COMSOL announced the release of the latest version of its modeling and simulation software, COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.1. Every aspect of the software’s simulation environment — from the ability to perform multiphysics analyses to the functionality for creating apps — delivers feature additions and workflow enhancements.

“This version provides our users with powerful multiphysics simulation tools in areas of highly competitive R&D, like audio technology and vehicle electrification,” says Bjorn Sjodin, VP of product management at COMSOL. “We have also strengthened the software’s foundation with new capabilities for optimization and the modeling of turbulent flow and mechanical contact.”

Fluid and mechanical simulations
This release brings major upgrades to the fluid flow and mechanical simulation products. The CFD Module now includes high-fidelity turbulent flow with detached eddy simulation (DES). This yields the accuracy of large eddy simulation (LES) with substantially less computational effort. A new and fast method for mechanical contact is included in the Structural Mechanics Module and the MEMS Module. It introduces new functionality for solids, shells, and membranes with full support for self-contacting surfaces. There is a new method for assigning materials to thin structures that makes it easier to analyze gaskets, adhesive layers, and claddings.

Transducer design for audio products
Version 6.1 further expands the software’s capabilities for modeling speakers and microphones in consumer electronics with additional functionality for thermoviscous acoustics. “We have a large and growing community of users among leading developers of audio technology. They use our software to analyze everything from smartphone speakers to earbuds and hearing aids. The functionality in this release completes the Acoustics Module simulation environment for analyzing electrovibroacoustics of microtransducers and microacoustic systems,” says Mads Herring Jensen, acoustics technology manager at COMSOL.

Analysis tools for vehicle electrification
COMSOL continues its commitment to providing powerful simulation tools for engineers working on the electrification of vehicles. When assessing the operational reliability and safety of battery technology, users of the Battery Design Module will enjoy several important additions, including support for setting up thermal runaway propagation models. “I am excited about our new user interface for battery packs,” says Henrik Ekstrom, electrochemistry technology director at COMSOL. “It will be very practical for battery developers interested in charge–discharge dynamics and thermal management simulations.” In the AC/DC Module, new functionality for rapid layout of motor windings and magnet arrays ensures a smooth workflow for electric motor design and analysis.

Additional highlights

• Version control of reports and CAD assemblies in the Model Manager
• Automatic simplification of imported ECAD layouts for faster meshing and solving
• Topology optimization with manufacturing constraints for milling
• Multidimensional interpolation and inverse uncertainty quantification
• Magnetohydrodynamics simulation with a library of liquid metals
• Flowmeter analysis that includes coupled piezoelectric, structural, acoustics, and fluid flow effects
• Simulation of acoustic streaming applications where ultrasound induces fluid motion
• Analysis of fuel cell performance that includes effects of fuel impurities
• Electrostatic discharge (ESD) simulation and prediction of lightning-induced damage to electronic components
• Thermal analysis of satellites in orbit

COMSOL
www.comsol.com/product-download

COMSOL, the provider of the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software, announced the 2022 edition of COMSOL News—its annual magazine that recognizes the work of academic and industry organizations around the world that use multiphysics simulation to drive innovative technological research and development.

Within the magazine, readers will find examples of how simulation enables teams to make more informed design decisions, speed up development, reduce physical testing, and minimize costs. Readers will also gain insight into the COMSOL Multiphysics user experience across a variety of applications and simulation-based product development, design optimization, and research.

This magazine highlights the following topics and organizations:
• A “digital twin” for climate management in an additive manufacturing facility — MTC, U.K.
• Analyzing the ice loss of Greenland’s glaciers — Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
• Drivetrain components for electric vehicles — Bosch, Germany
• Electric vehicle battery management system design — Exicom Tele-Systems, India
• Removal of micropollutants from wastewater — Eden Tech, France
• RF-induced heating of implanted medical devices in MRI systems — MED Institute, U.S.
• Sand “batteries” to store solar-generated heat — Polar Night Energy, Finland
• Silicon photonic MEMS phase shifters for fiber optic networks — EPFL, Switzerland
• Virtual design and prototyping of subsea cables — Hellenic Cables, Greece

Comsol
www.comsol.com

COMSOL announces a major update to the COMSOL Multiphysics software version 6.0. The update builds out the Model Manager server with a web interface — an asset management system — to make it easier for COMSOL users and nonusers alike to manage models, simulation apps, and supplementary and auxiliary files.

COMSOL Multiphysics: from building models and apps to managing simulation projects
Through two decades of development, COMSOL Multiphysics evolved from a software that solved partial differential equations to one that defines the nature of multiphysics modeling: being able to build models with any combination of physics phenomena via the Model Builder. Thereby, engineers versed in the underlying physics and using software to build models began using COMSOL Multiphysics across technology-driven industries, academia, and research organizations for modeling and simulation. Next, COMSOL introduced the Application Builder and concept of simulation apps to expand the realm of who could access simulation to include those who had not traditionally been able to work with models and simulations.

Today, COMSOL completes the environment for managing modeling and simulation projects for product and process design through the recently introduced Model Manager and the Model Manager server with its accompanying asset management system.

About the Model Manager Server and its Asset Management System
Released in December 2021, the Model Manager allows you to:

–Search through models for particular parameter names and feature strings.
–Track model development through version control with model comparison and merging capabilities.
–Upload, link, and administrate supplementary and auxiliary files to a modeling and simulation or development project.

The Model Manager has now been complemented by the Model Manager server’s asset management system, which is accessible through a web interface. In the asset management system, an asset can be considered as a container for links to your model versions, attached supplementary and auxiliary files, as well as various custom metadata fields. With the asset management system, you can itemize assets through model and app files, adding abstracts, setting permissions, and even include thumbnail images of the model at hand.

“As an extension of the COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation platform, the Model Manager server’s asset management system is useful for administrating and managing your models, apps, and simulations in a corporate network environment set up to your own liking,” says Sr. VP of Sales Phil Kinnane. “This could be project-based, model-based, team-based, or similar, according to how you want your organization to structure and organize such work.”

A collaborative environment to cover all elements of an organization
The Model Manager server is a database system that can be managed from either the COMSOL Desktop or a web-based UI. A local installation of any license type of COMSOL Multiphysics with the Model Manager and a local database is usually the initial step for a modeling engineer to acclimatize themselves to how this system can be best used within their organization. From there, full deployment can occur by installing the Model Manager server on a central server. Local installations of COMSOL Multiphysics can connect to the central server with the Model Manager server. “I think organizations will start by moving the tens and hundreds of COMSOL models they have been developing over the years to their asset management systems as a communal model library,” adds Kinnane. “Instead of chasing down the many engineers using the software for different purposes, they can now find and search through those models as a centralized repository instead.”

The full power of the Model Manager Server
COMSOL CTO Ed Fontes describes how the Model Manager server will take an organization’s simulation-driven project to the next level: “The true power of the Model Manager is not only in its ability to manage your simulation data, but in being able to version control and audit your actual model-building process.” He adds, “there are a number of simulation data management systems out there, but COMSOL has focused the Model Manager on the model-building process, such as to easily browse through the model tree of certain models or search for specific features like domain settings, boundary conditions, or study types to revisit, update, or even reuse.”

Internal or external customers may use the database system to keep track and use results from a project. They may also use simulation apps and provide feedback about their measurement and test data by uploading them and reports to the relevant asset. And, of course, contributors on the model development can also add their auxiliary data, such as CAD files and specifications, to the project. “In all,” says Fontes, “the Model Manager server and asset management system truly provide the complete working environment for modeling and simulation projects.”

COMSOL
www.comsol.com

COMSOL, the maker of the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software, has opened registration for COMSOL Day: Version 6.0, a series of online events held around the world for the computer-aided engineering (CAE) market. Starting on January 27, there will be four events to introduce COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.0 to a global, multiphysics simulation community of innovators and managers in research and product development.

These events showcase how new simulation and collaboration tools introduced with COMSOL® version 6.0 will advance simulation-driven product development. Speakers from COMSOL will present major news and offer a closer look at new functionality in version 6.0, such as the Model Manager, a new simulation data management workspace in COMSOL Multiphysics.

“We are truly excited about the Model Manager,” says Phil Kinnane, senior VP of sales at COMSOL. “It takes us and the CAE industry to the next level in integrating simulation in product development. When mentioning this new tool to some of our experienced, ‘power users’, they immediately recognized how important it will be for their current COMSOL Multiphysics simulation projects.”

Sessions focusing on the Uncertainty Quantification Module will provide an introduction to using sensitivity analysis, reliability analysis, and uncertainty propagation in multiphysics simulations. Software updates for specific application areas are covered in separate, dedicated sessions, such as “Electromagnetics” and “Fluid Flow & Heat Transfer” to name two. Similarly, core functionality news is covered across several dedicated sessions, including “Summary of Major News”, “Geometry and Meshing”, and “Optimization”.

“COMSOL Day attendees have the opportunity to interact with COMSOL engineers during live sessions and ask software developers and support engineers questions directly,” says Lauren Sansone, marketing and events director at COMSOL. “The events bring a live stream of sessions throughout the day, and it is easy for attendees to choose if they want to participate in the entire program from start to finish or only attend specific sessions.”

The COMSOL Day: Version 6.0 event dates are:

January 27 (U.S., 11 a.m. EST)
February 3 (Sweden, 10 a.m. CET)
February 10 (India, 10 a.m. IST)
February 24 (China, 1 p.m. HKT)

Participation from any region at any of the events is welcomed. Please note that the sessions hosted by the COMSOL offices in the U.S., Sweden, and India will be conducted in English, while the event hosted by the office in China will be in Chinese.

These events are open to all, and attendance is free of charge. For program details, click here.