The Poroelasticity, Layered Shell Interface

The interface (

) combines the formulation with the interface for structural mechanics. This multiphysics interface is only available for 3D simulations and is only active on all boundaries where a layered material is defined.

A layered material can be defined on the boundaries by adding one of the following nodes:

•

, together with a node

•

, together with one or several nodes

•

, with the property specified

See Layered Material, Layered Material Link, Layered Material Stack, Layered Material Link (Subnode), and Single Layer Materials in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual for details on the definition of layered materials.

This multiphysics interface is only available when the Structural Mechanics Module, the Composite Materials Module and the Porous Media Flow Module are licensed. For a detailed overview of the functionality available in each product visit https://www.comsol.com/products/specifications/.

The coupling occurs on the boundary level, where the pore pressure from the Layered Darcy’s Law interface acts as a load for the Layered Shell interface, causing swelling or shrinking. Changes in volumetric strain affect the pore space, acting as a mass source or sink in Darcy’s Law.

When a predefined interface is added from the branch (

) of the or windows, and interfaces are added to the Model Builder.

In addition, the node is added, which automatically includes the multiphysics coupling.

For the settings of each of the coupled interfaces see

•

The Layered Darcy’s Law Interface and

•

The Layered Shell Interface in the Structural Mechanics Module User’s Guide.

Settings for Physics Interfaces and Coupling Features

When physics interfaces are added using the predefined couplings, as in this case , specific settings are included with the physics interfaces and the coupling features.

However, if physics interfaces are added one at a time, followed by the coupling features, these modified settings are not automatically included.

For example, if single and interfaces are added, an empty node appears in the model tree. You can choose from the available coupling features, but the settings in the constituent interfaces are not modified.


	Coupling features are available from the context menu (right-click the Multiphysics node) or from the Physics toolbar, Multiphysics menu.

Table 15-7: Modified Settings for a Poroelasticity interface.
Physics Interface or Coupling Feature	Modified Settings
Layered Shell	For the Layered Shell interface, under Structural Transient Behavior the Structural transient behavior is set to Quasistatic.
Layered Darcy’s Law	For the Layered Darcy’s Law interface, under Discretization, the shape function order for the temperature is set to Linear. Also, a Poroelastic Storage model is added by default.
Poroelasticity, Layered	The corresponding Layered Shell and Layered Darcy’s Law interfaces are preselected in the Coupled Interfaces section.