About COMSOL Multiphysics
COMSOL Multiphysics is a powerful interactive simulation environment used to model and solve all kinds of scientific and engineering problems. The software provides a powerful integrated desktop environment with a Model Builder that gives you a full overview of the model and access to all functionality. With COMSOL Multiphysics you can easily extend conventional models for one type of physics into multiphysics models that solve coupled physics phenomena — and that do so simultaneously. Accessing this power does not require an in-depth knowledge of mathematics or numerical analysis.
Using the built-in physics interfaces and the advanced support for material properties, you can build models by defining the relevant physical quantities — such as material properties, loads, constraints, sources, and fluxes — rather than by defining the underlying equations. You can always apply these variables, expressions, or numbers directly to solid and fluid domains, boundaries, edges, and points independently of the computational mesh. The COMSOL Multiphysics software then internally compiles a set of equations representing the entire model.
You access the power of COMSOL Multiphysics as a standalone product through a flexible graphical user interface (GUI), in applications created using the Application Builder and deployed using COMSOL Compiler™ or COMSOL Server™, or by script programming in Java® or the MATLAB® language (this requires a LiveLink™ for MATLAB® license).
Using these physics interfaces, you can perform various types of studies including:
When solving the models, the COMSOL Multiphysics software assembles and solves the problem using a set of advanced numerical analysis tools. The software runs the analysis together with adaptive mesh refinement (if selected) and error control using a variety of numerical solvers. The studies can make use of multiprocessor systems and cluster computing, and you can run batch jobs and parametric sweeps.
The COMSOL Multiphysics software creates sequences to record all steps that create the geometry, mesh, physics, studies and solver settings, and visualization and results presentation. This makes it easy to parameterize any part of the model; simply change a node in the model tree and rerun the sequences. The program remembers and reapplies all other information and data in the model.
Real-World Applications
Partial differential equations (PDEs) form the basis for the laws of science and provide the foundation for modeling a wide range of scientific and engineering phenomena. You can use the COMSOL Multiphysics software in many application areas, including the following, combining physics freely and incorporating user-defined PDEs, ODEs, and DAEs if needed:
Many real-world applications involve simultaneous couplings of physics, represented in a system of PDEs — multiphysics. For instance, the electric resistance of a conductor often varies with temperature, and a model of a conductor carrying current should include resistive-heating effects. The Multiphysics Modeling Workflow section discusses multiphysics modeling techniques. Predefined multiphysics interfaces provide easy-to-use entry points for common multiphysics applications.
In its base configuration, COMSOL Multiphysics offers modeling and analysis power for many application areas. For several of the key application areas there are also optional add-on modules. These application-specific modules use terminology, solution methods, and plot types specific to the particular discipline, which simplifies creating and analyzing models. The modules also include comprehensive Application Libraries with example models that show the use of the product within its application areas.