COMSOL Multiphysics^® 6.2 Release Highlights

Mesh Updates

Swept Meshing Improvements

In this version, more types of geometries can be automatically meshed using the Swept operation. For example, the boundaries along the sweep can now have a rectangular imprint with edges tangent or perpendicular to the local sweep direction. Previously, a swept mesh could be created after a manual partition of such faces.

The mesh for this geometry of a pipe, clamp, and bracket is automatically created using the Swept operation.

Easier to Generate Identical Meshes on Periodic Boundaries

A new Identical Mesh attribute can be used to specify pairs of entity groups for which an identical mesh is needed, such as for periodic boundaries. You can simply add this attribute to the meshing sequence and then continue to mesh the domains. The mesh generators will automatically account for the element sizes and narrow domain regions while ensuring an identical mesh. For physics-controlled meshing sequences, Identical Mesh attributes can be included when needed. In this version, manually setting up such a meshing sequence is much faster; previous versions required generating a mesh for one side of the pair and then using a copy operation to obtain an identical mesh on the other side before generating the mesh in the domains.

View the Identical Mesh attribute in the following tutorial models:

• pm_motor_3d
• turbulent_mixing
• free_surface_mixer
• frequency_selective_surface_csrr

An Identical Mesh attribute is applied to a model of a permanent magnet motor to ensure identical meshes on the periodic boundaries.

New Remeshing Operations for Imported Meshes

A new set of remeshing operations has been included that makes it easier to generate a mesh for simulation from an imported mesh or from topology optimization results. The Remesh Faces (available for 3D), Remesh Edges, and Remesh Domains (available for 2D) operations support the element-sizing attributes and the new Identical Mesh attribute. In addition, a new Fixed Mesh attribute is available for the remeshing operations to keep the existing mesh fixed on selected boundaries and edges. The STL Import Tutorial Series showcases these new operations.

A mesh generated for the surfaces of an imported STL-file mesh of a human airway using the new Remesh Faces operation. The STL geometry in this example is provided courtesy of Mark Yeoman, Continuum Blue, U.K.

Boundary Layer Meshing Improvements

The Boundary Layers operation has been improved and now allows for the generation of thicker high-quality boundary layer meshes for even more complex cases.

A thicker boundary layer mesh (blue) can be generated in the narrow region under this sports car using the boundary layer mesher.

A new Corner Properties attribute is available for easier manual control of boundary layer generation in corners. This attribute provides a way to override the overall settings for a selection of corners when another approach is more appropriate. You can see this new feature in the Boundary Layer Meshing Tutorial Series.

A boundary layer mesh (colored elements) in a model of a hydrocyclone. A good resolution around both corners (blue and orange) can be achieved by selecting the most appropriate method for inserting the boundary layer elements using the Corner Properties attribute.

Creating Named Selections in Imported Meshes

It is now possible to set up named selections of entities for imported meshes using the Explicit Selection and Adjacent Selection nodes or by using certain mesh operations to define selections on the resulting mesh. The selections can be colored and used in subsequent meshing operations and other model definitions. The ability to name selections simplifies setting up the physics and is especially useful when parameterizing models and creating simulation apps. The Mesh ribbon tab contains a Selection List button that opens up the Selection List window, where all named selections in the model can be viewed. You can see this new functionality in the STL Import Tutorial Series.

Creating selections for the intersecting faces and entities that are above and below the plane that intersects with the imported mesh. The named selections can be used in subsequent meshing operations within the same mesh part or in the component where the mesh part is imported. The STL geometry in this example is provided courtesy of Mark Yeoman, Continuum Blue, U.K.

New Tutorial Models

COMSOL Multiphysics^® version 6.2 includes two new meshing tutorial models.

Boundary Layer Meshing — Exploring the Settings

Follow this tutorial to learn how to set up a boundary layer mesh and modify the settings for a boundary layer mesh created by a physics-controlled meshing sequence.

Application Library Title:
valve_boundary_layers
Download from the Application Gallery

Boundary Layer Meshing — Adding Boundary Layers to an Imported Mesh

This tutorial model demonstrates how to refine and add a boundary layer mesh to an imported mesh.

Application Library Title:
valve_boundary_layers_import
Download from the Application Gallery