct and modal

Frequency response

Direct and modal

Prestressed

Linear Buckling
Parametric
Geometric nonlinearity

Space Dimensions

3D Solid
Axisymmetric plane strain solid
2D plane strain solid
2D plane stress solid
Shell
Membrane
Plate
Beam
Truss

Available as a study property

All study types and space dimensions are not available for certain Physics user interfaces.

12

Built-in Constitutive Laws

Isotropic elasticity
Orthotropic elasticity
Anisotropic elasticity
Elasto-plasticity
Mises and Tresca yield criteria
User defined yield criteria

Hyperelasticity

Neo-Hookean
Mooney-Rivlin
Murnaghan
User defined strain energy function

Viscoelasticity
Prony series

Interactions
Contact

2D/3D continuum elements

Statics and transient analyses
Surface based approach
Augmented Lagrange algorithm

Kinematic constraints and joints

Extrusion and projection couplings useful to build up specific
constraints
Global equations can also be used
Rigid connector

13

Geomechanics Module

Geomechanics Module
The Geomechanics Module is a specialized add-on to the Structural
Mechanics Module aimed at modeling and simulating geotechnical
applications.
The Module features tailored interfaces to study plasticity, deformation,
creep, and failure of soils and rocks, as well as their interaction with
concrete and human-made structures.
Also addressed: user-defined materials for advanced users

14

Applications

Soil, rock modeling

Slope stability
Tunnels
Embankments
Nuclear waste installations
Foundations
Retaining structures/ Reinforcements
Slabs
Excavations
Roads

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module

15

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module

Released with COMSOL Multiphysics Version 4.3, May 2012

Nonlinear material models for structural mechanics.
Elastoplastic, hyperelastic, viscoplastic, and creep material models.
Large strain plastic deformation
New and improved models and dedicated documentation

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module

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.

16

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module

Applications:
Any structural analysis where
deformations are large enough or
operating conditions are such that
material nonlinearities become
important.

Necking of a metal bar.

This example is a classical
benchmark for large strain
plastic deformation.

Sources of nonlinearity
Geometric nonlinearity

Finite rotation
Large strains
Stress stiffening
Deformation dependent loads

Materials

Elastoplasticity (metals or soils)

Hyperelasticity (rubber and other elastomers)
Creep
Viscoplasticity

st

Contact
Possibly with friction

17

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module

Creep Material Models
Hyperelastic Material Models
Elastoplastic Material Models
Viscoplastic Material Models

Electromagnetics Modules
AC/DC + RF

18

Types of Electromagnetic Modeling

Static

Low Frequency

E
0
t

Transient

E sin t

Electric and magnetic

fields do not vary in time.

Fields vary
sinusoidally in time,
but there is negligible
radiation.

High Frequency

Et

E sin t

Fields vary arbitrarily

in time, radiation may
or may not be
significant. Objects
can be moving.

Fields vary
sinusoidally in time,
energy transfer is via
radiation.

EM simulation tools in COMSOL 4.1

AC/DC Module
Low frequency and statics
Wave propagation neglected
Eddy currents

Electrical Circuits (SPICE)

RF Module
High frequency and wave propagation
Electrical Circuits (SPICE)

Core COMSOL Multiphysics

Electrostatics and Stationary Electric Currents
AC/DC Module offers more features

Magnetostatics and frequency domain Magnetic Fields in 2D

AC/DC Module offers 3D and more features

19

AC/DC and RF Applications

Components and Electromechanical devices

AC/DC

RF and Microwave Components

Antennas
Waveguides and Transmission Lines
Microwave Heaters
Filters

Optics and Photonics

RF

Coils
Motors and Generators
Cables
Electromagnet, permanent magnets
Capacitors, Inductors and Resistors

Optical Waveguides (Fibers)

Photonic Crystals

Electromagnetic field simulations in general

Low Frequency Modeling

What is low frequency?
Low frequency when the electrical
device size is less than 0.1 x
Wavelength
The device does not see the
direction of an electromagnetic
wave but just a uniform time varying
electric field

l
0.1 x l

Electrical
size

20

AC/DC Module applications

Electronics

Components

Motors & Generators

Machinery

Inductive Heating

AC/DC Module, key features

Automatic infinite elements
General free-space problems

Support for rotating machinery

Automatic torque computations

SPICE circuit import

Single-Turn and Multi-Turn Coil Domain modeling features in 2D
Port Sweeps
Predefined multiphysics couplings
Inductive and Joule heating

21

RF Module applications

Radiation Patterns

Antennas

Waveguides

Scattering

Microwave Heating

The RF Module, key features

General material parameters
Complex functions of space, time, frequency, fields, etc

Frequency sweeps
Specialized boundary conditions
Absorbing boundaries, impedance boundaries, ...

Far-field analysis
Variational Port / S-parameter formulation
Multimode ports
Hybrid-mode ports - Microstrips and Optical waveguides

Transition boundary condition for metallic layers of arbitrary thickness

Thin layers can be modeled as boundaries

22

Pipe Flow Module

Overview

The Pipe Flow module is an add-on to COMSOL

Multiphysics, released in version 4.3
Fluid flow, heat, and reacting flow in 2D and 3D pipe
networks
Acoustics and hydraulic transients,
Water Hammer in 2D and 3D pipe networks
Pipes are represented by 1D curves, for computational
efficiency. No need to resolve full flow profiles.

Autothermal chemical reactor for

synthesis of phtalic anhydride

23

Overview

Built in friction factor correlations for

pressure drop and velocity calculations
Built in pipe cross-sections, fittings,
valves, pumps, and more
Viscous heating of high-shear fluids
Automatic handling of laminar and
turbulent flow
Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow,
including Bingham plastic flow
Automatic heat transfer coupling
between pipe and external
surroundings, for air convection
cooling, solids heat conduction
Built-in Nusselt correlations for heat
transfer coefficient calculations
Reacting flow, with longitudinal
dispersion models

Optimization of oil pipeline insulation

Capabilites
Fully developed laminar or turbulent pipe flow fields are reduced to a 1D
representation with cross section averaged velocity and pressure.

The Darcy friction factor fD depends on Reynolds

number, wall roughness, and pipe shape and size. Built-in
empirical data for fD. (Laminar flow: fD= 64/Re).
Longitudinal dispersion models are built in for mass transport

24

Capabilites
Correlations for sudden pressure
change for several common building
blocks. Included
correlations
for loss
coefficients Ki

90 bend
45 bend
T-junction
Sudden contraction
Gradual contraction
Sudden expansion
Gradual expansion

Globe valve
Gate valve
Angle valve
Ball valve
Butterfly valve
Swing check
Pumps

Capabilites, cont.
Heat transfer coupling to surroundings
Automatic calculation of heat transfer coefficients for internal heat transfer
coefficients, wall layer resistance and external heat transfer.

Free convection

Forced convection

Solid conduction

Cooling pipes (color is temperature,

slice plot of surroundings )

25

Interfaces for subsurface flow- Overview

Single phase flow
Laminar vs turbulence

Porous media flow

Darcy
Brinkmann

Two phase flow

Free flow
Porous flow

Multiphysics capabilities

Non-isothermal flows
Fluid Structure interaction
Poroelasticity
Fluid flow and mass transport

The MEMS Module

26

MEMS = Micro Electro Mechanical System

And possibly more physics.

Applications
The MEMS Module focuses on the
following applications:
Actuators
Design of a device that is used to move
other parts in the micro scale

Sensors
Mechanical sensors like accelerometers

Piezoelectric effects

27

Heat Transfer Analysis

Heat Transfer Modeling

Conduction

Heat transfer by
translation of solids

Convection in fluids

Bioheating

Radiation

28

Multiphysics couplings
Joule Heating

Conjugate Heat
Transfer

Thermal expansion

Phase change

Inductive heating

Heat transfer in solids

Isotropic or anisotropic, linear or

non linear materials
Heat transfer in thin shells
Thin thermally resistive layers

single layer
multiple layers structure

Heat transfer by translation of solids

Heat source, user defined or from
other physics

Temperature of a disc brake of a car in

brake-and-release sequence

29

Heat transfer in fluids

Laminar and turbulent flows

Viscous heating
Pressure work
Fluid / solid interface

Spalart-Allmaras model
Low Reynolds, k-e model
k-e model
k- model

with temperature continuity

with boundary layer approximation

Dedicated boundary conditions

Inflow heat flux,

Outflow
Open boundary

Non-isothermal flow and heat transfer

physics list in COMSOL Multiphysics

Convective cooling

Conjugate heat transfer capabilities

Natural convection
Forced convection
Laminar and turbulent regimes

Predefined library of heat transfer coefficients

based on Nusselt correlations
Fan boundary condition

Laminar regime
Inlet, outlet, interior boundary

Temperature and velocity profile

around a vacuum flask cooled by
natural convection using low k-e
turbulence model

30

Pipe flow

Heat transfer in pipes

Non-isothermal flow in pipes

automatic transition between laminar

and turbulent flow

Bidirectional couplings between

pipes and 2D or 3D domains
Pipe properties

cross-sections
surface roughness

Cooling of a steering wheel plastic mold

including pipe flow and heat transfer in
cooling channels.

Heat Transfer in porous media

Porous media flow coupled to heat

transfer in the solid matrix and pore
fluid
Geothermal heating
Immobile fluids
Thermal dispersion
Volume averaging of material
properties
Velocity (left) and temperature (right)
profile due to buoyancy in a porous media

31

Heat Transfer in biological tissues

Heat transfer in living tissue

Tissue and blood properties

Blood perfusion rate
Arterial blood temperature
Metabolic heat rate

Bioheat Source
External heat sources (RF, DC
current)
Microwave heating in the SAM
Phantom head due to microwave
radiation from an antenna

Surface to surface radiation

Calculation of grey body radiation

view factors
Shadowing effects
Diffuse reflection
Temperature dependent emissivity
External radiation sources

User defined
From the sun (automatic position
computation)

Temperature distribution in a light bulb

generated by the radiating filament

32

Radiation in participating media

Emission/Absorption in the
participating media
Ray Scattering

Isotropic,
Linear anisotropic,
Nonlinear Anisotropic Scattering

Discrete Ordinate Method

Radiative heat transfer in a utility boiler

with internal obstacles

Additional features overview

Geometry, assembly

Heat continuity across pairs

Thermally Resistive Layers between pair
sides

Periodicity
Infinite elements
Predefined liquids and gazes
properties, with temperature and
pressure dependency
Arbitrary user defined properties

Two aluminum plates, modeled as infinitely

long, are joined by generating friction heat
with a rotating tool.

33

Examples: Electronic Cooling

Cooling of a chip
Forced and free convection using non-isothermal flow and simplified models.

Cooling of a processor using cooling flanges

Forced convection and non-isothermal flow.

Examples: Process and Manufacturing

Copper casting
Two phase system, accounts for solidification

Friction welding
Accounts for the latent heat in the melting process

34

Examples: Bioengineering and Medical

Technology
Cancer treatment using microwave, RF, or direct current as a heat source

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module

Temperature distribution in a
catalytic converter

35

Mass, Energy and Momentum Transport

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module

Focus on mass transport, chemical

reaction, and porous media flow
Application area examples

Mixing
Separation and extraction processes
Homogeneous reactions and cataysis
Heterogeneous catalysis and porous reactors
Reactive filters and monolithic reactors
Tubular/plug-flow reactors
Batch reactors
Surface reactions and deposition processes
Reactor safety and hazard control

36

Chemical Reaction Engineering Interfaces

Mass transport and reaction

interfaces

Transport of diluted species

Transport of concentrated species
Nernst-Planck equations
Species transport in porous media
Reaction engineering

Reaction Engineering Interface

Reaction Engineering Lab

No longer a separate product

Automatically generates mass

and energy balances for reacting
systems from chemical reaction
formulas
Solves reactor models for
perfectly mixed systems (ODE
models)

Batch reactor
Semi-batch reactor
CSTR
Plug-flow reactor

37

The CAPE-OPEN Interface

CAPE-OPEN is an interface interoperability standard for

simulation software in chemical engineering

Select between different software for optimal flexibility

CO-LAN (www.colan.org)
Modeling environments
Unit operation models (reactors)
Thermodynamics an physical property calculations

CAPE-OPEN interfaces can be sockets, plugs or both

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Module

38

Overview, Fluid Flow

Laminar flow
Incompressible Navier-Stokes
Weakly compressible Navier-Stokes
Strongly compressible Navier-Stokes

Turbulent flow

k-e turbulence model

Low k-e turbulence model
K-w turbluence model
Spalart-Allmaras model

Rotating machinery
Laminar flow
Turbulent flow

39

Fluid Structure Interaction

Wind-loading of structures
One-way coupling

Fluid-structure interaction
Two-way coupling

Turbulent wind-loading and structural

analysis for the simulation of a solar
panel.

40

The Memory Efficient Form

Reduces the memory cost

with a factor 6
Excellent for

Laminar flows
For weakly coupled
multiphsyics

Possible to use with the k-

turbulence model
Less effective for

Strongly coupled multiphysics

Non-Newtonian flows with
low Reynolds number

LiveLinks to CAD Software

41

Functionality and Benefits

A bidirectional interface
Associative geometry transfer
Parameter update in CAD file with automatic model regeneration
Automated parameter studies

Tools for traditional CAD import

File import of both standard and propriatery 3D CAD file formats
Interactive and automatic repair and defeaturing
COMSOL
Multiphysics

Updated geometry
Geometry

Parameters

CAD program
assembly or part

Interface: Supported CAD Packages

LiveLink for AutoCAD
For AutoCAD 2011 or 2012

LiveLink for Inventor

For Autodesk Inventor 2010, 2011

LiveLink for Pro/ENGINEER

For Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0, Wildfire 5.0

LiveLink for SolidWorks

For SolidWorks 2009, 2010

LiveLink for SpaceClaim

For SpaceClaim 2011

42

File Import and Export: Supported Formats

Format

Extension

Version

Parasolid

.x_t, xmt_txt, .x_b, .xmt_bin

up to V22

SAT (ACIS)

.sat, .sab

up to R20

STEP

.step, .stp

AP203, AP214

IGES

.igs, .iges

up to 5.3

Autodesk Inventor

.ipt and .iam

6 11, 2008 2010

DXF (2D Only)

.dxf

Pro/ENGINEER

.prt, .asm

16 to Wildfire 4.0

SolidWorks

.sldprt, .sldasm

98-2009

VRML

.vrml, .vrl

v1

CATIA V5*

.CATPart, .CATProduct

R6 to R19

* Needs license for File Import for CATIA V5

Extra Features

43

Cluster Computing
a) Solve a parameterized problem, with parameter steps distributed to
different physical cluster nodes.
b) Solve a single problem distributed to different physical nodes.

Moving Mesh

44

Parameterize. On Anything.
Could always parameterize physics
Can now parameterize Geometry + Mesh

Voltage & Current vs. Width

Anywhere you can type a number

you can type an equation
Or an interpolation function
And it can depend on anything known in your problem
Example: Concentration-dependant viscosity:
Low concentration,
High velocity

0.001 1 2c 2

High concentration,
Low velocity

45

Anything Can Depend on Anything Else

These can be variables, derivatives, nonlinear functions or
(with LiveLink) MATLAB Functions

Vboundary2 4 x sin(t ) InterpFcn (T )

Example:

cFeO 2
t

Boundary Condition: Voltage is function of :

Position (x),
Time (t)
An interpolation function based on Temperature (T)
The time rate of change of the concentration of Ferrous Oxide

Geometry
2D
Parametric curve
Polygon

3D

Parametric curve
Polygon
Helix
Sweep with Parametric curve

46

Virtual Geometry Operations

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

Also known as sloppy meshing

Difference compared to defeaturing
Keeps the underlying surface curvature

47

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.

48

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.

49

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

Equations display Settings Window

Hidden by default
Dotted line for the
corresponding feature
Controlled by Study type by
default

50

Studies
Time-dependent Solver linked to
Time-dependent Step by default
Similar behaviour for Parametric
solver
Icon indicates if the solver is
edited with a red wheel
Right-click Study and
Compute uses new default
solver if Solver 1 is edited

RMS & Variance Operations

51

FFT
Histogram Plot
Nyquist Plot
Ribbon Plot

Automatic and interactive meshing

Mapped

Free tetrahedral

Mixed

Model courtesy Metelli S.p.A.

Boundary layer

Swept

Adaptive

52

Livelink for MATLAB

Communication link between MATLAB and COMSOL Multiphysics
Use MATLAB as scripting interface to implement your COMSOL Multiphysics model
Call external MATLAB functions from within the COMSOL GUI

Modeling at the Command Line

3D backstep model implemented
at the command line

53

MATLAB Function Call from the COMSOL GUI

Use MATLAB functions in
material properties, boundary
settings, etc.
No need to start COMSOL with
MATLAB
Function path needs to be set in
MATLAB

Why COMSOL Multiphysics

Multiphysics

Single physics

A single interface for all physics

Extreme flexibility with no need for user-subroutines

Coupled phenomena (strongly or weakly coupled)

No limitation on the number of physics involved
Couplings not limited to pre-implemented cases

Modify any solvable equation

Create your own multiphysics couplings
Type in nonlinear expressions, look-up tables, or function calls
Optional user-interfaces for working directly with equations: algebraic,
PDEs, and ODEs
Parameterize anything (including the geometry)

High-Performance Computing (HPC):

Multicore & Multiprocessor

Clusters

54

Capture the Concept

TM

Questions
& Answers

55