In the previous articles, we've discussed different features and UI of COMSOL. There's a lot yet to be discussed but it is a better idea to learn them through designing a structure. What do you think? But before jumping directly into the process, we first need to know which phases we need to follow.

Now have you ever tried to design a structure? Maybe no. But those who have tried to learn SOLIDWORKS or similar software, you may know the fundamental blocks are;

1) Designing blocks:

▣ Selecting the Material

▣ Specifying the Parameters 

▣ Selecting the Components

2) Simulation blocks:

▣ Defining the Mesh

▣ Selecting the Solver Type

▣ Creating the Simulation profile

▣ Defining the Boundary Conditions

From the previous article, we know that the necessary information regarding a model is concerned with the Model Builder Window (Model Tree). Let us explore this section a bit more deeply.

** We will be using Electromagnetic Heating > Joule Heating as Physics & Stationary as Study. **

Model Tree

This is the resulting Model Builder Window. Here we can see a Root Node which is initially, set as Untitled.mph. This is named under the model file. Two subnodes, Global Definitions & Results are the basic ones. Under Globar Definition, we have the subnode of Material, which represents the material of the model. We can set up the material from the material library. Also, we can have the parameters here.

Parameters

Again the materials of the design can be selected from the Material Library. This library offers a vast option to choose the proper material even it offers user-defined materials!!!

Material Library

And under the Result subnode, we have,

1	Datasets	List of solutions
2	Derived Values	Defines values to be derived from the solution using post-processing tools
3	Tables	Stores the real-time simulation solution
4	Export	Defines numerical data, images & animations to be exported to files
5	Reports	Contains automatically generated reports about the model in HTML/MSW

Results (Datasets)

Results (Table)

As we can see there are additional subnodes in the result node which are not mentioned in the table, i.e. Views, 1D Plot Group 2, etc. These results are added during the simulation process. 

The reminder is that you can always edit the associated settings of each component of the model tree in the Settings Window.

Visit the next article COMSOL Multiphysics Part - 04: What It Takes To Design A Structure - II for Component & Study discussion.

Image Source:

* Freelancer

So, we're talking about the steps to form a design in COMSOL. And after a hazy discussion, we were left with 2 subnodes; Component & Study in the Model Tree. The immense significance of these 2 nodes calls for a separate discussion. Don't you think so? Let's first talk about the Study!

According to our early discussion, we know that the Study sets up the solver type (i.e. Stationary, Time-dependent, Frequency-dependent, etc.).

Model Wizard automatically creates the nodes under Study while simulation. Additional studies can be added from the study tab from the Ribbon.

So, we can switch between different studies and compute. Each study has a Compute button to run simulation for the selected study. The settings & boundary mode operations and configurations can be set here. It is very much important to simulate the model with the correct study. The result nodes will be added as per the selected study.

Coming to the Components node, it comprises of multiple sections as;

✦ Definitions: Defines the variables, boundaries, system selections, and their modifications.

✦ View: It gives the axes settings.

✦ Geometry: Gives the necessary options to build the model.

✦ Materials: Materials property like refractive index and others can be specified here. You can also add material in this node.

✦ Mesh: The whole model is divided into numerous small nonoverlapping elements. The behavior model is approximated by assembling all the elements' behavior. As COMSOL is based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), it is highly dependent on meshing. Here we can select the mesh type (rectangular, triangular, square, etc.), their size, and the relative setups.

✦ Physics: Gives selection options based on the selected Physics.

✦ Variables: Numbers, parameters, built-in constants, unary and binary operators can be set as Global or Local variable. Variables are listed under the Definition tab. Too many variables can be grouped together using the Node Group feature.

In the next segment, we will try to design a model. Till then explore & learn. Keep in mind, software can't be taught by articles. These articles are to provide a guide. One has to learn the software by exploring it.

And be with us for the next article and yes obviously for the video tutorial !!! 

Image Source:

* COMSOL Multiphysics

** Using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3 in Windows 10

First of all, we want to click on the software icon and after doing that we are given two options as;

* Model Wizard: As we've said earlier, COMSOL provides us with various options to set the environment. adding multiple physics and study and the nature of the simulation. By choosing the model wizard we will get the options to set the environment as per our project requirements. The model wizard gives the following setups

01. Space Dimension (3D,2D Axisymmetric, 2D, 1D, 1D Axisymmetric, 0D)

02. Physics 

03. Study

 

* Blank Model: Here we don't get any option to set the environment for the object. Blank model directly takes us to the design window. We can set the requirements later on.

Now, we'll continue with the Model wizard. After choosing model wizard, we need to specify the space dimension, Physics, and the specific study. Space dimension specifies the dimension of the model, Physics specify the physics interface that are applied to the model i.e. Acoustics, Heat transfer, AC/DC, Electrochemistry, Heat flow, etc. After choosing interface(s), the description of the associated interface is shown in the window. And the Study specifies the type of solvers used for the computation i.e. Stationary, Time-dependent, etc.

After setting up the environment and solver type, we will be forwarded to the designing window. One thing to notice here that, the recommended options of the Physics and Study are based on the previous selection. That means the available options for Study will depend on the selection of the kind of Physics. And in the designing window, the available options will depend on the selection of the environment and the solver.

COMSOL Desktop:

Now in the design window, there are 6 different segments;

 

▶ Quick Access Toolbar: It contains the quick buttons for different functions like open/close file, undo/redo, copy/paste, delete. The contents here can be customized using Customize Quick Access Toolbar.

▶ Ribbon: This tab contains the buttons and dropdown menus to control the modeling process. Home, Definitions, Geometry, Materials, Materials, Physics, Mesh, Study, Results, Developer buttons are available here.

▶ Model Builder Toolbar: The model builder toolbar comprises of model tree. It is linked with the Ribbon tabs. It gives an overview of the model. All the functionalities and operations are controlled via this toolbar. It also suggests the next step for model building. The results and solving processes are linked here.

▶ Settings Window: Settings window contains the setting options to set the parameters and select options of the model. The settings are related to the selection of the node in the model builder tab.

▶ Graphics Window Toolbar: The designing of the model appears here. It offers interactive graphics for the Geometry, Mesh & Results nodes. The Graphics window has the operations to rotate, zoom, select, pan, and many more.

▶ Information Windows: This window holds the Messages/Progress/Log/Table information throughout the modeling and simulation process.

We need to know the difference between the kind of contents they represent to act as per them. It goes like this, 

01	Messages	Information about the current session
02	Log	Information from the solver
03	Progress	Progress information about the solver
04	Table	Numerical data in table format

So it may be a pretty enough introduction to the interface. Wait for the next part..... COMSOL Multiphysics Part: 03: What It Takes To  Design A Structure-I

             

Here comes another simulation software! For EEE students, Proteus, MATLAB, PSpice, PSIM, etc. are the most familiar simulation software. ''An uncommon software with a messy user interface!''- this may be the most probable reaction of a beginner at first glance. But this can be a useful tool for a researcher indeed.

What does it do?

COMSOL is mainly a design and simulation software. The specialty of this software is, it can create multiple physics interface. There are plenty of ''Physics'' options to create the environment to figure out the test object's behavior in those physical environments.

What does it provide?

As it is said earlier, COMSOL provides a variety of options to customize the user's project up to the desired scale.

▶ It can provide physics interface of Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Fluid, Acoustic, Electromagnetic, Plasmonics, Photonics, Multipurpose & Interfacing, etc. 

▶ It can provide different studies like static, continuous, etc. 

▶ It provides diversified facilities to design the object according to the project specifications.

▶ The equations are predefined in the software for each physic. The simulation is done based on the equations.

▶ Multiple options to import object structure or design from CAD, Solidworks, or MATLAB. It offers live links.

▶ COMSOL provides a very user-friendly and interactive algorithm that points out the errors made by the user and gives suggestions to correct the errors.

▶ Runs finite element analysis and solver for multiphysics simulation software.

▶ And many more.............

COMSOL team describes their key features as;

⦿ Optimizing and verifying real-world devices and processes with simulation.

⦿ Multiphysics modeling provides accurate results.

⦿ Follow a consistent model workflow.

⦿ Geometry modeling & interfacing with CAD software.

⦿ Predefined interfaces and features for physics-based modeling.

⦿ Transparency and flexibility via equation-based modeling.

⦿ Automated and manual meshing.

⦿ Study step sequence, parameter studies, and optimization.

⦿ Step-of-the-art numerical methods for accurate solutions.

⦿ Extended visualization and post-processing tools for publication-ready modeling results.

⦿ Close the gaps between analysis, design, and production by building simulation applications.

This seems a horrible illustration for the introduction but we hope to explore all the above-mentioned features in the next parts.

Visit our next article on the user interface of COMSOL;  COMSOL Multiphysics Part - 02: User Interface (UI)