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2D Axisymmetric Model of a Conical Horn Antenna
Did you know that you can save time setting up your electromagnetics models by taking advantage of axisymmetry? We discuss the benefits of this approach using a conical horn antenna example.
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?
How to Obtain Oil Cost-Effectively with Multilateral Wells
1 example of how numerical simulation benefits the oil & gas industry: You can predict the stability of a multilateral well to determine if it will need expensive mechanical stabilization.
Phase Change: Cooling and Solidification of Metal
Phase change: A transformation of material from one state of matter to another due to a change in temperature. Learn how to model phase change in a continuous casting process.
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.
Modeling Convective Cooling of Electrical Devices
We developed a model that includes all of the important details of thermal management in a high-power electrical device. To do so, we needed to use high performance computing with hybrid modeling.
Video Tutorial: Capacitive Pressure Sensor
Looking for a visual explanation of how to model a miniaturized 3D electromechanics problem? Read this blog post for a quick overview and an embedded tutorial video.
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.
Modeling the Hydrostatic Pressure of a Fluid in a Deformable Container
Picture a water balloon being compressed at the center. As you squeeze the balloon, the locations of the highest point and depth of fluid change, altering the hydrostatic pressure distribution.
Computing Stiffness of Linear Elastic Structures: Part 1
Learn how to compute the stiffness of linear elastic structures in 1D and 2D by implementing the Timoshenko beam theory in COMSOL Multiphysics®. Part 1 of a 2-part series on computing stiffness.
Simulating Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability and Climate Dynamics
Q: What do heated soap bubbles, wavy clouds, and Jupiter’s Great Red Spot have in common? A. An unstable motion called Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.
Buckling, When Structures Suddenly Collapse
The easiest way to approach a buckling problem — like a bridge collapse or crushed soda can — is by performing a linearized buckling analysis. See how to do so in COMSOL Multiphysics® here >>
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.
2D Materials, It’s Not Just About Graphene
You’ve heard the story: a couple of scientists discovered graphene when they repeatedly pulled a strip of adhesive tape off a layer of graphite. Graphene has been all the rage due to its incredible strength, low weight, and electronic properties, but it’s not the only material of its kind. There are plenty of other 2D materials to consider for electrical applications — some of which may work together with graphene, and others that can be used in its place.
Why All These Stresses and Strains?
In structural mechanics you will come across a plethora of stress and strain definitions. It may be a Second Piola-Kirchhoff Stress or a Logarithmic Strain. In this blog post we will investigate these quantities, discuss why there is a need for so many variations of stresses and strains, and illuminate the consequences for you as a finite element analyst. The defining tensor expressions and transformations can be found in many textbooks, as well as through some web links at the […]
How to Identify and Resolve Singularities in the Model when Meshing
In our previous post on Meshing Considerations for Linear Static Problems, we found that, in the limit of mesh refinement, the solution to the finite element model would converge toward the true solution. We also saw that adaptive mesh refinement could be used to generate a mesh that would have smaller elements in regions where the error was higher, rather than simply using smaller elements everywhere in the model. In this post, we will examine a couple of common pitfalls […]
Meshing Considerations for Linear Static Problems
In this blog entry, we introduce meshing considerations for linear static finite element problems. This is the first in a series of postings on meshing techniques that is meant to provide guidance on how to approach the meshing of your finite element model with confidence.
Simulating Tensile Stress in a Tube Connection with Prestressed Bolts
When analyzing a bolted joint, one thing to consider for an accurate analysis is the bolt pretension. With COMSOL Multiphysics, the effects of prestressing a bolt can be easily computed using the Bolt Pre-tension feature available in the Structural Mechanics Module. After modeling prestressed bolts, a further analysis can then be conducted on an external load applied to the structure. Here, we will explore how to include prestressed bolts in a tube connection model, and then carry out a stress […]
How to Model a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger
Shell and tube heat exchangers are one of the most widely used type of heat exchanger in the processing industries (65% of the market according to H. S. Lee’s book, Thermal Design) and are commonly found in oil refineries, nuclear power plants, and other large-scale chemical processes. Additionally, they can be found in many engines and are used to cool hydraulic fluid and oil. There are a variety of different configurations for these heat exchangers, but their basic concept can […]
Why Does a Microwave Heat Food Unevenly?
It’s probably something we have all experienced. We get home, stick last night’s leftovers in the microwave, and sit down to have a nice meal — only to realize that the food is scalding hot one bite and freezing cold the next. This experience has prompted me on more than one occasion to wonder: Why does a microwave heat food so unevenly?
Efficient Solar Panel Design Improves the PV Industry
Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are semiconductor devices that directly convert solar energy into electricity or voltage using the photovoltaic effect. These PV cells are more commonly known as solar cells, or solar panels, and in 2012 they produced roughly 93 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity — enough energy to power over 20 million homes. Because the cells must be directly exposed to the sun’s rays, they are housed outdoors where the panels are affected by the elements. Therefore, the cells must […]
Using Gradient-Free Optimization
The COMSOL Optimization Module includes both gradient-based and gradient-free optimization techniques. Whereas the gradient-based optimization method can compute an exact analytic derivative of an objective function and any associated constraint functions, it does require these functions to be smooth and differentiable. In this blog post, we examine the use of the gradient-free optimizer, which can consider objective function and constraints that are not differentiable or smooth. The dimensions of a spinning wheel are optimized to reduce the mass while maintaining […]
Density-Driven Fluid Flow in Porous Media
There are many different forces that can induce flow in fluids, such as kinetic energy, pressure gradients, concentration gradients, and many more. In natural systems, one effect that can initiate fluid flow in a still fluid is a change in density. This density change will result in a change in the fluid’s buoyancy, thus inciting flow as the denser fluid sinks and the less dense, buoyant, fluid rises. You’re probably most familiar with these changes in density occurring due to […]
Simulating Thermal and Electrical Stresses in Medium Voltage Cables
Underground medium voltage cables are often used to deliver electrical power from a transmission system and into the home of consumers. In the United Kingdom, these cables carry hundreds of amps at voltages between 11 and 33 kV, a typical voltage of electrical transmission cables around the world. Analyzing the stresses that these cables are exposed to over their lifetime is important for ensuring both consumer safety and energy efficiency. Researchers from the Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland used COMSOL […]