Preface

The typical user of a simulation package is someone who holds a PhD or an MSc, has several years of experience in modeling and simulation, and underwent thorough training to use the specific package. He or she typically works as a scientist in the R&D department of a big organization or as an academic researcher. Because the theory of simulation is complicated and the typical simulation package presents many options, it is up to the user to employ his or her expertise to validate the model and the simulation.

This means that a small group of simulation experts is serving a much larger group of people working in product development, production, or as students studying physics effects. Simulation models are oftentimes so complicated that the person who implemented the model is the only one who can safely provide input data to get useful output. Hence the use of computer modeling and simulation creates a bottleneck in product development, production, and education.

In order to make it possible for this small group to service the much larger group, the Application Builder offers a solution. It makes it possible for simulation experts to create an intuitive and very specific user interface for his or her otherwise general simulation model — a ready-to-use application. The general model can serve as a starting point for several different applications, with each application presenting the user with input and output options relevant only to the specific task at hand. The application can include user documentation, checks for “inputs within bounds”, and predefined reports at the click of a button.

Creating an application often requires a collaborative effort by experts within the areas of physics, numerical analysis, programming, user-interface design, and graphic design.

To a reasonable extent, COMSOL’s Technical Support team can recommend physics and numerical analysis settings for your application. In addition, the COMSOL documentation and online resources can be of great help. For programming and design, the Technical Support team can provide very limited help. These are areas where your own development efforts are critical.

The Application Builder makes it easy for a team to create well-crafted applications that avoid accidental user input errors while keeping the focus on relevant output details.

We at COMSOL are convinced that this is the way to spread the successful use of simulation in the world and we are fully committed to helping make this possible.