Intensive Training Class:

COMSOL Multiphysics v4.0a

Chandan Kumar, Ph.D.
COMSOL, Inc.

Contents
Day1
Introduction to COMSOL Multiphysics GUI
Modeling Procedure Example: H Cell
Hands on #1

Model Definitions
Hands on #2

Geometry
Hands on #3

Meshing
Hands on #4

Solving
Hands on #5

Contents
Day 2
Results
Hands on #6

Equation Based Modeling

Hands on #7

Linear and Non-linear FEA

Hands on #8

Solvers
Infinite Element and PML (Perfectly Matched Layer)
Hands on #9

Time dependent problems

Hands on #10

COMSOL Multiphysics 4.0 Product Line

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS
AC/DC
MODULE
RF
MODULE

CHEMICAL
REACTION

STRUCTURAL
MECHANICS
MODULE

ENGINEERING
MODULE

ACOUSTICS
MODULE

BATTERIES &
FUEL CELLS
MODULE

HEAT

MEMS
MODULE

TRANSFER
MODULE

PLASMA
MODULE

EARTH SCIENCE
MODULE

CFD
MODULE

OPTIMIZATION
MODULE

LIVELINK FOR
SOLIDWORKS
LIVELINK FOR
AUTODESK
INVENTOR
LIVELINK FOR
PRO/ENGINEER
CAD IMPORT
MODULE

MATERIAL
LIBRARY

Supported Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX

LIVELINK FOR
MATLAB

System requirements

A 32-bit architecture can store at most 232 numbers (~4GB RAM)

In practice, due to inefficient memory managers, most OSs can only allocate
about 1.5GB per process, and the available memory becomes fragmented
COMSOL allocates memory in chunks, and will fail if it tries to exceed ~1.5GB

A 64-bit system can address virtually unlimited memory

In practice, most desktop OSs address up to 128 GB RAM
Still need to have the RAM available for good performance

To solve a large model, a 64-bit computer and 64-bit OS is needed

No significant performance difference between OSs (Windows, Linux, MAC OSX)

There is no reliable way to predict memory requirements and speed

Too many variables involved, and some can have big effects

COMSOL recommends:
64-bit computer, 4-16GB RAM to start, leave room to expand
Good graphics card (NVIDIA 512 MB appears to work well)

CAD Import Module supported file types

File formats
DXF (.dxf)

Comments
Does not require CAD Import Module

STL (.stl)
VRML (.vrml, .vrl)
Parasolid (.x_t, .xmt_txt, .x_b,
.xmt_bin)

Requires the CAD Import Module

ACIS (.sat, .sab)

Step (.STEP)
IGES (.IGES)
Solidworks (.sldprt, .sldasm)
Pro/ENGINEER (.prt, .asm)
Autodesk Inventor (.ipt, .iam)
CATIA V5 (.CATPart, .CATProduct)

Requires the CAD Import Module and

CATIA Import Module

CAD Import Module

Imported CAD files can be translated to parasolid format or

COMSOL format. COMSOL has its own CAD kernel.
Geometry in COMSOL can be exported as parasolid files or
COMSOL files (.mphbin, .mphtxt).
CAD Import Module does not support any real-time
communication between COMSOL and other CAD packages.

CAD Livelinks

LiveLinks for SolidWorks *,

AutoDesk Inventor *, and
Pro/ENGINEER *
Bidirectional Updates of
Geometry Dimensions

Any LiveLink for CAD includes

a CAD Import Module
* Trademarks of respective holders

Other supported file formats

File formats
NETEX-G (.asc)
ODB++(X) (.xml)

Comments
Requires AC/DC Module, RF Module
or MEMS Module

GDS (.gdx)
SPICE (.cir)
NASA file (.dat)

CHEMKIN (.dat)

Requires Chemical Reaction

Engineering Module

CAPE-OPEN (direct connection)

NASTRAN Bulk Data (.nas, .bdf,
.nastran, .dat)

Supported mesh formats

VRML (.vrml, .vrl)

STL (.stl)
MATLAB models and functions (.m)

Requires Livelink MATLAB

COMSOL Multiphysics GUI

COMSOL Multiphysics Graphics Window

Graphics window
Shows geometry, mesh and
results.
Select geometry, domains,
boundaries, edges and points
by clicking within this window.
The icons at the top right let
you change the visualization
(zoom, transparency, hide
objects/boundaries etc).

COMSOL Multiphysics Model Builder

Model Builder window:

Inverted tree structure with root at the
top.
Branches contain information on the
modeling steps and sequences.
Almost all steps are recorded. Option to
Enable/Disable or Delete steps.
A step listed lower in the order takes
precedence over an earlier step.
Inverted triangle icon on top right corner
to see more features (equation view, etc.).

COMSOL Multiphysics Settings Window

Settings window:
Actively changes based on the branch
selected in the Model Builder.
Input and change model settings related
to physics, mesh, results, etc.

COMSOL Multiphysics Status Window

Messages window: Information on number
of mesh elements and DOFs, solution time.
Progress window: Shows the progress and
related information on convergence while a
model is being solved.

Results window: Displays numerical results

from Derived Values.

COMSOL Desktop Top Menubar

Only if you are

working with
Livelink MATLAB

COMSOL Desktop Model Library

Select a model and click Dynamic
Help icon to get documentation

Example models categorized under

Modules and application areas.
Each example has a model file and
documentation.

Open model file

The COMSOL workflow

COMSOL Desktop Material Browser

List of materials and respective material
properties.
Intended for use in the Materials branch of
the Model Builder.
Built-In comes with COMSOL Multiphysics.
Other materials are available with
appropriate add-on Modules
Add your own material library.
See www.matweb.com.

Material Library has properties of 2500+

materials and is a separate product
-Temperature dependent properties of solids
- Temperature and pressure dependent
properties of some fluids

COMSOL Multiphysics Selection List

Provides a numbered
list of geometry,
domains, boundaries,
edges or points.

COMSOL Desktop Help Menu

Help > Help Desk

COMSOL 4.0a GUI Other Information

All windows can be resized dynamically

Windows can be shrunk or closed to maximize graphics area
Windows can be moved around within the main window or
detached into a separate, floating, window
All branches can be renamed
The interface is designed for widescreen usage
You can also split the interface across dual monitors

Try these out yourself

COMSOL is designed for a three-button mouse

Left Mouse
Button (LMB)

Right Mouse
Button (RMB)

Middle Mouse Button (MMB)

Many mice have a scroll wheel in the
center that is also a button. Hold down
the scroll wheel to click the MMB.

Using the mouse to move the graphics

Click and hold down, while
moving the mouse, the:
LMB: will orbit the view

MMB: zoom in/out

Click the LMB on the Graphics window and

try these out.
Try other options, zoom, transparency,
resize and reset the COMSOL Desktop.

RMB: pan the display

Resetting the Desktop

Options > Desktop Layout
> Reset Desktop

The COMSOL workflow

Constructing a model in COMSOL

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Define the problem type that you wish to solve

Sketch, or import, your CAD geometry
Define the material properties for each domain
Set the loads & boundary conditions
Mesh the domains
Solve the model
Post-process and report results

Define the Space Dimension

Click the Next button to
proceed to the next step

3D The full Cartesian modeling space

2D axisymmetric structures and solutions are assumed
to be invariant around a centerline
2D structure and solutions are invariant out of the plane
1D, 1D axisymmetric - variations along only one axis
0D lumped parameter modeling, no spatial variations

Define the Application or Physics

Select the physics that you are interested in.
Multiple physics can be selected at one time.
Once all physics are selected, click next.

Click the Add Selected

button to add that
physics to the model
This is the variable name
you will be solving for

Define the Study or Analysis type

Finally, click Finish

Select the temporal behavior appropriate for the

physics you are interested in. The most common
types are:
Stationary No time variations
Time Dependent Fully transient behavior
Frequency Domain Known excitation frequency

A new model graphical user interface

This is how the COMSOL Desktop should

look after performing the initial steps

Exercise: Chemical Diffusion in an H cell

Physics
Laminar Flow
Convection & Diffusion

See model file:

Example_Hcell

H-Cell Setup

Set Space Dimension to 3D

Fluid Flow> Single Phase Flow> Laminar Flow
Study>Stationary

Geometry:
Import >CAD > H_cell_GEOM_3D
Global definitions (Import these files)
Parameters> Load> H_cell_constants

Set up Navier-Stokes Flow

Laminar Flow:
Compressibility > incompressible
Fluid Properties:
Set Density to rho
Set Dynamic Viscosity to eta

Boundary Conditions:
Defaults to Wall, No-Slip
Boundaries 2 & 8: (Inlets)

22

Inlet, Pressure no viscous stress

Set P0 to p0

Boundaries 20 & 22: (Outlets)

Outlet, Pressure no viscous stress
Set P0 to 0

20

P=0
2

P = p0

Mesh and Solve for Flow

Mesh with Tetrahedral

Set Predefined mesh size to Extra Fine

Add Free Tetrahedral

Study > Compute

Set up Convection - Diffusion

Model 1 Add Physics
Chemical Species Transport> Transport of Diluted Species
(click end flag)
22

Convection & Diffusion:

Diffusion to D
Velocity: Velocity field

c=0
8

20

Boundary Conditions:

Defaults to Insulation
Boundary 2: Concentration c=c0
Boundary 8: Concentration c=0
Boundaries 20 & 22: Outflow

c = c0

Solve Coupled Equations

Viscosity Function of Concentration

eta = eta*(1+alpha*c^2)

Parametric Solver

D = 1e-10 5e-11 1e-11

Study 1

Compute

Postprocessing
Slice plot for concentration

Hands-on #1: Cavity Radiation

First multiphysics model

Heat Transfer
Surface to Surface
Radiation
Stationary problem
(steady-state solution)

Model Definitions

Global and Local Definitions

Parameters and Variables
Selection
View
Identity and Contact Pairs
Functions
Probes
Model Couplings
Coordinate systems

Global Definitions
Global Definitions can be used to define:
Parameters
Variables
Functions

Quantities have global scope in the model file. They

can be used in multiple models in the same model file

Local Definitions
Model 1 > Definitions
Only valid within the model

Parameters and Variables

Parameters

Variables

Only global scope

Can have either global or local scope at different

geometry level (domain, boundary, edge, point)

Accepts only scalar values

Accepts numeric values, expressions involving

other scalar variables or spatially dependent
(vector) variables

Useful to run parametric analysis

on any model input including
geometry dimensions

Useful to store expressions which may be called in

the model settings and postprocessing

Selection

Model 1 > Definitions >

Selection
Allows you to group several
geometric entities which can be
used in Physics or Mesh
settings
Any number of selection groups
can be created and customnamed

View
View 1

Model 1 > Definitions > View

Control visualization
parameters
Transparency
Grid
Lighting

Hide geometry objects,

domains, boundary, edges
and points

View 2

Identity and Contact Pairs

Identity Pairs

Contact Pairs

Only applicable to an assembly geometry

Only applicable to an assembly geometry

Could be useful for any physics interface

Only applicable for MEMS Module and

Structural Mechanics Module

Make the solution across two connected

boundaries (one from each connecting
part) continuous.

Define boundaries where the parts may

come into contact but cannot penetrate
each other under deformation

Identity
Pair

See model file:

Example_pairs
Contact
Pair

Functions

Right-click on
Model > Definitions

Can be used to define input signal, material

properties or other parameters that depend on:
Time
Spatial coordinates
Other variables from other physics

Built-in Functions - Examples

Ramp

Pulse

See model file:

Example_functions

Step

Triangle
wave

Square Wave

Arbitrary Interpolation

Functions with a discontinuity

In COMSOL such functions can be

written as Boolean expressions:
(t>0)
(t>=0)
(t>0)&&(t<1)
(t>1)||(t<0)
These can cause numerical difficulties!!!

COMSOL has smoothed step functions

and derivatives built-in:
flc1hs(t,scale), fldc1hs(t,scale)
flc2hs(t,scale), fldc2hs(t,scale)

Functions with a discontinuity: Phase

change

When materials change

phase the properties can
undergo abrupt changes.
However, this is usually the
worst possible approach!!

Adding smoothing helps the

problem from a numerical
point of view, and is a good
reflection of the mushy zone

Usually, we want to smoothly transition

between two values
P_step
P2

P1
T
Set up this type of function:
*flc2hs(T-T0,dT)
P1 (p1-P2)*flc2hs(T-T0,dT)

Step function

Example: Melting Ice (no convection)

Ice, T= -5C

T0
dT
k_S
k_L
rho_S
rho_L
Cp_S
Cp_L
LH_melting

0[degC]
0.5
2.31[W/m/K]
0.613[W/m/K]
918[kg/m^3]
997[kg/m^3]
2052[J/kg/K]
4179[J/kg/K]
333[kJ/kg]

Ice

Water

Freezing point
Mushy zone width, in K
Thermal conductivity of ice
Thermal conductivity of water
Density of ice
Density of water
Specific heat of ice
Specific heat of water
Latent heat of melting of H20

Incorporating latent heat

Integral of the area
between the curves must
equal the latent heat
Specific
Heat

Phase 2
See model file:
Example_discontinuity

Phase 1

T
Transition, or
mushy zone

Probes

Monitor the development of a scalar quantity from a dynamic

simulation (time-dependent, frequency, parametric).
Results appear as a table and plot

Domain Probe
Boundary Probe
Edge Probe

Domain Point Probe

Boundary Point Probe

Global variable Probe

Probe Average, Maximum, Minimum or

Integral of any expression in selected
domains, boundaries or edges
Probe any expression at a point in a
selected domain or boundary

Probe a global variable

Probes - Example

See model file:

Example_probes

Model Couplings

Mapping operators

Source

Coupling
Operator

Destination

Scalar coupling - Mapping from n-D space to 0-D (scalar)

Vector coupling - Mapping from n-D to m-D space

Scalar Coupling Operators

Integration
Average
Maximum
Minimum

1. Define the operators on

selected domains, boundaries,
edges or points
2. Use these operators on any
variable/expression in model
settings or postprocessing

Vector Coupling Operators

Extrusion maps values between domains of same or lower to

higher dimensions See model file: Example_extrusion

Projection maps values between domains of higher to lower

dimensions See model file: Example_projection

Boundary Similarity maps an expression defined on a part of a

boundary to another part of a boundary with the same shape

Identity Mapping maps between geometric entities which overlap

in different frames. When it is evaluated at a specific set of
coordinates in the destination frame, its argument is evaluated with
the same coordinates in the source frame.

List of Built-in Operators

Unary and binary operators (relational, logical, arithmetic)

Special operators (derivatives, mean, if, etc.)
Mathematical functions (sin, cos, atan2, log, abs, sqrt, etc.)
Physical constants (g, k_B, mu0, etc.). Append the name with
_const (e.g. g_const)

For a complete list, see:

Help > Help Desk > COMSOL Multiphysics > Global and Local
Definitions > Operators, Functions, and Variables Reference

List of system variables

Time: t
Position: x, y, z, r, X, Y, Z, R
Edge/Surface Parameter: s, s1, s2
Edge/Surface Normal: n, nx, ny, nz, nr
Edge Tangent: tx, ty, tz, tr
Surface Tangents: t1x, t1y, t1z, t2x, t2y, t2z
Numerical Constants: eps, i, j, pi
Eigenvalues: lambda
Mesh Information: h, dom, meshtype, meshelement, dvol, qual

For a complete list, see:

Help > Help Desk > COMSOL Multiphysics > Global and Local
Definitions > Variables

COMSOL derivative variables

Given solution variables: T, V, etc...
The spatial derivatives are given by: Tx, Ty, Tz, Vx, Vy, Vz, etc...

Tx

w
T
wx

Ty

w
T
wy

The edge and surface tangent

derivatives are: TTx, TTy, TTz, etc...

Tz

TTx

The time derivatives (if solving a

transient problem) are: Tt, Vt, etc...

These can be mixed:

Tt

w
T
wz

I  nn  T 
T

w
T
wt

w 2 w 2T

Txytt
2
wt wxwy

Exercise Tube Resonances

Wikipedia:
Open Tube: f = (nv) / (2L) n = 1,2, 3,
Closed Tube: f = (nv) / (4L) n = 1,2, 3,

v = Sound Speed = 343 m/sec (air)

L = Tube Length

If L = 0.3 m, d = 20 mm

Open Tube: f = 572 Hz

Closed Tube f = 286 Hz

OPEN
BOTH
ENDS

OPEN
ONE
END

Modeling Closed Tube

3D > Acoustics > Pressure Aocustics>Eigenfreq

Geometry> Cylinder > r=0.01 L=0.3
Add air
Pressure acoustics Model> Default
Boundary > Pick Top End > Sound Soft
Study1: Set no. of eigenfrequencies = 2

Closed Tube COMSOL: f = 286.001 Hz

Closed Tube Analytic: f = 286 Hz
See model file:
Example_Tube_Resonance_
Simple

Add Valves

Top
Open

Gemometry> Workplane > z-x

Circle > r = 0.006, located at x = 0.02
Transform>Array> x= 5, every x=0.05
Extrude (negative) 0.011
Composite Object (no internal bound)
Mesh, Solve Now f = 285.12

Open 2nd from top valve f = 472.53 Hz

Close 2nd, open bottom two, f = 712.46 Hz

See model file:
Example_Tube_Resonance_
Valves

Bottom
Closed

472 Hz

712 Hz

Hands-on #2: Rock Fracture Flow

Geophysics flow due to potential

Uses built-in Diffusion equation
Adaptive mesh refinement
Uses interpolation function
Open the data file
rock_fracture_flow_aperture_data.txt

Check the space delimited data format

% Grid = defines the grid
% Data = specify the data on the grid

Geometry

Geometry Settings and CAD kernel

Building blocks for 2D and 3D geometries

Primitive shapes in 2D and 3D
Workplane
CAD operations

Importing CAD geometries

Geometry sequencing and parameterization

Finalize Geometry: Union vs. Assembly

Successful geometry for FEA models

Geometry settings in COMSOL

Option to choose
geometric units

Absolute repair tolerance = relative repair tolerance

x maximum coordinate of the input objects

Geometric entities that have a distance less

than the absolute repair tolerance are merged
Important for creating composites
COMSOL kernel = mphbin file
CAD Import Module kernel = parasolid file

Technical Note: CAD Modeling kernels

CAD kernel: A fancy name for a software library that is used to

describe a geometry in modeling space

COMSOL Kernel: Proprietary internal format, but written to address

specific needs of the COMSOL userbase
Limitation: You cannot write out a COMSOL Kernel CAD file into any other
CAD format

PARASOLID Kernel: Proprietary 3rd party format, ubiquitous in the

CAD/CAM/CAE industry
All COMSOL CAD Module products are based upon this kernel
Advantage: You can write data back out to in parasolid format and open the
geometry in another program

Primitive shapes in 2D and 3D

Right-click on Geometry in Model Builder

These shapes are building blocks
2D Primitives

3D Primitives

Workplane

Using a workplane to embed 2D surfaces

Shows the workplane geometry

Embeds the 2D
geometries in the 3D area

Exercise: Dissect a sphere using workplane

Other CAD operations

Extrude
Revolve
Chamfer (only in 2D)
Fillet (only in 2D)
Split
Delete
Boolean Operations

Union
Intersection
Difference
Compose

Transforms

Array
Copy
Mirror
Move
Rotate
Scale

Conversions

Convert to Solid
Convert to Surface
Convert to Curve
Convert to Point
Convert to COMSOL

Importing CAD geometries

Right-click on Model Builder > Geometry

Option 1 Import a CAD file
Option 2 Use CAD LiveLink

CAD Import vs. LiveLink

File Import

Live-Links

Reasons for Already have the data in this

Using format

Allows you to do all CAD modeling in

3rd party CAD packages

Advantages Only need the CAD file, nothing

else

Can modify the CAD data and the

COMSOL model will update
automatically

Disadvantages Cannot easily modify the CAD

Requires that you have the CAD
data, the COMSOL model will
program installed and open on the
not update if you need to change same computer
the original CAD file

You can have a model with both

Build CAD in COMSOL or Import?

COMSOL
Advantages Everything is in one native
file format
The CAD will be well-suited
for analysis

Disadvantages COMSOL is not a high end

CAD package

Import (File Import OR Live-Link)

Can use a full-featured CAD tool for
modeling
Live-Link functionality is best-of-bothworlds

Requires additional expertise, software, $$$

External CAD is not always suited for
COMSOL modeling

You can have a model with both

Geometry sequencing

All geometry steps added are

recorded sequentially
Order of adding geometry steps
is important
Easy to go back and change
information in certain steps
Do not need to rebuild geometry
from scratch

Geometry parameterization

Create parameters to define geometry dimensions

Setup the model only with information on physics and meshing

Add a Parametric Sweep study

Uses geometry sequence steps and parameter value to rebuild geometries
Solve the same multiphysics problem for varying geometry dimensions

Parametric sweep can involve:

One parameter
Ordered pair of parameters
Nested parameters

Geometry parameterization - Example

See model file:
Example_geom_parametric

Vary only width

Values: 1 1.5 2
3 solutions

Study 1 > Parametric Sweep

Vary both width and height

Use same parametric sweep

Names: width height
Values: 1 0.1 1.5 0.15 2 0.2
3 solutions

Vary both width and height

Use two parametric sweeps (nested)

Name: width, Values: 1 1.5 2
Name: height, Values: 0.1 0.15 0.2
9 solutions

Understanding the icons

Green Box: You are here

Red X: Invalid entry in the settings

Gray icon: Disabled

Gray triangle: Geometry at this step needs rebuilding

Gray box: You are here, but need to rebuild

The finalize node

Union vs. Assembly

Union
Default option to be used in most cases
Combines all geometry into one finalized geometry

Assembly

Detached geometry
Required for identity and contact pairs
Allows you to mesh adjoining boundaries independently
Imprints create a copy of adjacent boundaries

Union vs. Assembly - Examples

See model file: Example_assembly

Inspect each of
these cases

Assembly Slit boundary conditions

Geometry exercise

Example 1:
Five steps

Example 2:
Four steps

Example 3:
Ten steps

Example 4:
Ten steps

CAD repair exercise

Open a new 3D file

Import the geometry file
repair_demo_1.x_b
Mesh it using Normal Free
tetrahedral mesh
Number of mesh elements = 89592
Geometry 1 > CAD Repair > Repair
Absolute repair tolerance = 1e-3
Mesh it using Normal Free
tetrahedral mesh
Number of mesh elements = 63373

Successful geometry for FEA

Avoid excessive small details
Avoid singularities in the geometry

Use the geometry required to analyze the physics

Avoid high aspect ratio
Use symmetry

Avoid excessive small details

Working with overly detailed geometry, extraneous features

Sliver faces (drafts), small faces, short edges
Fillets, fillets, fillets

Downloaded from thomasnet.com

Avoid singularities in the geometry

See model file: Example_geom_singularity
Consider DC current flow
Cut a notch out of a square block,
apply insulating boundary conditions
Notch introduces a singularity in
electric field and resistive heating
Apply a fillet at the notch
How does the fillet affect the
solution?
- Locally
- Globally

Avoid singularities in the geometry

Resistive heating at notch vs. fillet radius
Solution changes by order of magnitude
Strong local effect

Total resistive heating vs. fillet radius

Negligible change in solution 0.001%
Weak global effect

Use the geometry required to analyze

the physics

Actual part

Geometry of flow path

COMSOL can cap rectangular and circular planar faces on

3D objects, other capping operations are more difficult
Try to get the negative geometry in the original CAD package

89

Avoid high aspect ratio

Thin layer
inbetween two
bulk materials

2D aspect ratios of up to 1000:1 are possible (but difficult)

In 3D, due to memory and accuracy constraints, try to stay
below 100:1
Approximate this via a boundary condition
Consider using a reduced dimension model
Try using Infinite Elements or Perfectly Matched Layers
(PML) as appropriate to model infinitely extended region

Use symmetry
Use symmetry planes
Model on reduced geometry
- Less mesh
- Less memory
- Less time
Consider using:
- 2D if there is no variation in
geometry and solution out-of-plane
- 2D axisymmetry if there is no
variation in geometry and solution
about an axis of revolution

Materials

Adding user-defined materials

Built-in safety checks
Adding or removing properties
Calling functions

Modifying properties of materials from the Material Browser

Using your own expression

Plotting material property functions

Plotting built-in properties as functions of temperature
Plotting built-in properties as functions of temperature and pressure

User-defined Materials
Model 1 > Materials >
Material

Essential properties required are

selected based on the chosen
physics in the model

Values must be assigned to these

essential material properties

Add/remove properties and functions

Model 1 > Materials >
Material 1 > Basic

Select a property and

delete it from the list

Call a function

Modifying material properties

In Model Builder, select Model 1 > Materials > some material

In the Settings panel, find the Material Contents area
Type in your own expression or call a user-defined function

Plotting material properties

Try the following

Add these material from the Material Browser
Liquids and Gases > Liquids > Ethanol
We will plot density as a function of temperature

Liquids and Gases > Gas > Freon12 vapor

We will plot density as a function of pressure and temperature

Property as a function of temperature

Materials > Ethanol > Basic > Piecewise (rho)

1-D Plot

Temperature-dependent expression

Property as a function of pressure and

temperature
Materials > Freon12 vapor > Basic > Analytic (rho)

Pressure and Temperaturedependent expression

2-D Plot

Pressure and Temperature

range for plot

Hands-on #3: Permanent Magnet

Magnetostatics no
current
Symmetry and
antisymmetry boundaries
Automatic calculation of
magnetostatic force
Stationary problem

Mesh

Geometry discretization using mesh

Element order
Discretization error
Memory requirements

Meshing 2D and 3D geometries

Unstructured and structured mesh elements
Mesh sequencing
Converting structured to unstructured mesh

Mesh parameters
Element size
Growth rate
Resolution

Why do we mesh?

The finite element method works by dividing the complex CAD

shape up into smaller pieces, or elements, over which it is easy to
approximate the solution via polynomials.
The more elements, the better the approximation of the solution.
The more elements, the longer to solve, and more RAM is needed.

How finely do we need to mesh?

You rarely know this ahead of time with 100% certainty

The mesh needs to be fine enough to resolve all of the
gradients in the solution
Perform a mesh convergence study
Solution

Increasing number of elements

Geometric discretization error

1

10

1.E+00

1st order

Four linear elements

discretizing a unit circle
Error: (-2)/

Error

1.E-02

1.E-04

3rd

order

2nd order

1.E-06
Elements per Chord

This mesh adequately

describes the geometry, but
not necessarily the solution!

Meshing notes: The more elements, the better,

but this has some practical limits
Displacement

Normalized Max. Disp.

1.000

0.995

0.990
0

Refinement Iteration

Make sure to study the

solution variable, and
not a derived variable

Numerical Error
k = exp(u) N/m
p=2N

This problem has an exact

solution, but we are solving it
numerically via NewtonRaphson iterations.

u
The error can be minimized by
taking many iterations, but a
computer usually cannot find
an exact answer for two
reasons:

Force balance on node:

f (u) = p ku=0
f (u) = 2 - exp(u) u = 0

f (u)

1) Numerical approximations,

usolution 0.853
u

2) Operations such as exp(u)

are approximate
This is NUMERICAL error

Discretization Error
10 1st order elements

4 2nd order elements

uexact-umodel

16 1st order elements

A finite element basis function can only

approximately represent a true solution.
The error can be minimized by using smaller
elements, or increasing element order.
This is MESH or DISCRETIZATION error

Discretization error and numerical error

1.E+00

Mesh error
decreases with
more elements
Numerical error is an inherent
property of computers, which
cannot exactly represent numbers.
It increases with more elements.

Total Error

1.E-02

1.E-04

1.E-06

1.E-08

1.E-10
1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

Number of Elements per Wavelength

1st order elements

1000000

Total Error vs. memory requirements

n: # of elements
per side

n=2

n=1

n=1
n=20

Insulated
quarter
cylinder
with heat
generation

Meshing options for 2D

Explore

2D mesh sequence
See model file:
Example_mesh_2D_sequence

Boundary Layer
Stretching factor: Ratio between 2 consecutive
Boundary layers.
Thickness adjustment: Thickness of first layer. Automatic
Means 1/20th of the local domain element height.

Meshing options for 3D

What kind of meshes can we use?

Tetrahedral
Most general, any 3D part
can be tet meshed. Use
this as much as possible.

Hexahedral

Prismatic

- Only appropriate for certain geometries

- When solution is known to vary slowly in one axis
- Large deformations of the mesh
- Contact problems

Hybrid mesh

Boundary Layer Meshing

A semi-automatic hybrid approach between
prismatic and tetrahedral meshing.
It is meant for situations when you know
that there will be high gradients normal to
some surfaces, but you want the flexibility
of the tetrahedral mesh in the remainder of
the domains.

Predefined and custom mesh options

Predefined 9 options from Extremely Coarse to Extremely Fine

Custom

Mesh parameters

Maximum element size (positive number)

Maximum allowed element size

Minimum element size (positive number)

Minimum allowed element size

Element growth rate (a number between 1 and 2)

Rate at which the element size can grow from a region with small elements
to a region with larger elements

Resolution of curvature (positive number)

Determines the size of boundary elements compared to the curvature of the
geometric boundary
Max element size along boundary = curvature radius x resolution of
curvature
Lower value gives finer mesh

Resolution of narrow regions (positive number)

Control the number of layers of elements that are created in narrow regions
A value between 0 to 1 produces anisotropic element

Maximum element size

This sets the maximum length of the edge of any element

If you do not pick a value, COMSOL uses L/10, where L is the
maximum dimension of the model

Element growth rate

This controls the maximum element size between adjacent elements

Resolution of curvature
radius=0.5

Maximum element size is 0.05

Resolution of narrow regions

Resolution=1

Resolution=5
Puts approximately the specified number
of elements into the narrow regions

2D Triangular, Quadrilateral, Mapped, and

Boundary Layer Meshes

Triangle

Quad

Mapped

Boundary Layer

Example 1: Use a sequence of meshing

commands to build up customized meshes
1) Global Mesh size set

4) Swept meshes of differing distributions

2) Local mesh size on three faces

3) Tetrahedral mesh

Example 2: Creating additional partitioning

geometry objects can help with swept
meshing

Example 3: Split the domain by extruding

curves

Example 4: The distribution of elements

along edges can be specifically controlled

Meshing Exercise Different element types

Tetrahedral vs. prismatic elements

current
carrying
wire

23,000 elements

2,500 elements

186k d.o.f.

83K d.o.f.

22s solve time

17s solve time

150 MB for K matrix

150 MB for K matrix

Solvers are tuned to take advantage of tetrahedral elements

Hands-on #4: Micromirror

MEMS model
Advanced structural
mechanics problem
Prestressed structure
Geometric nonlinearity
Mapped and Swept mesh
Parametric study

Solving

Study defines how to solve a

model
Study Steps
Solver Configuration
Job Configuration

Default Study node

You can add multiple study
steps to solve one physics at a
time. COMSOL automatically
uses the first study step as an
input to the second study step.
See model file:
Example_StudySteps
Different study types

Solving

Solver Configuration contains all

the solver settings and
sequences.
To look at the Solver
configuration before solving
enable view more options

Solving

Solver Configurations: Show default

Solver or Create Custom Solver

Type
Variables

Solving

Adaptive Meshing
Stationary or Eigenvalue problems
Evaluates residual, calculates local error
and refines mesh based on local error.

Solving

Adaptive Meshing Example

To add adaptive mesh refinement in
Study3
Right click on Study3 and
select Show Default Solver
Right click Stationary Solver 1 and
select Adaptive Mesh Refinement
Right click Study 3 and select Compute

Open model file:

Example_Adaptive_Meshing

Hands on #5: Tilted Pad Bearing

Custom Solver Settings Setting

up a solver sequence.
Reynolds Equation on a boundary
for lubrication
Solid Mechanics