COMSOL Day: Simulation in Academia

The adoption of new and innovative multiphysics simulation capabilities and techniques has significantly accelerated scientific and engineering research, especially in academia. In courses around the world, multiphysics simulation is being used to enhance students' learning experiences and keep them engaged.

Learn more about multiphysics modeling and the development of specialized apps using the COMSOL Multiphysics^® software and its Application Builder in this session. We will demonstrate how to create a COMSOL model and utilize the Application Builder to design a customized graphical user interface based on that model. This example will illustrate how students can use apps to examine important model features and understand how varying input parameters affect the results.

COMSOL Multiphysics^® includes unique built-in functionality for equation interpretation, which makes it possible to define your own expressions of dependent and independent variables when using any physics interface. This functionality also makes it possible to couple multiple physics phenomena. In addition, this functionality allows for formulating systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) from scratch using the mathematics interfaces. These interfaces can be used to formulate models that go beyond the standard formulations available through the built-in physics interfaces. The mathematics interfaces are also useful for teaching in physics and engineering, as they can help students understand equation formulations and their implications in the descriptions of physics phenomena.

Join us in this session to learn how to define systems of PDEs using the mathematics interfaces, such as the Coefficient Form PDE, General Form PDE, and Weak Form PDE interfaces.

Join us in this session for an overview of the Structural Mechanics Module and Acoustics Module, add-on products to the COMSOL Multiphysics^® software, as well as the additional add-on modules to the Structural Mechanics Module, such as the Composite Materials Module, Fatigue Module, and Rotordynamics Module. We will discuss associated multiphysics phenomena, including thermal expansion, aeroacoustics, poroelasticity, piezoelectricity, thermoacoustics, and acoustic–structure interaction. Additionally, we will highlight a few user stories and discuss examples that implement these physics phenomena.

CFD and heat transfer represent two of the largest application areas for COMSOL Multiphysics^®. The software includes a wide range of modeling and simulation capabilities for laminar and turbulent flow, multiphase flow, porous media flow, free/natural convection, nonisothermal flow, and conjugate heat transfer. In addition, COMSOL Multiphysics^® includes several radiation models, such as surface-to-ambient radiation, surface-to-surface radiation, and radiation in participating media.

In this session, we will provide an overview of the fluid and heat add-on products, including the CFD Module, Polymer Flow Module, Pipe Flow Module, Microfluidics Module, Porous Media Flow Module, Molecular Flow Module, and Heat Transfer Module. We will also demonstrate the modeling and simulation of multiphysics phenomena involving fluid flow, such as fluid–structure interaction (FSI) and electrokinetic flow.

Modeling and simulation (M&S) of chemical species transport and reactions in chemical and electrochemical systems is a key capability of the COMSOL Multiphysics^® software. The software and its add-on products feature a wide range of functionality for describing laminar and turbulent reacting flows, chemical reactions in porous media such as porous catalysts, and phase transport and phase change. The electrochemical modeling features include built-in descriptions for M&S of electrochemical cells such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers, along with electroplating and electrodeposition cells.

In this session, you will learn how to model reaction mechanisms in ideal reactors; how to incorporate these mechanisms into reactor models, including transport phenomena such as chemical species transport and fluid flow; and how to include advanced electrode kinetics in models of electrochemical reactors.

The COMSOL Multiphysics^® software features a wide range of capabilities for modeling and simulation of static and quasistatic electromagnetic fields and high-frequency electromagnetics. It also includes ready-made physics couplings for describing electromagnetic forces, piezoelectricity, electromagnetic heating phenomena such as Joule heating, and thermoelectric and other multiphysics interactions (e.g., Seebeck, Peltier, and Thomson effects).

In this session, we will introduce you to the electromagnetic add-on products: the AC/DC Module, RF Module, Wave Optics Module, Ray Optics Module, Semiconductor Module, and Plasma Module. We will explain how to model devices such as transformers, electric motors, generators, and alternators. Additionally, we will cover the modeling of high-frequency devices, including antennas, optical waveguides, lenses, lasers, and periodic structures.