All posts by Alexandra Foley
Using Degeneracy Breaking to Design a MEMS Biosensor
Researchers from Newcastle University in the U.K. used simulation to investigate the effects of material and geometric symmetry breaking in a degenerate mode sensor. Get the full story >>
Green Energy Management for Communication Systems
Look inside a team at Bell Labs, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent committed to designing technologies for significantly improving energy management for next-generation telecom products.
Thermal Contact Resistance Simulation
When 2 materials are in direct contact, thermal conductivity is determined by their properties, but surface roughness introduces air-filled gaps between the materials. How do you model this?
Accurate Hematology Analysis Using Hydrofocusing
Hematology analysis is important for diagnosis and treatment. Researchers at HORIBA Medical used simulation to develop new methods for analyzing the accuracy of their hematology analysis devices.
What Is a Packed Bed Reactor?
Absorption, distillation, stripping, separation processes, catalytic reactions — the list goes on! All of these chemical processing applications require the use of a packed bed reactor.
Solving a Space Problem with Origami Principles
From spacecraft to solar panels, lack of space is a design problem. Read about how some researchers are using origami, the ancient art of Japanese paper folding, to remedy this issue.
Optimizing the Continuous Casting Process with Simulation
To optimize the steelmaking process of continuous casting, researchers at SMS Concast turned to simulation. One result? A steelmaking plant in Taiwan reduced yearly CO2 emissions by ~40,000 tons.
Just Published: Paper on Modeling Spinal Column Stimulation
To determine the effect of scar tissue on electrical current distribution during the treatment of chronic pain, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess modeled the spinal cord stimulation process.
A Recipe for Success at Whirlpool Corporation
Engineers at Whirlpool Corporation and the GREENKITCHEN European green energy initiative project used multiphysics simulation to improve energy efficiency in kitchen appliances.
Modeling an RF Anechoic Chamber Using Periodic Structures
Anechoic chambers can be either acoustic or electromagnetic. These noise-canceling rooms are designed to absorb sound or electromagnetic waves. Simulation can be used to design these devices.
COMSOL News 2014 Is Now Available
COMSOL News 2014 features research in a variety of application areas, including: drug-eluding stents, nuclear reactors, lightning strike protection for aircraft, and more >>
Converting the High Flux Isotope Reactor to LEU Fuel
Learn about an initiative that requires nuclear research reactors currently using highly enriched uranium fuel to be converted to low enriched uranium fuel — and how simulation can help.
Seas of Change for Wind Turbines
One benefit of placing wind turbines offshore? They can’t be heard! Even better? High winds occur with more regularity offshore, making energy production more effective!
POWER Prevents Corona Discharge in Power Lines
POWER Engineers, a global engineering consulting firm, used multiphysics simulation to study if and where corona discharge occurs in power lines and their associated assemblies.
Hyperthermic Oncology: Hyperthermia for Cancer Treatment
Hyperthermic oncology: A type of cancer treatment in which high temperatures are used to destroy tumor cells. Learn about the physics behind this method and how simulation can be used to improve it.
Multiphysics Simulation: An IEEE Spectrum® Insert Now Available
The 2014 edition of Multiphysics Simulation, an IEEE Spectrum insert, features stories about engineers and designers in the power and energy industries. Get an overview here.
Using Cyclic Symmetry to Reduce Computation Time
Cyclic symmetry can be more complex for rotationally geometries than it can for axially symmetric geometries. Learn how to implement this feature to cut down on computational memory.
Modeling a Displacement Ventilation System
There are 2 different types of ventilation systems: mixing ventilation and displacement ventilation. Displacement ventilation is mainly found in offices, schools, and other public spaces.
Modeling PSU Cooling with COMSOL
A forced convection cooling system, such as a PSU, is used for removing excess heat produced by electrical computer components. You can model this device in COMSOL Multiphysics®.
The Linac-MR Project: Tumor Tracking and Treatment
Not too long ago, my colleague Jennifer wrote a blog post about the Cross Cancer Institute, and the research being conducted there into the design of a new device for treating cancerous tumors. The device, known as the Linac-MR, is revolutionary due to its ability to both image and treat cancer cells simultaneously — a capability that had previously been regarded as near impossible due to the conflicting physics interactions involved. Such a device would allow for extremely precise radiation […]
Optimizing Dialyzer Design Using Multiphysics Simulation
A while back, I had the opportunity to speak with Steven Conrad, a critical care physician at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Science Center in New Orleans. Not only is Dr. Conrad a physician as well as a professor at LSU, he’s also a biomedical engineer who uses finite element analysis (FEA) to conduct research on the design of dialyzers. Dr. Conrad uses COMSOL Multiphysics to gain a deeper understanding of the physics behind these devices, and to create […]
3D Printing: Material Matters
In the past, we’ve discussed a few of the extraordinary uses of 3D printing (or additive manufacturing) technology by some innovative engineers, and even printed a few of our COMSOL models. In one of our previous posts on 3D printing, we discussed some of the limitations that this technique poses from both a consumer and manufacturing stand-point — you can only print one material at a time. Now however, as was mentioned in an article in Desktop Engineering, not only […]
The Next Generation of Moore’s Law
At the COMSOL Conference in Boston, Lam Research Corporation held a keynote talk about Moore’s law and its role in computational modeling. The keynote touched on how Moore’s law has not only impacted the advancement of simulation tools, but also how the development of these tools have themselves allowed Moore’s law to hold true. The concept was something that interested me, and I know it’s been on the minds of many electrical engineers as well. Case in point, when browsing […]
Learn about Modeling Vacuum Systems in COMSOL
Until recently, simulation had not been widely used by vacuum system designers because of an absence of commercial simulation tools. Last October, my colleague James Ransley held a webinar about how to model vacuum systems using COMSOL Multiphysics. The webinar was a great success, and it inspired us to produce a dedicated product for modeling vacuum applications: the Molecular Flow Module (new with version 4.3b). This year, on November 21st, James will be giving a webinar explaining the new features […]