Comsol

Multiphysics Version 4.2a
Multiphysics Version 4.2a is a modeling and simulation platform that offers application-specific add-on modules for multiphysics analyses. A new particle-tracing module computes the trajectory of particles in a fluid or electromagnetic field, and models particle-field interactions. The user can assign forces, variables, and equations to act on the particles whose mass, charge, and other quantities change along their trajectory. Images may originate from scanning electron microscopes (SEM), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), among others. This software also supports Digital Elevation Map (DEM) import for topographical surface and geophysics simulation. External radiation sources, such as the sun, can be modeled with the heat transfer module, expanding the modeling potential for renewable energy applications. The LiveLink feature offers computer-aided design (CAD) integration with Creo Parametric design software.

Microfluidics Module
The latest addition to the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software, the Microfluidics module provides easy-to-use tools for studying microfluidic devices and rarefied-gas flows. The module is designed for such application as lab-on-a-chip devices, digital microfluidics, biosensors, electrokinetic and magnetokinetic devices, inkjet technology, and vacuum system design. It includes interfaces for single-phase flow, which can be used to simulate such applications as compressible-gas flows at low pressures, non-Newtonian flows, and laminar and creeping flows that typically occur in lab-on–a-chip systems. It has modeling interfaces for executing two-phase flow simulations using the level set, phase field, and moving mesh methods, as well as a variety of important fluid-interface effects, such as surface tension forces, capillary forces, and Marangoni effects. The module can also handle chemical diffusion of multiple dilute species, enabling the simulation of processes occurring in lab-on-chip devices and biosensors.

Batteries & Fuel Cells Module
The Batteries & Fuel Cells Module is the latest addition to this company’s Multiphysics modeling and simulation environment. It provides a full set of easy-to-use tools for the set-up, simulation and study of all major electrochemical batteries and fuel cells, including lithium-ion batteries, nickel metal-hydride batteries, solid oxide fuel cells, and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. With the new module, developers and integrators of batteries, fuel cell components and fuel cell stacks can obtain accurate and reliable simulation results to quickly and accurately evaluate the influence of different materials, geometric configurations, and operating conditions on the performance of batteries and fuel cells. For instance, users can model the behavior of their battery and fuel cell designs as a function of such real-world attributes as free and porous media flow, the distribution of hydrogen or oxygen concentration over the electrode, or sophisticated tempering concepts.

Plasma Module
By combining modeling capabilities related to fluid mechanics, reaction engineering, physical kinetics, heat transfer, mass transfer and electro-magnetics, the Plasma Module lets users model low-temperature, non-equilibrium plasma discharges in a range of engineering disciplines, including light sources, semiconductor processes, surface coating, and medical sterilization applications. Modeling the interaction between the plasma and an external electrical circuit is an important part of understanding the electrical characteristics of the discharge. This new tool lets users model and evaluate the complex interaction between the electromagnetic fields and charged particles that collectively constitute the plasma. There are specialized, customizable modeling interfaces for the most common types of plasma reactors, including inductively coupled plasmas (ICP), DC discharges, wave-heated discharges (microwave plasmas), and capacitatively coupled plasmas (CCP). Improved simulation capabilities can help to reduce costly experiments and increase productivity.

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module
The Chemical Reaction Engineering Module for the developer’s simulation platform creates a single environment where engineers may obtain accurate studies of material transport and chemical reactions performed under many different operating conditions. Its easy-to-use, customizable interfaces define chemical reactions, mass and energy transport, and porous-media flow parameters. By observing the simulation of reaction systems, users acquire essential knowledge early in the development phase of a wide range of systems, from microreactors in biotechnology to unit operations in chemical processes.

Multiphysics Version 4.0
Multiphysics Version 4.0 features a totally revamped, easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) for building and running simulations. The user-defined desktop appearance includes Main Menu, Model Builder, Help Desk, Settings, Messages, and Graphics windows. Right-clicking on the model builder allows the user to adjust settings for meshing, material properties, solving and plotting, as well as to import CAD files from other programs. The GUI is ideal for experiments that call for multiple similar simulations, allowing modification of any of the model’s settings without having to input the static settings again. Its dynamically updated context-dependent help allows easy browsing while extending the search functionality. The software’s CAD Import Module is based on the Parasolid Editor geometry kernel from Siemens PLM, which makes all solid operations associative and allows multi-parameter sweeps over any group of geometry dimensions. Support of parallel processing on standard multi-core computers and on distributed memory systems (clusters) boosts system performance and capabilities, and is compatible with Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, Windows HPC Server 2008, and Linux.

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Simulations
“Introduction to Chemical Engineering Simulations” is the latest in the suite of Introduction Kit CDs containing tutorials for engineers, researchers, scientists and educators. This free resource explains how multiphysics tools can analyze and simulate a wide variety of chemical processes, including fluid flow, transport phenomena, and reaction kinetics, while speeding up product development and reducing costs. The first tutorials provide a broad overview of multiphysics, explaining key concepts and how to apply them to solve chemical engineering problems. Advanced tutorials give details on the role of specific simulation tools, such as the Chemical Engineering Module and the Reaction Engineering Lab. The tutorials also demonstrate the workflow for modeling chemical processing using real-world models, such as the simulation of polymerization in a multijet reactor, to illustrate critical capabilities.

COMSOL Conference CD 2009 edition
The 2009 edition of the COMSOL Conference CD contains more than 275 technical papers, 195 presentations, and 14 downloadable and ready-to-run models in COMSOL Multiphysics software. It also includes 91 animations and movie clips that illustrate multiphysics modeling across all disciplines of science, industrial and space research, engineering, medical research, and education. This resource is free upon request.

COMSOL Conference CD 2006
Illustrating the breadth and depth of the use of computer modeling in every area of science, research, engineering, and education, the COMSOL Conference CD 2006 contains a wealth of information. The CD contains the full proceedings from an international series of 15 technical meetings, along with presentation slides and even ready-to-run model files that were discussed. To make it easy for readers to find the information they need, the CD contains a search facility plus an author index. Distributed at no charge at www.comsol.com/conference2006/cd, the disc contains 272 papers, 153 sets of user-presentation slides, 32 sets of keynote-presentation slides, and 30 models.

Acoustics module
Designed for those who work with devices that generate, measure and use acoustic waves, the COMSOL product line now features an Acoustics module that is ideal for examining mechanical wave phenomena in structures and fluids. Users can easily model wave propagation in solids and stationary fluids, as well as study aeroacoustics in moving fields. The module provides a variety of application modes that offer tailored user interfaces loaded with predefined settings. Users can create or import a geometry, fine-tune the physics settings, and solve the problem. To help users get a head start on developing their models, and to learn tips and tricks to make their modeling more effective, the module comes with a Model Library that contains more than a dozen entries. Each comes with a detailed theoretical discussion followed by step-by-step instructions, although users can instead simply load a supplied model file. One example examines the open-pipe problem, which is a classic benchmark dealing with resonances, while another studies reflection of forward-propagating modes in jet engine intake. Results are compared to published simulations and semi-analytical solutions. 

Multiphysics Modeling
Papers by users of multiphysics modeling that were presented at a series of international conferences are available on this CD. It contains 229 reviewed papers in PDF format, as well as many of the speakers’ presentation slides and ready-to-run model files that were discussed. Among the topics covered at the meetings, which were held in late-2005 in Boston, Stockholm, Oslo, Frankfurt, Birmingham (U.K.), Paris and Milan, were: bioengineering, chemical engineering and fluid dynamics, electrochemistry, electromagnetics, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and modeling in the classroom.

Comsol Multiphysics Version 3.2
Version 3.2 of COMSOL Multiphysics is a scientific-modeling package whose new features boost productivity throughout the entire modeling and simulation process. The software now reads geometry files created with all major CAD packages (i.e., SolidWorks, Solid Edge, NX, CATIA). Importing an existing CAD or mesh file enables users to bypass the geometry-creation step, which makes the first step in the modeling process fast and convenient. The latest version also introduces COMSOL Script, a standalone product featuring a technical- computing language and command-line modeling. The graphical user interface encourages the use of a consistent system of engineering units. Furthermore, a moving-mesh feature allows a model to simulate moving parts and parametric geometries such as those in MEMS (microelectromechanical systems), piezoelectrics, and biology applications as well as free-surface flow and natural wave effects. Users define the desired type of motion such as for the deflection of a flexible barrier in a strong flow of liquid or gas, or even fluid sloshing in a tank. Coupled with the moving-mesh engine is geometric parameterization, where it is possible to describe a how a geometry changes without the need to set up a loop in a script file. Another key feature of the software is improved solvers handle models with millions of degrees of freedom and calculate the answers faster than ever before.