Domain Probe, Boundary Probe, Edge Probe, Point Probe
Use a Domain Probe (), Boundary Probe (), Edge Probe () (3D only), or Point Probe () to monitor the development of a scalar-valued quantity (real or complex-valued number) from a dynamic simulation (time-dependent, frequency-domain, or parametric solution).
Go to Common Settings for Probes for information about the Variable name, Source Selection, Expression, and Table and Window Settings sections.
Probe Type
Select an option from the Type list: Average (the default), Maximum, Minimum, or Integral depending on what type of value takes over the domain, boundary, or edge that you want the probe to compute and output. If needed, enter or edit a name for the Probe variable. The defaults are dom1 for a Domain Probe, bnd1 for a Boundary Probe, edge1 for an Edge Probe, and point1 for a Point Probe.
Integration Settings
If you have selected Average or Integral from the Type list, the Integration Settings section contains the following settings:
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From the Method list, select Integration (the default) or Summation. Only reaction forces use the summation method.
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If desired, for the Integration method only, enter an integer value in the Integration order field (default: 4). See integration order in the Glossary.
If you have selected Maximum or Minimum from the Type list, select a Point type — Node points (the default), Integration points, or Lagrange points. The point type controls the choice of evaluation points — the result is more accurate with more points, but more points also means a slower evaluation.
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If Integration points is selected, enter an Integration order. The default is 4. See integration order in the Glossary.
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Select Lagrange points to compute the maximum or minimum by evaluating the expression in the argument at a finite set of points in the source and taking the maximum or minimum of these values. If it is selected, enter a Lagrange order. The default is 2.
When working with multiple frames for any type of probe, you can also select a Frame — Spatial, Material, Geometry, or Mesh — followed by the coordinate names: typically (x, y, z) or (X, Y, Z) depending on the physics in 3D, for the volume element to be used in the integration.
If the component’s geometry is a 1D or 2D axisymmetric geometry, and the probe Type setting is set to Average or Integral, the Compute surface integral (for Domain Probe nodes in 1D axial symmetry and Boundary Probe nodes in 2D axial symmetry) and Compute volume integral (Domain Probe nodes in 2D axial symmetry) checkboxes are selected by default to compute an average or integral that takes the axial symmetry into account. COMSOL Multiphysics multiplies the expression (integrand) with 2*pi*r or pi*r prior to integration to compute the corresponding surface or volume integral.
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With the Battery Design Module: For a boundary probe example, see Edge Effects in a Spirally Wound Lithium-Ion Battery: Application Library path Battery_Design_Module/Lithium-Ion_Batteries,_Performance/li_battery_spiral_2d. For a domain probe example, see Mass Transport Analysis of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell: Application Library path Fuel_Cell_and_Electrolyzer_Module/Fuel_Cells/ht_pem.
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With the Nonlinear Structural Materials Module and for a boundary probe example, see Snap Hook: Application Library path Nonlinear_Structural_Materials_Module/Plasticity/snap_hook.