In the first part of this blog series, we discussed variational problems and demonstrated how to solve them using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. In that case, we used simple built-in boundary conditions. Today, we will discuss more general boundary conditions and constraints. We will also show how to implement these boundary conditions and constraints in the COMSOL® software using the same variational problem from Part 1: (the soap film) — and just as much math.

In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell wrote a letter to his father, saying: “I have heard articulate speech by sunlight! I have heard a ray of the sun laugh and cough and sing!” He was talking about his latest success, the photophone, which he called his “greatest invention” shortly before his death. The photophone did not revolutionize the field of imaging, but an unintended effect Bell noticed while developing it did…

Following up on a previous blog post about glacier flow modeling, we are going to delve a bit further into a crucial component of geophysics modeling in general: parameterizing numerical models using observations. Let’s see how we can quantify sensitivity and infer unknown parameters through indirect observations using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software and add-on Optimization Module.

What do beer fermentation, soil analysis, and the production of dairy products have in common? They all involve the use of ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) for pH measurement. These sensors are small, efficient, and durable, which makes them suitable for food, environmental, and biomedical applications. However, ISFETs can experience drift and are sensitive to different temperatures, which limits their accuracy and stability. Using the COMSOL® software, engineers can accurately analyze ISFET designs and improve their performance.

We have already discussed the factors that make a high-quality mesh and how to prepare a CFD model geometry for meshing. In this follow-up blog post, learn about physics-controlled meshing, adaptive mesh refinement, and how to use a variety of meshing tools in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software for your fluid flow simulations.

What do soap films, catenary cables, and light beams have in common? They behave in ways that minimize certain quantities. Such problems are prevalent in science and engineering fields such as biology, economics, elasticity theory, material science, and image processing. You can simulate many such problems using the built-in physics interfaces in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software, but in this blog series, we will show you how to solve variational problems using the equation-based modeling features.

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” — Nikola Tesla Can we “see” sound? Not directly, but we can come close. By changing our perspective, we can learn a lot about the nature of acoustics. One way to observe acoustics phenomena is by studying standing waves in a solid medium known as a Chladni plate. A special technique creates patterns on the plate that reveal sound’s physical nature.

Guest blogger Bojan Jokanović of SGL Carbon GmbH, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of carbon-based products, discusses the optimization of thermal processes in the carbon industry. Carbon products are used in many industries, including semiconductors, car manufacturing, ceramics, and metallurgy. Properties of graphite including high-temperature stability, good thermal and electric conducting behavior, and high chemical stability make this material unique. However, carbon manufacturing is an energy-intensive industry. We must build digital process chains to optimize processes and minimize costs.

Silicon planar devices, imaging sensors, and microprocessors often include a metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) capacitor. To ensure that these devices perform as expected in an application, engineers can accurately analyze their designs using simulation. With the Semiconductor Module, an add-on product to the COMSOL Multiphysics® software, there are multiple methods to do just that…

In a previous blog post, we explained how to run a job from the COMSOL Multiphysics® software on clusters directly from the COMSOL Desktop® environment, without any interaction with a Linux® operating system terminal. Since this terminal is sometimes treated with excessive respect, the ability to start a cluster job directly from the graphical user interface is one of the most useful features in the COMSOL® software. Plus, there’s more to it… Enter the Cluster Sweep node.