Preparing for Modeling
This section is intended a guide you through the selection process among the interfaces in the AC/DC Module and does not contain detailed physics interface descriptions. Several topics about the art of modeling are covered here that might not be in ordinary textbooks on electromagnetic theory. This section discusses these topics:
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What Problems Can You Solve? — Can I use the quasi-static physics interfaces or do I need wave propagation?
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Selecting the Space Dimension for the Model Geometry — Is a 2D, 3D, or axisymmetric geometry best for my model?
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Simplifying the Geometry Using Boundary Conditions — When do I need to resolve the thickness of thin shells?
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Applying Electromagnetic Sources — What sources can I use to excite the fields?
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Selecting a Study Type — Is my problem suited for time-dependent or time-harmonic (frequency domain) formulations?
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2D Field Variables
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About the AC/DC and Nonlinear Magnetic Material Databases
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Meshing and Solving — What issues might arise with respect to meshing and solving?
For general guidelines for effective modeling see Building a COMSOL Multiphysics Model in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual.
General Tips
These general tips about modeling help you to decide what to include in a simulation and what can be done to minimize the size of a problem. Before starting to model, try to answer the following questions first:
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What is the purpose of the model?
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What information do you want to extract from the model?
Models never capture all the details of reality.
Increasing the complexity of a model to make it more accurate usually makes it more expensive to simulate. A complex model is also more difficult to manage and interpret than a simple one.
It can be more accurate and efficient to use several simple models instead of a single, complex one.