The goal of mesh adaptation is to modify the mesh to solve a problem more efficiently. We want to use as few elements as possible to obtain an accurate solution. Typically, we would like a coarser mesh in regions that are not very important and a more refined mesh in regions of interest. We might even consider anisotropic elements. As of version 5.4, the COMSOL Multiphysics® software includes enhanced tools to adapt a mesh. Let’s take a look.

In a previous blog post, we explored whether U.S. copyright law protects scientific models. That post concluded that models, alone, are frequently incapable of reflecting the type of creative expression required to be eligible for protection but also noted that functionality added to models — as occurs when building applications — may well contain such creative expression. Here, we explore the tools that COMSOL offers to help users of the COMSOL Multiphysics® software to publish and protect their proprietary applications.

Reports are valuable for documenting and showcasing results from your simulations. As of version 5.4, the COMSOL Multiphysics® software includes support for report templates, which you can use to create custom reports. In this blog post, we describe how to add report templates and show some examples of how they can be useful for creating reports with specific layouts and contents.

The COMSOL Desktop® is the integrated user environment for creating and managing simulations in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. It includes the Model Builder window, model tree, Graphics window, as well as menus and toolbars with a multitude of modeling tools. In this blog post, we will show you how to customize the user interface and use a variety of keyboard shortcuts to get the most out of the modeling process.

Composite materials are heterogeneous materials composed of at least two integrated components. Among the different types of composite materials, layered composite materials are quite common and are widely used for aircraft, spacecraft, wind turbine, automobile, marine, buildings, and safety equipment use cases. The Composite Materials Module, add-on to the COMSOL Multiphysics® software, includes built-in features and functionality specifically designed for studying layered composite structures. Fiber-reinforced plastics, laminated plates, and sandwich panels are a few common examples of layered composite materials.

How can teachers improve student learning in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses? To find out, Ivana Milanovic, a professor at the University of Hartford, developed a simulation-based approach that combines problem-based learning (PBL) and inquiry-based learning (IBL). Milanovic discussed her strategy and its benefits during her keynote talk at the COMSOL Conference 2018 Boston. Below, you can find a summary and video recording of her presentation.

Engineers are given significant freedom in their pursuit for lightweight structural components in airplanes and space applications, so it makes sense to use methods that can exploit this freedom, making topology optimization a popular choice in the early design phase. This method often requires regularization and special interpolation functions to get meaningful designs, which can be a nuisance to both new and experienced users. To simplify the solution of topology optimization problems, the COMSOL® software contains a density topology feature.

When it comes to synchrotron light sources, brighter is better. By using bright beams in their accelerator, researchers at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) synchrotron facility can efficiently gather detailed data. In collaboration with APS engineers, Nicholas Goldring of RadiaSoft LLC creates and distributes simulation applications for designing vacuum chambers relevant to the APS. Below, find a video recording and summary of his keynote talk from the COMSOL Conference 2018 Boston.

Until the early 1900s, shock waves were an academic problem studied from a theoretical point of view only. Many great scientists, including Lord Rayleigh, worked on the field until the theory of inviscid shock waves was established in the 1920s. During World War II, this theory started to be applied, mostly to supersonic vehicles. To study shock waves, one important gas dynamic instrument is the shock tube, which is used to test supersonic and hypersonic flows and high-temperature gases.

Heart failure is a global health concern, affecting millions of people and keeping them from their everyday lives. But what if there was a device that could keep patients’ hearts pumping and even improve their quality of life? In his keynote presentation at the COMSOL Conference 2018 Boston, Freddy Hansen from Abbott Laboratories discussed a heart pump that could do just that. If you missed his talk, you can watch a recording of the video and read a summary below.