COMSOL Multiphysics

Release Notes
COMSOL Multiphysics Release Notes
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Version: COMSOL 6.2

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Part number: CM010001

C o n t e n t s

Chapter 1: Release Notes

COMSOL Multiphysics 10
New General Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
New Functionality in the Model Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
New Functionality in the Model Manager Server . . . . . . . . . . . 14
New Functionality in the Application Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New and Improved General Functionality in COMSOL Multiphysics . . . 18
New Geometry and Mesh Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
New Functionality in the Physics Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
New and Updated Operators, Functions, and Definitions . . . . . . . 26
New Functionality in Studies and Solvers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
New and Improved Results and Visualization Functionality . . . . . . . 35
®
New Java API Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
New COMSOL Server Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
General Backward Compatibility Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

AC/DC Module 45
New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . 45
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1 and Earlier . . . . . . . . . 52

Acoustics Module 54
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
New and Updated Model Examples in 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Battery Design Module 63

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

CONTENTS |3
 CAD Import Module, Design Module, and LiveLink™ Products
for CAD 67
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
New Functionality in the Design Module in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . 67
®
New Functionality in LiveLink™ for AutoCAD in Version 6.2 . . . . . 68
®
New Functionality in LiveLink™ for Inventor in Version 6.2 . . . . . . 68
New Functionality in LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™ in
Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
LiveLink™ for PTC Pro/ENGINEER
®
New Functionality in LiveLink™ for Revit in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . 69
®
New Functionality in LiveLink™ for Solid Edge in Version 6.2 . . . . . 69

CFD Module 70
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1 and Earlier . . . . . . . . . 72
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0 and Earlier . . . . . . . . . 72
Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6 and Earlier . . . . . . . . . 73

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module 74

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Updated Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Composite Materials Module 79

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Corrosion Module 81
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

ECAD Import Module 83

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Electrochemistry Module 84
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

4 | CONTENTS
Electrodeposition Module 86
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
New Model in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Fatigue Module 88
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
New Model in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Fuel Cell & Electrolyzer Module 89

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
New Model in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Geomechanics Module 92
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Heat Transfer Module 95

New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Updated Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6. . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

MEMS Module 104

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Metal Processing Module 109

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Microfluidics Module 110

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Updated Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Mixer Module 112

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

CONTENTS |5
 Multibody Dynamics Module 113
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module 116

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Optimization Module 122

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Particle Tracing Module 124

New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . 124

Plasma Module 125

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
New and Updated Applications in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0 and Earlier . . . . . . . . 126

Porous Media Flow Module 127

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Polymer Flow Module 131

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Ray Optics Module 133

New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . 133
New Model in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

RF Module 135
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

6 | CONTENTS
Rotordynamics Module 141
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Semiconductor Module 143

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Structural Mechanics Module 146

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
New Models in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Subsurface Flow Module 160

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Uncertainty Quantification Module 164

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Wave Optics Module 165

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
New and Updated Models in Version 6.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Material Library 171

New and Updated Material Data in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . 171

®
LiveLink™ for Excel 173
New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

LiveLink™ for MATLAB® 174

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0. . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6. . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

LiveLink™ for Simulink® 176

New Functionality in Version 6.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
General Backward Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

CONTENTS |7
 ®
The COMSOL API for Use with Java 177
COMSOL 6.2 API Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
COMSOL 6.1 API Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
COMSOL 6.0 API Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
COMSOL 5.6 API Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Index 181

8 | CONTENTS
 1

Release Notes

COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.2 includes new functionality and

improvements across the COMSOL® products. These Release Notes provide
information regarding new functionality in version 6.2 for the entire COMSOL
product suite.

9
 COMSOL Multiphysics
New General Functionality
All COMSOL programs running on Windows® now use the native Windows-ROOT
keystore as the default trust store for HTTPS connections. This is convenient when the
Windows keystore contains custom root certificates for an organization (for example,
due to firewalls intercepting encrypted traffic).

New Functionality in the Model Manager

Also see the Model Manager Reference Manual for more information.

MODEL MANAGER APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE

You can now access models and data files stored in a Model Manager database via a
Model Manager application programming interface (API) for use with the Java®
programming language. This access includes, for example, loading and saving of
models, using data files as input or output, and searching versions. The Model
Manager API can be used in the Application Builder’s Method Editor, from a
standalone Java® application, and from the LiveLink™ for MATLAB® interface.

MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS
The Model Manager now supports computing the total disk space usage; clearing
built, computed, and plotted data; and permanently deleting models and data files via
multiple selections. You can also collect various subsets of versions you want to
perform such maintenance operations on in the Maintenance window, which now
supports showing versions belonging to multiple items instead of just a single item. A
subset may, for example, be specified as all versions matching the current search in the
Model Manager window. Maintenance operations that automatically target all versions
in the Maintenance window are available from a new contextual Maintenance toolbar.

GEOMETRY PARTS IN A DATABASE

Geometry parts can now be version controlled in a database by saving them as model
versions via, for example, the Save window. The Model Manager will automatically
detect if a model version contains reusable geometry parts and, if so, extract and store
metadata in the database that enables you to easily find such parts using the Model
Manager search functionality. Geometry parts stored in a database can be loaded into
the model opened in the COMSOL Desktop — for example, by right-clicking a

10 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

geometry part node in the Contents section of the Settings window and selecting Insert
into Model. If the opened model is subsequently saved to the same database, the
geometry part will appear as a referenced version in the References window for the
saved model.

IMPROVEMENTS TO SEARCHING AND FILTERING

Search All Versions in the Database

You can now search either the latest versions in a branch or all versions in the database
by selecting the Latest Versions for Location or All Versions in Database option in the
Open, Select File, Select Model, and Model Manager windows. The first search mode was
already available in earlier versions of the Model Manager; the second is new for 6.2.

Sorting Search Results

Search results can be sorted when searching versions in the Open, Select File, Select
Model, and Model Manager windows. Results can be sorted by title, saved date, total size,
and size of built, computed, and plotted data — in either ascending or descending
order. It is also possible to sort search results based on their relevance ranking, with the
most relevant matches appearing first. The sort field and sort order is remembered for
each window between COMSOL program sessions.

Search Filters
New filters have been added to the Filters menu in the Open, Select File, Select Model,
and Model Manager windows: The Part filter matches versions containing reusable
geometry parts; the Commit Comment filter matches versions on the optional comment
written when they were saved; the Size filter matches versions on their size in bytes; and
the Computed Data filter matches versions based on the size of their built, computed,
and plotted data.

The Last Modified and Last Modified By filters have been replaced by the equivalent
filters Saved and Saved By. They correspond, respectively, to the instant in time when a
version was saved and the user that saved the version. The former filters are still
supported in the Model Manager search syntax.

Search History
You can reapply previous searches made in a Model Manager database via a new Search
History menu list. Each list entry contains the search term used in the search field as
well as any applied filters.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 11
 General Search Improvements
• You can temporarily disable an added search filter. When disabled, the filter is not
applied when clicking Search.
• When changing to, for example, a search mode in which an already applied filter is
not supported, that filter is automatically disabled. A warning icon is also shown for
the filter.
• You can set the page size used for results in Model Manager via a new Result page
size preference. The default page size is 100 — the same as in earlier versions.

INSERT PARAMETERS
In the Contents section of the Settings window, the new Insert into Model button can
be used to insert parameters into the model opened in the COMSOL Desktop. You
will be asked to either overwrite or rename parameters if there is overlap between the
names of new and existing parameters.

UPDATING AND PREVIEWING FILE CONTENTS

The Settings window for a data file has been updated to simplify working with filesets,
that is, a file version containing multiple file resources.

• An entire folder containing file resources can be added via a new Add Folder option.
• The Replace button no longer changes the filename of a replaced file resource, only
its contents.
• A new Preview File button enables you to open a selected file resource with the
default application for its file type.

SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
A new security preference, Allow access to Model Manager databases, has been added to
the Security page of the COMSOL Multiphysics installer. When the Enforce security
restrictions check box is selected and the Allow access to Model Manager databases check
box is cleared, methods and Java® libraries are disallowed from accessing Model
Manager databases. This includes both reading data from and writing data to a Model
Manager database. The same security preference has also been added to the Preferences
dialog box under Security>Methods and Java Libraries.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
• You can now connect to a nondefault Model Manager database hosted by a Model
Manager server by providing its server database alias via the server address field.

12 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• Built, computed, and plotted data can be optionally excluded when importing and
exporting models between the file system and a Model Manager database.
• Geometry parts referenced by an MPH file will be automatically imported into the
database when the Include auxiliary files found in imported models check box is
selected. The opposite is true when exporting and the Include auxiliary files stored in
the database check box is selected.
• Multiple selections can now be made when setting owners of database objects.
• The Model Manager now uses a temporary resource directory within the resources
directory of each of its local databases when saving models, instead of using the
temporary directory of COMSOL Multiphysics itself. This reduces the disk space
usage in the temporary directory when saving large models to a local database.

COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN VERSIONS

Older Versions of Model Manager Server

COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.2 supports connecting to all previous versions of a
Model Manager server. Some of the new functionality in version 6.2 will, however, be
disabled in the COMSOL Desktop.

HTTPS by Default
In version 6.2, the Model Manager will always attempt to connect to a Model Manager
server using a secure connection via HTTPS. Only if the connection fails and the
Require secure connection check box is cleared will a nonsecure connection attempt via
HTTP be made.

Changed Terminology and Search Syntax

The terminology used to characterize a regular model versus a draft model has changed
from save type to item save type. The corresponding field expression used in the Model
Manager search syntax is now @itemSaveType:<value> instead of
@saveType:<value>. Using the latter will result in an error.

The terminology used to characterize a model, application, physics, file, fileset, or tag
version has changed from item type to item version type. The corresponding field
expression used in the Model Manager search syntax is now
@itemVersionType:<value> instead of @itemType:<value>. The old terminology
and syntax remain but are now meant to match the type of an item itself and not the
type of a version of an item. The supported values in this case are model, file, and tag.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 13
 New Meaning of Branch Search Option
The Only text and tags option found in the Search list in the Settings window for a
branch has been replaced with Only item fields. The old option meant that no search
data was indexed for versions saved on the branch. This is no longer true — search data
corresponding to basic field settings is always indexed for all versions in the database.
The new option means that the contents of model versions are not indexed. When such
a branch is selected in the Model Manager window, for example, all filter options related
to model contents will be disabled in the Filters menu. Other filter options remain
enabled.

New Functionality in the Model Manager Server

Also see the Model Manager Server Manual for more information.

MODELS AND FILES IN THE WEB INTERFACE

Version-controlled models and data files in a Model Manager server database are now
available from the web interface of a Model Manager server. From the Home page, you
can search versions in repositories and branches using the same Model Manager search
functionality available in the COMSOL Desktop. Clicking on a version in the search
results opens a corresponding Model or File page, where you can view and edit basic
fields. This includes, for example, the title, description, and assigned tags of the item.
You can also see the version history of an item on a branch or browse the version
references for a specific item version. You can even create new or update existing data
files by uploading new file resource contents.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

New Attribute for Linked Users

A new type of primitive attribute for linking to a user in a Model Manager database has
been added.

Related Assets
Links to other related assets can be added on the Asset page. Clicking a link opens the
corresponding page for that asset.

New Search Filters

Two new search filters have been added to the Filters menu when searching assets: Last
Modified By, the user that last saved an asset, and Owner, the user that has ownership of
an asset.

14 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Automatic Table Filter
When an Asset page contains a composite attribute that has a primitive attribute with
a set of allowed values using the Table mode, a list with filter options is automatically
added to the page. Select check boxes in the list filters the table to only show rows with
the corresponding attribute values.

IMPROVED STATUS REPORTING FOR MANAGED SERVER COMPONENTS

The status reporting for managed server components has been improved. You can now
see, for example, the available disk space for a component’s data directory, which
Model Manager database is using a particular component, or the possible reason why
a component has failed to start.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
• If an account has been automatically mapped as a member of groups via a login
configuration, those groups are now shown in the External Group Memberships field
on the My Account page.
• Root administrators can assign an alias to a Model Manager server database. This
enables users in COMSOL Multiphysics to connect to that database even if it is not
set as the current default database.
• When running on Linux®, the data directories for a managed SQL database server
can now be placed on a network file system if using NFS mounted in hard mode.
Using a physical disk is still the recommended setup for performance reasons.
• The username associated with authenticated requests now appears in the Model
Manager server access log.
• The key aliases of certificates available in a PKCS#12 keystore, a Windows native
certificate store, or a macOS native keychain can now be selected from a list when
adding a connector.
• If no TLS host configuration for a connector uses the Default option for the Hostname,
the first configuration in the list will be used for all connections for which the
hostname of a connecting client does not match any Custom hostname — effectively
changing it to use the Default option.
• A Model Manager server now uses a temporary resource upload directory within the
resources directory of each of its databases, instead of using the system temporary
directory for all resource uploads. This reduces the disk space usage in the system
temporary directory when, for example, saving large models to a server database.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 15
 COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN VERSIONS

Older Versions of COMSOL Multiphysics

COMSOL Model Manager server version 6.2 supports client connections from
COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.0 and newer.

Minimum Version Requirement for External Microsoft ® SQL Server ® Database

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 is no longer supported as an external server
component. The minimum version requirement is Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014.

New Functionality in the Application Builder

Also see the Introduction to the Application Builder, Application Builder Reference
Manual, and Application Programming Guide for more information.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES

File Types
You can create a new type of declaration, File Type, from: the More Declarations menu
in the ribbon, the Declarations node’s context menu, or the settings of File Import form
objects. Such file types are available to use in File Import or as arguments to methods
that open file browsers.

Timer Feature
A new Timer feature is available from the Events context menu. You can use it to
regularly run an arbitrary command sequence without user interaction. The Timer
feature makes it possible for apps to automatically respond to state changes outside of
the model object.

Zooming and Scaling of Editor Windows

The Form Editor now supports zooming in and out. This functionality can be accessed
through the context menu, keyboard shortcuts, the mouse wheel while holding the
Ctrl key, or a new zoom field next to the scroll bar. The zoom level is set and saved for
each form. There is also a Fit to Space action to set the zoom so that the contents fill
the editor.

It was already possible to zoom in the Method Editor, but the user interface has now
been changed so that it is similar to that of the Form Editor. A preference for the zoom
level has been added, and it is now synchronized between method editors.

16 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

The Main Window editor has a new Window Scale menu, which has a similar user
interface to that of zooming. Unlike zooming, window scaling does not change the
size of the window contents, only the available area in the editor.

Graphics Window Toolbar

In simulation apps, Ambient Occlusion and Direct Shadows are now included in the
standard Graphics window toolbar.

Opening Form Editor and Method Editor Windows

You can now open the Form Editor or Method Editor by pressing the Return key when
a form or method node is selected in the application tree.

Test in Internet Explorer

The Test in Internet Explorer option has been removed in version 6.2.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FORM EDITOR

• Layout templates based on a Subwindows layout can now add forms directly to
individual subwindows.
• Ribbon Tabs defined in the Application Builder can now be used in the Model
Builder by including them in an add-in.
• You can specify a Style and an Icon in the Settings window for File Import form
objects. These settings control the Browse button appearance. The style can be
Outlined, Raised, or Flat, where Outlined is the default and Raised looks as it did in
previous versions.
• The Graphics form object’s toolbar has been extended with new options to choose
Direct Shadows (shadow mapping), Ambient Occlusion, Fresnel Transmittance
(uniform blending), and Floor (floor effect).
• The Native Browser on Windows setting for the Video form object has been removed.

IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION LANGUAGE

For a complete overview of the application language for programming methods in the
Application Builder for use in apps, models, and add-ins, see the Application
Programming Guide.

• You can now write method code to show plots from models other than the app’s
model. Use loadModel to load the other model. Then, you can use the method
useGraphics to show a plot group from the loaded model. For example:
Model m = loadModel(...);
useGraphics(m.result("pg1"), "/form1/graphics1");

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 17
 Note that only plot groups from other models are supported by useGraphics. It is
not possible to plot the geometry, mesh, or other entities.
The toolbar for these plots does not have all of the buttons that appear for plots
from the app’s model. This is because these actions are not supported in this case.
• There is a new utility method, formattedDateTime, to convert a time given in
milliseconds since the epoch to a readable date and time string:
String dateString = formattedDateTime(long epochInMs);

New and Improved General Functionality in COMSOL Multiphysics

FILTERING THE MODEL TREE

At the top of the Model Builder window, just above the model tree, there is now a filter
text field in which you can type any text to filter the model tree, showing only tree
nodes with names that match the filter. Clear it to return to the full model tree. If you
have added new nodes to the tree, click the Refresh button to the right of the text field
to refresh the filtering. Also, there are options on the Filter Options menu to the right
in the Model Builder window toolbar to control the display the subnodes to the nodes
that match the filter, to filter to only match exact words, and to hide the text field for
the filter text.

GROUP BY CONTINUOUS TANGENT

Activate Group by Continuous Tangent from the context menu when selecting applicable
geometric entities or from the selection menu on the Graphics toolbar to select or
deselect whole groups of boundaries (2D and 3D) or edges (3D) with a single click.
Change the Group by Continuous Tangent Tolerance to control which entities are
considered to be meeting with continuous tangent. These entities are highlighted
when hovering over an entity.

FLOOR SHADOWS AND GAMMA CORRECTION

Floor shadows (projection shadows) of 3D geometries are now available for improved
spatial understanding and more visually appealing plots. You can add a shadow plane
(floor) under the model geometry onto which shadows are projected. Select the Floor
shadows check box in the View node settings for 3D components to activate floor
shadows and the associated settings for effects such as blurring and transparency.

You can also activate gamma correction for more realistic lighting, especially when
shadow effects are used (ambient occlusion or direct shadows). Select the Gamma

18 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

correction check box in the settings for the View node in 3D components to activate
gamma correction and settings for associated effects.

You can also switch floor shadows and gamma correction on and off from the Scene
Light menu in the Graphics toolbar.

COMPARING WITH THE LATEST SAVED VERSION

There is a new Compare with Saved button in the Compare section of the Developer
ribbon. Click it to directly compare the open model with the latest saved version of
that model. For a model saved in a database, the software compares it with the last
saved draft or version.

SHOWING ONLY APPROPRIATE VARIABLES

In the Show More Options dialog box, there is now an All Variables check box under
Physics and Results. Clear it to only include appropriate variables in expressions for
defining the model and results evaluation.

WEBVIEW2 IN WINDOWS VERSION

The CefSharp web browser control used by the .NET client in version 6.1 has been
replaced with WebView2.

MULTIPLE UNDO AND REDO STEPS

The Undo and Redo toolbar buttons now include drop-down menus that show an item
for each step in the undo or redo history. Selecting a menu item performs all steps up
to and including the action it describes.

MARK-OF-THE-WEB SECURITY
Security has been improved when opening models and apps downloaded from the
internet. On the Security>Internet page in the Preferences dialog box, you can choose
to use a restrictive security policy (“Mark of the Web”) for these files. You can add
trusted sites for which this policy will then not apply. If a model or app that originates
from an untrusted site is opened in the COMSOL Desktop®, a banner appears,
notifying you that the security preferences have been temporarily restricted. To restore
the normal values and close the banner, you can click the Remove Restrictions button
in the banner or on the Security pages in the Preferences dialog box. This functionality
is not available on Linux®.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 19
 MULTISELECTION IN THE QUICK ACCESS TOOLBAR
When choosing which buttons to show in the Quick Access Toolbar, it is now possible
to select multiple actions in the lists under More Commands in the toolbar menu or in
the Preferences dialog box. All selected actions can then be added, removed, or moved
at once.

LOAD DATA FROM DATABASES AND OTHER SOURCES

You can now load tables with data from a file using a fullscreen Select File window,
where you can select a file from more sources, such as recent files, the current model,
local and remote databases, or browsing the file system. This option is available in most
settings where a Load button previously appeared under a table, such as in the settings
of the Parameters and Variables nodes. The Load button now also includes a Load From
option that opens the Select File window.

DATE, TIME, AND USERNAME FOR DATABASE ITEMS

Database items shown in the Recent list in the Open and Select File fullscreen windows
now include the date and time when the item was saved and the username of the user
that saved the item.

IMPROVED EXPRESSION CHOOSER IN THE CROSS-PLATFORM VERSION

In the cross-platform version of the COMSOL Desktop® (primarily for use on Linux®
and macOS), the expression chooser — which appears when you type Ctrl+Space or
click the Replace Expression button to insert or replace an expression — has been
updated and does now look and work in the same way as the one in the COMSOL
Desktop® version for Windows®.

KEYBOARD SHORTCUT SUPPORT FOR CUT, COPY, AND PASTE

When the Model Builder, Application Builder, or Physics Builder tree is selected, the Cut,
Copy, and Paste actions on nodes can now be performed using the common keyboard
shortcuts (Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, and Ctrl+V, respectively).

NEW ERROR INDICATORS IN TEXT FIELDS AND TABLES

® ®
In the Windows version of the COMSOL Desktop , the content of a text field or
table cell with an error or warning status is now indicated by a red or yellow squiggly
underline, respectively, without changing the text color.

CURRENT WORKING DIRECTORY ON MACOS

On macOS, the current working directory is now preserved when launching
COMSOL Multiphysics or a COMSOL batch command from the terminal.

20 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

NEW LOGICAL EXPRESSION SELECTION
Add a Logical Expression selection feature under Definitions to use a logical expression
to combine other selections. For example, the expression (sel1 || sel2) && !sel3
means the union of selections sel1 and sel2 minus the selection sel3.

ADD-IN IMPROVEMENTS
The Add-in Libraries window includes a new Add Add-in button. It opens a file browser
dialog box where you can select an add-in that you want to add to the default User Add-
in Library. There is also a new predefined add-in library for user-defined add-ins,
located in .comsol/6.2/addins. When you use the Add Add-in button to add an add-
in, the MPH file will be copied into .comsol/6.2/addins and show up in the tree
under a User-Defined Library node.

IMPROVED ICONS FOR MATERIAL NODES

The icons for Material nodes now indicate by their appearance whether the material is
assigned to domains, boundaries, edges, or points.

FIND AND REPLACE FOR HIDDEN SETTINGS

With the Settings filter in the Find and Replace window, it is now possible to include
hidden settings in the search by selecting the new Include hidden settings check box.
Replace also work for those hidden settings that can be altered. Those matches that are
hidden get an extra Hidden label in the Type column, such as Setting (Hidden). Finding
and replacing hidden settings can be important when renaming variables.

IMPROVEMENT TO THE LOG WINDOW

The solver log and other information in the Log window can now be stored on file on
the server, in .comsol/v62/sessions/solverlog_[YYYY]-
[MM][DD]_[HH][mm][SS]_[pid].log.

You can add this functionality in the Preferences dialog box under
Preferences>User Interface>Log and Messages using the Store in file check box. You can
also specify retention time for old solver log files. In the Log window, you can then click
the Store in File button to store the log in a file. You can also click the Open Log File
button to open the log file on your computer in, for example, Notepad.

®
FASTER SAVING ON WINDOWS
The writing of MPH files on Window®s, especially when saving to network drives, is
now faster.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 21
 New Geometry and Mesh Functionality

GENERAL FUNCTIONALITY
• The geometry and mesh file type descriptions All 2D Importable Files and All 3D
Importable Files used in earlier versions of COMSOL Multiphysics have been
replaced with descriptions that additionally distinguish between mesh and geometry
files types: All 2D Importable Geometry Files, All 2D Importable Mesh Files, All 3D
Importable Geometry Files, and All 3D Importable Mesh Files.
• There is now a Selection List button on the Geometry, Mesh, and Definitions ribbon
tabs that opens the Selection List window.

GEOMETRY FUNCTIONALITY
• Use the new Distance Measurement and Centroid Measurement features to create
parameters for the distance between entities or parameters for the centroid of
selected vertices, respectively. The parameters can be used in downstream geometry
construction and in physics. For a 2D geometry with constraints and dimensions
enabled, it is better to use the Distance dimension feature instead of the Distance
Measurement feature.
• The Sweep operation has been improved with better control of the twisting of a cross
section by specifying a direction vector to follow. This makes it easy to create a
tunnel where the floor has a slope only in the sweep direction, for example. You can
now sweep points and edges, and it is possible to align the sweep to an existing
object at the end of the spine curve. In the user interface, the Settings window has
been reorganized for better usability, and the sweep direction is determined
automatically by default.
• Exact geometric edges are now used, which is important in physics interfaces that
require high accuracy in the normal, such as the Ray Optics interface. Previously, the
edges were approximated when meshing, giving an approximation error that could
not be decreased by refining the mesh.
• 3D Boolean operations are faster in COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.2, and the
operations find intersections between faces that are tangent to each other at one of
the endpoints of the intersection edge, for example, when intersecting two
cylindrical faces.
• There is now an option to hide the visualization of the local coordinate system of a
work plane.
• Add a Logical Expression Selection feature in the geometry sequence to use a logical
expression to combine other selections. For example, the expression (sel1 ||

22 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 sel2) && !sel3 means the union of selections sel1 and sel2 minus the selection
sel3.
• Use the new Propagate selections to resulting objects check box to update selections
on the input objects to corresponding entities on the output objects. If you do not
want to propagate the selection to the resulting objects, clear the check box. This
option is available for most geometry operations.
• Most geometry features now have an Information section containing information
about the building of the resulting geometry objects, including time, date, and
COMSOL version in which the feature was built. It also contains messages that were
only written in the Messages window in previous versions.
• In the Form Assembly node, there is a new option to select the frame for the
generated identity pairs.
• Measuring a selection of faces in 3D also displays the perimeter, and when
measuring a selection of entities, the number of entities is displayed.
• There is a new option to specify whether to unite the input objects before
conversion or to convert each object individually. This option is available in the
Convert to Solid, Convert to Surface, Convert to Curve, or Convert to Point operations.

GEOMETRY PART IMPROVEMENTS

You can now load geometry parts stored in a database using a new Load Part From
context menu option available under Global Definitions>Geometry Parts in the Model
Builder tree. This option is also present under the Geometry ribbon toolbar. Selecting
Load Part From opens a fullscreen Select Model window for selecting models, with a
filter that is preapplied to show only models containing reusable geometry parts.

For a geometry part that is already loaded under Global Definitions>Geometry Parts,
there is a new Browse From option using the Browse button under the filename. This
new option makes it possible to browse for another geometry part using the same
fullscreen Select Model window used for the Load Part From option.

For a geometry part loaded from a database, using either the new Load Part From or
Browse From options, the field that refers to the filename now refers to the loaded part
via an icon and the label of the database from which the geometry part was loaded.

Geometry parts that are referenced by the model object now show up in the Auxiliary
Data window. For a geometry part that is loaded under Global Definitions>Geometry
Parts (including those loaded from database), the Auxiliary Data window now shows a
corresponding entry supporting the same types of actions as it does for other types of
input files.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 23
 When you create a geometry part in version 6.2, it contains a Local Parameters node.
Use this node to specify parameters that are used within the part but should not be
specified by users of the part.

MESHING FUNCTIONALITY
• In 3D, a new option has been added to the Free Triangular operation: Resolve narrow
domain regions. When it is activated, the Free Triangular operation creates the same
mesh on selected faces as it would if the Free Tetrahedral operation were run on
adjacent domains. This option is useful in sequences that define their own geometric
model, where face mesh is edited before domain mesh is created.
• For the Swept operation, support for more general topology of linking faces has
been added. For example, a linking face can now have a rectangular imprint in the
middle of the face. This new functionality works as long as edges are either
sufficiently tangent to or perpendicular to the local sweep direction.
• The Identical Mesh attribute lets you specify pairs of groups of faces or edges where
you need identical mesh, for example, for periodic boundaries. It is supported for
the Free Tetrahedral, Boundary Layers, Free Triangular, Free Quad, Edge, Remesh Faces,
and Remesh Edges operations.
• It is now possible to specify how the source mesh of a Copy operation is transferred
to the destination by adding an Edge Map, Two-Point Map, or One-Point Map attribute
node. This functionality provides more control when copying mesh between
geometries.
• The Boundary Layers operation has been significantly improved and now allows
faster generation of thicker high-quality boundary layer meshes.
• Use the new Corner Properties attribute to gain full control of the corner handling
in selected corners for your boundary layer mesh.
• The Boundary Layer Properties option Adjust layer directions has been removed and
has been replaced by the Method option on the Boundary Layers node. It is no longer
possible to control this option for individual boundaries.
• The Distribution attribute now has an Equidistant option when generating a fixed
number of elements. With this option selected, the resulting mesh will have equally
sized elements along edges (in 3D) or boundaries (in 2D).
• The Adjust Edge Mesh functionality in the mapped mesher has been improved to
avoid small edge elements and to reduce skewness by moving points (if possible)
along edges in the same edge group.

24 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• The new operations Remesh Edges, Remesh Faces (3D), and Remesh Domains (2D)
are used to remesh entities on meshes that define their own geometric models, such
as imported meshes. Use the ordinary attributes for controlling the mesh size, and
use the new attribute Fixed Mesh to prevent modification of the mesh on selected
boundaries or edges.
• The new Imprint operation lets you make imprints of vertices, edges, and faces on
another face in an imported mesh. This operation can be used to partition a face
using a tool object or as a preparation for merging of meshes.
• You can now set up named selections of entities for imported meshes using Explicit
Selection, Adjacent Selection, or by defining output selections in the following
operations: Intersect with Plane, Intersect with Line, Fill Holes, Create Faces, Create
Domains, Create Edges, and Create Vertices. The selections can be colored and used
in subsequent meshing operations and when setting up the physics.
• The Union, Intersect with Plane, and Intersect with Line operations have a new option
Placement of mesh vertices, with the choices Linear and Curved. When this option is
active, the global shape of each face is used to obtain a more exact placement of new
mesh vertices.
• When importing STL, PLY, or 3MF files, there is a new Merge coinciding mesh
vertices option. Select this to merge mesh vertices that lie within the distance of a
specified tolerance into a single mesh vertex.
• When specifying coordinates in the Create Vertices operation and the specified
coordinates are adjacent to or inside a mesh element, the element is now partitioned
to conform with the new vertex. Similarly, if you create vertices inside an unmeshed
domain, it will become adjacent to the unmeshed domain.

New Functionality in the Physics Interfaces

UNIT DISPLAY FOR DEPENDENT VARIABLES

The units for dependent variables now appear within parentheses in the Dependent
Variables section of the Settings window for the main physics interface nodes and under
Dependent Variables on the Select Physics page in the Model Wizard.

EQUATION DISPLAY IN THE PDE INTERFACES

The equation display in the partial differential equation (PDE) interfaces now follow
the equation form; for example, it does not include any time derivatives when you use
a stationary equation.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 25
 USER-DEFINED NAME FOR GLOBAL EQUATIONS
There is a new Name field under the Label field in the settings for the Global Equations
nodes. The text in the Name field must be a valid variable name, and it is used to set
the field name attribute. This name is used as an identifier for the corresponding solver
feature under Dependent Variables. This means that you can now set a deterministic
name (identifier) than can also be more descriptive than the old default (ODE1, ODE2,
and so on).

ENERGY BALANCE SECTION IN NONISOTHERMAL FLOW

In the Nonisothermal Flow multiphysics coupling node, the Flow Heating section has
been replaced by the Energy Balance section. In addition to the Include viscous
dissipation option, this section contains a new option to Include kinetic energy. When
both options are selected, the conservative total energy equation is solved.

New and Updated Operators, Functions, and Definitions

DEEP NEURAL NETWORK FUNCTION

The new Deep Neural Network function provides training and validation using a deep
neural network (DNN) for use with surrogate model training, for example. Deep
neural networks form a class of machine learning algorithms similar to the artificial
neural network and aim to mimic the information processing of the brain.

PARTIAL FRACTION FIT FUNCTION

The new Partial Fraction Fit function uses a modified adaptive Antoulas–Anderson
(AAA) algorithm, AAA2, to compute a partial fractional fit. You can use this function
for a rational approximation of frequency-domain responses. This approximation
makes it possible to compute its inverse Fourier transform analytically and thus obtain
the time-domain impulse response function. Doing so is useful in, for example, models
using a Pressure Acoustics, Transient or Pressure Acoustics, Time Explicit interface.

POLYNOMIAL CHAOS EXPANSION FUNCTION

The new Polynomial Chaos Expansion function defines a polynomial chaos expansion
(PCE, also called polynomial chaos expansion and Wiener chaos expansion), which is
a method for representing a random variable in terms of a polynomial function of other
random variables. PCE can be used, for example, to determine the evolution of
uncertainty in a dynamical system when there is probabilistic uncertainty in the system
parameters.

26 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

The Polynomial Chaos Expansion function is intended for use with the Uncertainty
Quantification Module, which is required for creating and training the Polynomial
Chaos Expansion function. If you already have a model with a trained Polynomial Chaos
Expansion function, that function can be evaluated without a license for the
Uncertainty Quantification Module.

NEW UNIT SYSTEMS WITH THE RANKINE TEMPERATURE UNIT

There are four new unit systems that use Rankine instead of Fahrenheit as the base unit
for temperature. When using these special unit systems, you must provide all
temperatures in Rankine unless you add [degF] after any number entered. The new
unit systems are British engineering units (Rankine), FPS (Rankine), IPS (Rankine), and
Gravitational IPS (Rankine). You typically need to use one of these unit systems
whenever you use formulas intended for absolute temperatures (such as exp(-
Ea/(k_B_const*T))) or material properties (such as thermal expansion) with the unit
1/temperature (for example, [1/K]) that are expected to be multiplied with a
temperature difference.

NEW PHYSICAL CONSTANT: BOHR RADIUS

The Bohr radius, a0, is now available as a predefined physical constant: a0_const.

IMPROVED ROTATED COORDINATE SYSTEM

The Rotated System coordinate systems include a new Rotation sequence list, which you
can use to choose from different Euler angle definitions.

INDETERMINISTIC OUTPUT FROM RANDOM FUNCTIONS

In Random and Normal Distribution function nodes, when you have selected the Use
random seed check box, there is a new Random seed type list where you can choose Fixed
(the default) or Current computer time, which is a new option that provides an
indeterministic output.

LINE INTEGRATION COUPLING OPERATOR

The new Line Integration coupling operator evaluates the integral of a general operator
argument expression, the integrand, on a line through a meshed source domain
selection in 2D or 3D. The line passes through the destination point where the Line
Integration operator is evaluated and the result of the integral is defined. The
destination can be any point on the source selection where the coupling operator is
defined as well as any point that is on any of the lower-dimensional entities adjacent to
the source selection, such as the boundaries, edges, or points of the source selection.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 27
 NEW PARAMETER OPERATORS
There is a new set of parameter operators that makes it possible to easily perform
simple pointwise operations over a set of solutions corresponding to different
parameter values:

• pint(p,p1,p2,expr) — integrating the linear interpolation of expr evaluated at

all parameter values over the interval p1 to p2 (more or less the trapezoidal rule).
• psum(p,p1,p2,expr) — summing expr for all parameter values in the interval p1
to p2
• pmin(p,expr) — finding the minimal value of expr over all parameter values
• pmax(p,expr) — finding the maximal value of expr over all parameter values
• pmin(p,p1,p2,expr) — finding the minimal value of expr in the interval p1 to p2
• pmax(p,p1,p2,expr) — finding the maximal value of expr in the interval p1 to p2
• atpmin(p,p1,p2,expr1,expr2) — evaluating expr2 at the point where expr1
has its minimal value on the interval p1 to p2
• atpmax(p,p1,p2,expr1,expr2) — evaluating expr2 at the point where expr1
has its maximal value on the interval p1 to p2

In these function calls, p is the name of the parameter. p1 and p2 must be real scalars.

LOGARITHMIC INTERPOLATION IN INTERPOLATION FUNCTIONS

It is now possible to use logarithmic interpolation for interpolation functions where
input data point positions or data point values are transformed by a logarithm function
before interpolated data output data are transformed back to the original space. In a
new Data Transformation for Interpolation section in the settings for Interpolation
functions, you can choose Logarithm instead of the default None for the function and
the arguments.

PATCHEVAL OPERATOR
The new patcheval(expr, exorder) operator provides a continuously smoothed
version of the expression expr as follows: For each mesh vertex, a patch of surrounding
mesh elements is formed, and a polynomial of degree exorder is fitted to the values
of expr in a set of sampling points in these elements. The value of patcheval at a
given evaluation point is a weighted average of the values given by the polynomials
corresponding to the vertices of the containing mesh element.

28 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

IMPROVED PLOTTING FUNCTIONALITY FOR USER-DEFINED FUNCTIONS
For functions that can have more than three arguments — that is, the Analytic, Gaussian
Process, Polynomial Chaos Expansion, and Deep Neural Network functions — the table in
the Plot Parameters section now includes a Plot column with check boxes so that you
can choose which of the arguments (one, two, or three) to include in the plot.

IMPROVED UNIT HANDLING IN THE EXPRESSION OPERATOR

Unit handling in the Expression Operator feature has been improved. In the process,
the default argument dimensions have changed from nondimensional (1) to
undefined, specified as an empty unit string. When a formal argument has undefined
dimensions, the dimensions of the actual argument used in each operator call are now
forwarded to the unit evaluation. This means that expression operators no longer have
fixed output dimensions but instead dimensions that may depend on the arguments
where it is called. In addition, the new on-the-fly evaluation of dimensions adds correct
evaluation for some cases that in earlier versions erroneously returned undefined
dimensions, notably when coupling operators are involved in the defining expression.

These change may have implications for existing models and API code, in particular if
you have compensated for undefined dimensions by explicitly introducing unit syntax
in definitions as well as results and visualization.

DEFORMED MESH FUNCTIONALITY IN NEW RIBBONS

The Deformed Mesh section with the Moving Mesh and Deformed Geometry features has
been removed from the Definitions ribbon. This functionality is now available in
separate Moving Mesh and Deformed Mesh ribbons.

FUNCTION SWITCHES — NOT DEFINING ALL CASES

In the settings for Function Switch nodes, there is a new Define all cases check box
(cleared by default). In previous versions of COMSOL Multiphysics, all functions in a
Function Switch were active in the sense that all functions were declared and possible to
use. This behavior might be convenient, but it can also be very costly. Select the Define
all cases check box to revert to the behavior from earlier versions.

IMPORT WAVE AUDIO FILES INTO INTERPOLATION FUNCTIONS

It is now possible to choose WAVE Audio File (*.wav) as the file format to import WAVE
audio files into Interpolation functions.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 29
 TOLERANCES FOR COMPATIBLE MESHES
For identity pairs and periodic boundary conditions, if you have selected On or Require
compatible meshes from the Elementwise mapping for compatible meshes list, a Tolerance
for compatible meshes field now appears, where you can specify the relative tolerance
compared to the mesh element size for when mesh elements are to be considered as
compatible. (Default: 0.001.)

IMPROVED HANDLING OF SMALL GAPS IN BEM MODELING

When using physics interfaces based on the boundary element method (BEM), the
handling of small gaps has been improved by using singularity-weakening variable
transformations. The new Thin gap handling check box is used to increase the accuracy
of the quadrature between almost-touching mesh element pairs (that is, pairs that are
extremely close with respect to element size). The Threshold distance (relative to mesh
size) value controls the distance at which elements are considered almost touching. A
larger value should provide more accurate results but at an increased computational
cost. Under the quadrature settings, the Integration order (very close elements) field
becomes active, making it possible to set a higher-order rule for such elements. In 3D,
an additional variable transformation is applied to improve the accuracy even further.

IMPROVED SUPPORT FOR PRODUCT GEOMETRY

It is now possible to use the following operators in product geometry (for extra
dimension):

• Average over extra dimension

• Integration over base dimension
• Average over base dimension
• General extrusion between product geometries

New Functionality in Studies and Solvers

SURROGATE MODEL TRAINING

Use the new Surrogate Model Training study node to add functionality for training a
surrogate model. A surrogate model is a simplified and more computationally
inexpensive model, which you can use to approximate the behavior of a more complex
and computationally expensive model (the full finite element model). In COMSOL
apps, for example, faster model evaluation using a surrogate model provides users with
a more interactive app experience. You can create surrogate models by training a deep
neural network (DNN), for example. Surrogate model training is typically based on

30 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

output data from a large parametric sweep of a full model. Training a surrogate model
requires a number of inputs and outputs; the outputs are considered functions of the
inputs. This model replaces the full finite element solution. A large number of data
points are needed in order to fully describe how the inputs map to the outputs. The
outputs can be captured using domain point probes, for example.

To see an example of how the computational speed of an app is increased by using a

surrogate model, view the new Tubular Reactor Surrogate Model Application in the
COMSOL Multiphysics Application Library.

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS
• More accurate time derivatives have been implemented for the backward differential
formula (BDF) solver. This change leads to more efficient time stepping for some
models.
• The ArmPL (Arm Performance Libraries) have been updated, providing improved
performance on the glnxarm64 platform, especially with a direct solver running
with multiple CPU cores.
• The ArmPL is now available as an option on Apple silicon (using -blas armpl).
ArmPL provides better performance than the default option but can sometimes be
less stable.

STUDIES AND STUDY STEP FUNCTIONALITY

• You can now skip parameters in the Parametric solver when there is an error by
selecting Skip parameter step from the On error list.
• The settings for study nodes now include a Store in Output section where you can
specify for each physics interface in the model if you want to store the output: as
controlled by the physics, all output, no output, or output based on a named
selection.
• It is now possible to allow variables that are not solved for to be reused in a periodic
manner for time-dependent solvers. This option is available in the Advanced section
of the settings as a Periodic values of variables not solved for check box. It requires
two inputs: the Start time and the Interval length. Together, they define the interval
for which the input solution is periodic. When reusing variables for time instants that
fall outside the specified time window, a periodic map is applied, allowing these
variables to be used for times longer than one period.
• Support for converting to a domain decomposition solver has been added to the
solver level and is available from the context menu for all solver nodes that support

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 31
 direct and iterative solvers (such as Stationary Solver and Time-Dependent Solver
nodes).
• The eigenvalue type of study steps and solvers have a number of improvements:
- The All (filled matrix) method in the ARPACK solver in earlier versions of COMSOL
Multiphysics has been replaced with the LAPACK (filled matrix) solver.
- When you choose the FEAST solver, there is a new Stochastic Estimation button in
the Study Settings section header, which you can use to estimate the number of
eigenvalues within a defined ellipse or half ellipse, without actually computing the
eigenvalues.
• Adaptive tolerance in the linear solver is now available for the fully coupled and
segregated solvers. Based on an estimate of the global convergence, the algorithm
tries to find an optimal tolerance for the linear solver. Three different convergence
estimators are available from the Method list: Full error estimate, Partial error
estimate, and Nonlinear residual. Using an adaptive tolerance avoids expensive
oversolving of the linear system when still far away from global convergence. This
functionality is only available for the Constant (Newton) nonlinear methods.
• Also, for domain decomposition solvers, there is a new Only visualize the domains
option, which can be used for visualization of the domains during results processing
and visualization (instead of the computed solution).
• New heuristics for adaptive tolerance have been added to the time-dependent
solvers for the minimal Jacobian update of the constant Newton method. The new
heuristics is turned on by default when the Use linear heuristics for adaptive tolerance
check box is cleared. The new heuristics use a stricter tolerance at each Newton
iteration step when the Jacobian is not updated. Therefore, more nonlinear
iterations might be required in each time step, and more Jacobian updates might be
needed. When the Use linear heuristics for adaptive tolerance check box is selected,
the minimal Jacobian update behaves as in earlier versions of COMSOL
Multiphysics.
• The Modal Solver and Modal Reduction solver now support using left eigenvectors.
This method is preferable when you perform model reduction for nonsymmetric
problems.
• The Spread setting in the Parameter list type list in the Frequency Domain, Modal study
step now works as expected. Also, to make the spread parameter list type more
useful, you can specify a Minimum frequency or Maximum frequency, which limits the
output frequencies to solve for (By default there is no limit). An extra list of
frequencies can also be supplied in a new Additional frequencies field. They will be

32 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 added to the output frequencies to solve for, which makes the spread option
effectively an extension of the frequency parameter list type.
• There are new options in the CFL-number proportional integral derivative (PID)
controller and for Anderson acceleration in the segregated solver settings when
Pseudo time-stepping is chosen from the Stabilization and acceleration list:
- The PID controller for the CFL number in pseudo time stepping has new options
that can be used to tune the controller. The PID controller list has the values Simple
(the old version of the controller) and Interpolation (a new version of the
controller that blends different types of controllers when the error reaches the
target error estimate). The Target CFL number was previously set to 10,000 but is
now available as a setting. The solver does not converge unless the target CFL
number is reached. The Limit to target CFL number check box controls how the
CFL number is changed once the Target CFL number is reached. Previously, the
CFL number continued to increase until the error tolerance was fulfilled. Now,
by default, the CFL number is kept at the Target CFL number.
- The Anderson acceleration includes new options. The Above CFL threshold list
controls whether the solver should set the target CFL number once the threshold
is reached (Lock target CFL number) or whether the PID controller should still
control the CFL number based on the error estimate (Use PID controller).
Previously, the solver would always set the CFL number to the target CFL
number once Anderson acceleration was activated for pseudo time stepping. The
Threshold for Anderson step field controls whether the Anderson step or the
Newton step is used as the nonlinear step. If the norm of the new step is less than
the threshold times the norm of the previous step, the Anderson step is used.
Otherwise, the Newton step is used. Lowering the Threshold for Anderson step can
improve robustness at the price of performance. Previously, the threshold for the
Anderson step was set to 10.
- There is now an option to use Anderson acceleration in the Segregated Step nodes.
This can improve the convergence rate when the number of iterations of the step
is greater than 1. This is, for instance, the case for the turbulence variables group
in the CFD interfaces.
• It is now possible to use continuation for parametric solvers together with least-
squares optimization. The Use all for Continuation check box is selected by default.
It then expands all least-squares data points into the continuation sweep. If the least-
squares data includes data points for the continuation parameter, it will be merged
with the list provided by the user.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 33
 • In the settings for the Advanced node, you can now choose Keep while expression is
constant from a new Method list under Reuse sparsity pattern. If you know a global
expression for which the sparsity pattern needs to be recomputed when it is changed
(for instance, t in a time-dependent problem), you can switch to Keep while
expression is constant. Using this method, the pattern will be recomputed when the
expression has changed value by more than 1012. Reusing the sparsity pattern this
way can improve the solver performance.
• In the settings for the Advanced node, the new Optimize element data initialization
check box is selected by default. Some elements (components of the discretization
of the problem) then attempt to optimize the parallelization of their initialization.
Currently, this default optimization is only implemented for contact problems and
reduced-order modeling. You can turn it off by clearing the Optimize element data
initialization check box.
• There is a new hybrid method for handling of constraints. Like the orthonormal
method, the hybrid method handles constraint blocks in a parallel way. For
constraint blocks whose estimated complexity of using singular value decomposition
(SVD) factorization exceeds the orthonormal block limit, the Gaussian-elimination-
based sparse method will be used, while other blocks are treated by SVD
factorization. To use the new hybrid method, select Hybrid from the Null-space
function list in the Advanced node. In addition, the Orthonormal block limit setting is
now shared by the Automatic and Hybrid methods, and you can adjust its value using
a slider.
• In the Advanced node, there are now improved ways to control the frequency of
reading from and writing to recovery files. Using the Recovery saving list, you can
choose to save on every iteration or use a saving ratio. You can also use a manual
setting Force save of recovery to force the recovery file to save at a specified interval.
The settings are also available as preference settings on the Files>Recovery page, and
the default is to use the settings from the preferences.
• You can now choose a static distribution of assembly blocks by selecting the new Use
static distribution of assembly blocks check box in the Assembly Settings section of the
settings for the Advanced node.
• The parameter step size for continuation, CMPpcontstep, and the step size for time
stepping, timestep, are now available as results processing variables. For
continuation, the step size is also written to the Log window.

34 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

CLUSTER AND BATCH FUNCTIONALITY
• The LSF (load sharing facility) scheduler is now supported in the settings for the
Cluster Computing node.
• When a Parametric Sweep is used as a job configuration, you can now select the
Postpone errors until end of sequence check box to allow the sequence to continue
even if an error is encountered. This option is useful when, for instance, you are
interested in the solution even if there is an error.
• The default name in batch jobs is now chosen from the filename. Alternatively, it can
be set as beforehand or as a preference on the Computing>Cluster page.

OTHER SOLVER IMPROVEMENTS

If there are control inputs in constraints when building a reduced-order model
(ROM), the exported system from the ROM is now a reduced system in which the
constrained states are eliminated. New eliminated-constraint-vector and eliminated-
output-vector outputs are then available in the Matrix list in the System Matrix node
under Results>Derived Values.

New and Improved Results and Visualization Functionality

GENERAL NEW RESULTS AND VISUALIZATION FUNCTIONALITY

• You can now use configuration nodes to simplify subsequent results evaluation and
plotting. Under Configurations, you can add Graph Plot Style, Multiselect Solution,
and Single-Select Solution configuration nodes, which you can refer to in plot nodes,
for example, to take graph plot styles or specified solutions from these
configurations. You can also right-click graph plot nodes and select Create Style
Configuration from the context menu to create a Graph Plot Style style configuration
based on the graph plot.
• Undo and redo operations are now supported for many more results and dataset
actions.
• It is now possible to use your favorite plots in the Add Predefined Plot window. When
you have made a plot you would like to use in other models, select Add to Predefined
Plot from the plot’s context menu. This option is available for plot groups,
evaluation groups, derived values, and node groups under Results. The plot will then
show up in the Add Predefined Plot window under User Defined.
• The Information section of a plot now includes information about the physical and
virtual memory usage.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 35
 • You can now import data into results tables using a new Import From option on the
Import menu in the Data section of the Settings window for Table nodes. Choosing
the Import From option opens a fullscreen Select File window, where you can select
a file from many sources, such as recent files, the current model, local and remote
databases, or by browsing the file system.
• You can now hide the local coordinate system axes of a work plane by clearing the
Show in graphics check box in the Local Coordinate System section of the settings for
Work Plane nodes.
• For rendering of materials using built-in material types, the following types are new:
Glass (Tinted), Aluminum (Matte), Aluminum (Polished), Sand, Titanium (Brushed), and
PCB. The PCB (Green) and PCB (Brown) material types from previous versions of
COMSOL Multiphysics have been removed.
• The LaTeX parser now supports the \makebox command for creating a box just
wide enough to contain the specified text.
• DirectX® is no longer available as a rendering option on Windows® computers.

NEW AND IMPROVED DATASET AND EVALUATION FUNCTIONALITY

• Support for selections using Selection subnodes has been added to the Array, Join,
Mirror, Revolution, and Sector datasets.
• The Selection plot subnode for plots that use a 2D revolution dataset now includes
two check boxes: Evaluate the start cap and Evaluate the end cap. One use case of
this functionality is to plot one expression on the start cap and another expression
on the end cap.
• For numerical evaluation using evaluation features under Derived Values and
Evaluation Group nodes, it is now possible to specify that the time or parameter tuple
for which a maximum or minimum was attained is included in the results table.
• There is now an option for removing not-a-number (NaN) data points in Data
export nodes.
• Extrusion datasets now include a Separate levels check box for plotting solutions
with one slice of 2D data for each equidistant point in time, for example.
• You can now specify an azimuthal mode in Revolution 1D datasets.

NEW AND IMPROVED GRAPHICS AND PLOT FUNCTIONALITY

• For most 3D plot types, a new Visual Effects subnode is available. In its settings, you
can control whether the plot should be affected by lighting and also whether

36 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 ambient occlusion and direct shadows should be active and casting and receiving
shadows.
• Graph plots now support interactive results extraction. Tooltips with values and plot
data information appear when you move the cursor close to points in the graph. You
can turn this functionality on and off using the Enable Tooltip button in the Graphics
toolbar for 1D plots.
• A new Comparison subnode is available for Global, Point Graph, and Line Graph plots.
You can use it to compare a graph plot with a table graph plot, using various options
for the mapping and metrics in the comparison. Results of the comparison appear
in a results table view.
• For titles in plot groups, it is now possible to use line breaks to make the title span
multiple lines.
• The More Plots submenu has been split into several further submenus, such as More
Surface Plots and More Line Plots.
• A new Table Point 2D plot makes it possible to plot the points in a table.
• There is now a Function plot for functions of three arguments that use a 3D slice plot
to visualize such functions.
• Streamline surface plots now support curved surfaces.
• Improvements to the error bar functionality:
- You can now add an Error Bars subnode to 1D Function and Table Graph plot
nodes.
- The error bars can now be plotted as filled regions.
• The 3D streamline plots have been improved for better positioning of the
streamlines, better orientation of the ribbon style lines, and improved handling and
efficiency.
• Mesh plots now support selections on dimensions higher than the evaluation
dimension (for example, selecting a domain to plot the mesh on its boundaries).
• The displacements in plot arrays can now be defined as absolute displacements in
addition to relative displacements.
• In the settings for 2D Streamline plot nodes, the Starting distance factor and
Terminating distance factor values can now be specified for magnitude-controlled
streamlines when the Advanced parameters list is set to Manual.
• In Graph Marker plot subnodes, a new Show y-coordinate check box is now available
in the Min and max display mode to only show the x-coordinate, if desired.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 37
 • It is now possible to restrict Table Graph plots to a subset of the x- and y-axis data
using range settings.
• You can now control the maximum width of the graph legend in 1D plot groups.
• It is now possible to add Filter subnodes to Table Graph plot nodes, with which you
can exclude points from the plot using logical expressions.
• For animations of 1D graph plot groups where you have a time-dependent,
parametric, or eigenvalue solution, you can now use the Cumulative list to control
whether the animation should use the last time or parametric tuple or a cumulative
list of such tuples.
• You can now include the plot’s label in graph plot legends.
• For graph plots that include a color expression, it is now possible to use number
format settings.
• Pellets plots now support a varying radius in the pellets plot to model shrinking core
phenomena.
• For Impulse Response, Line Segments, and Polarization plots, you can now choose to
include or omit the description of the solution from the automatic legend.
• For Table Graph and Sobol Index plots, there is now an option for whether the
column headers should be included in graph legends.
• When applicable, the Solution at angle (phase) setting is now available in Plot Group
nodes, not just in Solution datasets.
• Octave Band plots are now also available with a license for the Structural Mechanics
Module or MEMS Module.
• A new nonlogarithmic option is available in the Octave Band plots. There is also a
new Domain list with the options Frequency and Time, which means that Octave Band
plots now also support time-domain expressions.
• Graph Marker plots now include the possibility to export the bandwidth, Q-factor,
and damping ratio into a table.
• You can now use Parameterized Surface and Embed 2D datasets in Streamline Surface
plots. For such plots, you can now also choose On selected edges to uniformly place
seed points.

NEW AND IMPROVED REPORT AND PRESENTATION FUNCTIONALITY

• The report generator can now include images in portrait mode.
• Slide layout settings for the presentation generator are now available in Section
nodes so that you can override the parent settings for slides with custom content.

38 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• An Images section is now available in Section nodes for reports and presentations.
• There is now support in the report generator for adding custom captions to all
model content features with images.
• The report generator can now handle a wide variety of formats of images embedded
in Microsoft® Word® template files.
• The standard document properties in Microsoft® Word® reports and Microsoft®
PowerPoint® presentations as well as HTML metadata, for example title and
keywords, are now defined by settings in the report or presentation tree.

New Java® API Methods

The following new methods are now available:

MEASURING GEOMETRIC ENTITIES AND GEOMETRIC OBJECTS

Measuring geometric entities in comp(), geom(), and mesh() can now be done using
the same methods:

model.component(<tag>).measure().MeasurementMethod;
model.component(<ctag>).geom(<tag>).measure().MeasurementMethod;
model.component(<ctag>).mesh(<tag>).measure().MeasurementMethod;

PREVIEW PLOTS OF DATASETS

There is now API support for creating preview plots of datasets, using the createPlot
method:

DatasetFeature.createPlot();

CONTROLLING THE PLOT PREVIOUS, PLOT NEXT, AND SIMILAR

BUTTONS
There are now the following new Boolean API methods for stepping and checking
whether such operations are applicable: stepPrevious, stepNext, stepFirst, and
stepLast; and canStepPrevious, canStepNext, canStepFirst, and
canStepLast. All methods support an integer input argument level for the level to
step in a time-dependent parametric sweep, for example. You can also determine the
number of levels using getStepLevels().

FIELD NAMES FOR ODES (GLOBAL EQUATIONS)

The field name attribute for ordinary differential equation (ODE) entities is new, and
there are three new methods:

model().ode(<tag>).create(<tag>, <fname>)

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 39
 model().ode(<tag>).field(<fname>)
model().ode(<tag>).field()

These methods do the same things as the corresponding methods for

model().field().

NEW MODEL LOCATION METHODS

The so-called “save location” of a model has been added to Model.java in the
COMSOL API via two new methods, Model.location() and
Model.locationUri(). The return value of Model.location() is what can be
provided as is, for example,
ModelUtil.load(String tag, String modelLocation) to load a model from
either the file system or a database.

New COMSOL Server Functionality

The Security preference for file system access now also applies to clients connected to
COMSOL Server™ using the COMSOL API.

General Backward Compatibility Considerations

COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.2 can open MPH-files saved from COMSOL
Multiphysics versions 4.0–6.1.

COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.2 can run Java® files saved from COMSOL
Multiphysics versions 4.0–6.1. However, the Java® files may need to be modified in
accordance with information in this document and may need to be recompiled with
the comsol compile command in version 6.2.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1

NEW WEBVIEW2 BROWSER

The CefSharp web browser control used by the .NET client in version 6.1 has been
replaced with WebView2.

40 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0

NEW CEFSHARP BROWSER

The Chromium™-based CefSharp browser component replaces the Internet Explorer-
based .NET WebBrowser component in version 6.1.

In the Video and Web Page form objects, there is now a Native browser on Windows
option in the settings to determine if the Internet Explorer®-based .NET WebBrowser
component from earlier versions should be used instead. The default value for the
native browser is Chromium™ (CEF) but all existing models have the setting set to
Internet Explorer® by default to maintain the functionality from earlier versions. Use
the launcher flag cs.legacywebbrowser=true as a way to keep the previous browser
component instead of CefSharp.

The CefSharp browser component stores user data such as cookies, browser history,
and local storage in a folder. This cscefcache folder is placed among the temporary
files of the client and persist between COMSOL and browser sessions. You can delete
the cscefcache folder to clear this data. The CEF log output is written to
Users\[user]\.comsol\6.2\logs\cef.log. The log level can be controlled using
the cs.cefloglevel launcher argument, which accepts the values info, warning,
error, and fatal.

EQUATION FORM FOR PDE AND ODE INTERFACES

When adding a PDE or ODE interface in the user interface, the equation form will by
default be set to Study controlled. This will lead to a different interpretation of time
derivatives in frequency-domain studies compared to previous versions. When creating
a new PDE or ODE interface from the API or opening a model saved in a previous
version, the equation form will be set to Time domain, which corresponds to the
behavior in previous versions.

THE FLASH MOVIE FORMAT

For movie export, the Flash format is no longer available as of version 6.1.

TIME-EXPLICIT SOLVER
The Time-Dependent Solver node settings now includes the time-explicit methods from
the Time-Explicit Solver node that was available in the Model Builder in earlier versions.
The Time-Explicit Solver node is still available in models created in earlier version of
COMSOL Multiphysics. It is also available in the COMSOL API.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 41
 MODEL REDUCTION STUDY STEP
The Study step for eigenmodes and Study step for constraint modes settings in version
6.1 correspond to Defined by study step in previous versions because it is not possible
to use one study step for two different solution types.

PERIODIC CONDITIONS — DESTINATION SELECTION

The Destination Selection subnode under Periodic Condition nodes has been removed in
version 6.1 and has been replaced by an optional Destination Selection section in the
Settings windows for Periodic Condition nodes. It can still be added from the API for
backward compatibility. The Destination Selection subnode was used for two purposes:

• To provide a manual destination selection in cases where the automatic detection

failed for some reason (for example, in models with curved boundaries). The
selection of the feature was used as destination domains. When the All boundaries
option was selected for the selection list, the automatic destination was used from
the parent periodic condition.
• To add a manual orientation for vector transforms of the destination boundaries.
The Orientation of Destination section was used for this.

For more information about the API compatibility, see COMSOL 6.1 API Changes.

FLASH MOVIE FORMAT

The Flash movie format is no longer available for export of movie files using the
Animation feature. Animation features in models created using version 6.0 or earlier
where the format is set to Flash now use GIF as the format from version 6.1.

STREAMLINE PLOT CHANGES

For 2D Streamline and 3D Streamline Surface and Streamline Multislice plots, the
algorithm for finding and plotting streamlines has been improved. The Density setting
in version 6.0 and earlier versions has been replaced with the Maximum distance setting,
which is the inverse of the Density. A corresponding Minimum distance setting has also
been added. When opening models from version 6.0 and earlier versions, the Minimum
distance is assigned a value that is 0.05 times the Maximum distance. This is a reasonable
heuristic, but it is not guaranteed to give a good result in all cases.

PHYSICS SYMBOLS IN 1D AND 0D GEOMETRIES

The Physics Symbols section in the settings for physics interfaces, features, and
boundary conditions has been removed for all components with dimension less than
2D. This change might cause issues with old public API code that accesses any physics

42 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

symbol properties in 1D or 0D, even though they did not have any effect in earlier
versions.

Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6

PAIR FEATURES
The new framework for pair features can affect old models, although the goal is that
the effect is as small as possible. When opening an old model in the Model Builder, pair
features are migrated using the following main steps:

1 Add a default pair feature with the Disconnect pair check box selected to ensure that
the default pair feature does not contribute any new constraints or equations to the
model.
2 Move all fallback features that were located under the pair features in 5.6 to the level
below the physics interface. The selection of these moved features will typically get
the same active selection as the pair feature they belonged to in 5.6. Because those
moved features now have an overlapping selection with that pair feature, they will
act as an equivalent fallback feature to the pair feature.
3 Optimize all moved fallback features by merging exact duplicates into one feature,
including existing features such as the default features. In many situations, the result
will be that only the default feature of the physics will remain because most fallback
features under pair features in 5.6 were identical to the default feature of the physics
interface.

Potential Issues
If the optimization in Step 3 above cannot merge all features, some moved fallback
features will remain and be placed before their pair feature. Normally, a pair feature in
5.6 overrode all features before it, so if the moved fallback also overrides these features,
the selections should not change for them. However, there can be configurations
where the selection may change because of special schemes for overriding and
contributing between features. One example is shell interfaces that have pair features
on the same level as the physics interface. The pair feature can then contribute with a
feature that the moved feature will override. Such cases are difficult to detect during
migration and can create a discrepancy in some selections between the versions.

COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS | 43
 PHYSICS AND VARIABLES SELECTIONS
The Discretization column is removed from the table to the more advanced tree option,
which is shown when the Modify model configuration for study step check box is
selected.

USER DOCUMENTATION NODES IN THE PHYSICS BUILDER

The User Documentation nodes in the Physics Builder are no longer available in version
6.0.

44 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

AC / DC M o dule
New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW MAGNETIC MACHINERY, ROTATING, TIME PERIODIC INTERFACE

The Magnetic Machinery, Rotating, Time Periodic (mmtp) interface, found under the
AC/DC>Electromagnetics and Mechanics branch when adding a physics interface, is used
for design and analysis of rotating magnetic machines such as electric motors and
generators. It uses the time-periodic equation form. Stationary, Frequency, and Time
Dependent studies are supported, for coupling to other physics. The interface is
available in 2D with out-of-plane currents, and in-plane magnetic fields.

The time-periodic approach assumes temporal periodicity, but not necessarily single
harmonic excitation (as is the case for a frequency-domain analysis): Any excitation can
be used, including static excitation (permanent magnets) and pulse or wave forms
containing many harmonics at once. Nonlinear material models are supported in the
exact sense — as opposed to effective or cycle-averaged for a frequency-domain
analysis. Unlike the time-dependent solver, the time-periodic approach solves for all
time frames at once. This is a particularly powerful method for cases where the entire
period needs to be solved many times, for instance, because the period is contained in
a Parametric Sweep or an Optimization solver.

Another common use case is a magnetic machine model that needs to run many cycles
to reach nominal operating conditions: An ordinary time-dependent solver would
need to resolve the entire transient, while the time-periodic approach solves for the
steady-state conditions directly.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING AND NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE:

MAGNETIC–ELASTIC INTERACTION IN ROTATING MACHINERY
The new multiphysics coupling Magnetic Forces, Rotating Machinery connects a Solid
Mechanics interface to a Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interface at the domain level.
It adds the loading caused by Maxwell stresses on a deformable and rotating structure.

The new Magnetic-Elastic Interaction in Rotating Machinery multiphysics interface

combines a Solid Mechanics interface with a Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interface,
using the Magnetic Forces, Rotating Machinery multiphysics coupling.

This multiphysics interface requires a license for the Structural Mechanics Module.

AC/DC MODULE | 45
 NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING AND NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE:
MAGNETIC–RIGID BODY INTERACTION IN ROTATING MACHINERY
A new multiphysics interface and a new multiphysics coupling for modeling electric
motors and generators has been added. This multiphysics interface, Magnetic–Rigid
Body Interaction in Rotating Machinery, combines a Multibody Dynamics interface
with a Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interface through the new Magnetic Forces,
Rotating Machinery multiphysics coupling. This functionality can be used to compute
how deformations and stress originating from air gap forces are distributed in both the
stator and rotor of an electric motor. Some common applications are magnetic
bearings and machines with unbalanced rotors.

This multiphysics interface requires a license for the Multibody Dynamics Module.

RESTRUCTURED MAGNETOMECHANICS MULTIPHYSICS COUPLINGS

The Magnetic Forces, Lorentz Coupling, and Magnetomechanical Forces multiphysics
couplings have been deprecated and replaced by a single multiphysics coupling called
Magnetomechanics. The coupling can be used to combine Solid Mechanics with either
Magnetic Fields or Magnetic Fields, No Currents.

If it is used to couple a Solid Mechanics interface with a Magnetic Fields, No Currents

interface, the coupling becomes equivalent to the deprecated Magnetic Forces coupling.
If it is used to couple a Solid Mechanics interface with a Magnetic Fields interface, a
check box allows the user to choose between options that are equivalent to the
deprecated Lorentz Coupling and the deprecated Magnetomechanical Forces coupling.

The new Magnetomechanics multiphysics coupling requires a license for the MEMS
Module, the Structural Mechanics Module, or the Acoustics Module.

PERIODIC PAIR FEATURE IN 2D AXISYMMETRY

The Magnetic Fields interface now supports the Periodic Pair feature for the modeling
of linear magnetic machinery also in 2D axisymmetry (previously available in planar
2D). This makes it possible to model rotationally symmetric linear (tubular) machinery
in 2D.

NITSCHE SUPPORT FOR PAIR CONDITIONS

For the Continuity and the Sector Symmetry pair features in the Electric Currents
interface, the Magnetic Fields, No Currents interface, and the Rotating Machinery,
Magnetic interface, a new constraint option is available for the scalar potential degree
of freedom: the Nitsche constraint — note that for these features, the Constraint Settings
section becomes visible only when Advanced Physics Options settings is enabled in the

46 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Show More Options dialog box. The Nitsche constraints do not require conforming
meshes and do not need a Lagrange multiplier either, simplifying the meshing
sequence and allowing for a larger range of solver options.

Note: This implementation assumes the quasistatic approximation and is applicable

only for pairs adjacent to domains with little or no displacement currents or induced
eddy currents normal to the pair boundary. In addition, nonlinear material models in
the neighboring domains are not yet supported.

IMPROVED FRAME HANDLING FOR THE MAGNETIC FIELDS INTERFACE

The Ampère’s Law feature in the Magnetic Fields interface has been deprecated and
replaced with Ampère’s Law in Solids and Ampère’s Law in Fluids features. The chosen
reference frame — Lagrangian or Eulerian — affects how Maxwell’s equations should
be interpreted. (In particular, this applies to material properties and induced electric
fields.) The two new features provide a more user-friendly implementation that helps
to ensure that the appropriate reference frames are used for liquids, gases, and vacuum
on one hand, and solid objects on the other.

The Ampère’s Law in Fluids feature comes with a set of material models that is suitable
for liquids (including, for example, the relative permittivity and permeability), while
the Ampère’s Law in Solids feature supports Jiles–Atherton hysteresis and remanent flux
density, for example. Together, the two new features cover the same range as the
original Ampère’s Law feature. Furthermore, the features allow for a more intuitive
setup of multiphysics couplings, with the Ampère’s Law in Fluids feature allowing for
couplings with magnetohydrodynamics or plasma physics, for example, and the
Ampère’s Law in Solids feature allowing for magnetomechanical couplings.

NEW DEFAULT FEATURE FOR THE MAGNETIC FIELDS INTERFACE

A new default feature Free Space has been added to the Magnetic Fields interface. It is
used to specify the physical conditions in close proximity to your modeled device —
typically in the air or a vacuum. The feature adds an Ampère’s Law governing equation
with a limited set of material models. It provides a canvas on top of which other
features, such as the Ampère’s Law in Solids and Ampère’s Law in Fluids features can be
added to locally specify material properties and excitation forms.

The Free Space feature comes with a built-in Stabilization option, improving numerical
stability. The stabilization adds an artificial conductivity term to limit the contrast
between the free space domains and the conductors typically included in the model.
This conductivity term can be deduced automatically by choosing a skin depth that is
an order of magnitude larger than the modeled device at its typical operating frequency

AC/DC MODULE | 47
 — a conductivity that results in such a large skin depth is assumed to have little or no
impact on the result quality while still improving solver reliability and speed. A User
defined option is available, too, for manual tuning of the stabilization.

Note: Replacing the Magnetic Fields default feature has an impact on backward
compatibility. Any model method, Java® code, and MATLAB® code that has been
saved using previous COMSOL versions may need to be revised in order to function
properly.

LITZ WIRE SUPPORT FOR THE MULTITURN COIL DOMAIN

The Wire Properties section of the Homogenized Multiturn coil has been extended to
support several options typically used for litz wire modeling. This includes the option
to specify the (AC) resistance per unit length — either taken from a user-defined
analytic model, from measurements, or from a specification sheet provided by the
supplier. This option enables an easier workflow when modeling imperfect stranded
conductors (such as litz wires operating at higher frequencies). The option to specify
the total effective coil (or litz coil) resistance is available too.

Note: At higher frequencies, the total net AC resistance will depend on both skin and
proximity effects within the (litz) coil and the inductive coupling between the coil and
its environment.

PERIODICITY SUPPORT FOR THE SINGLE CONDUCTOR COIL AND THE

MULTITURN COIL
The Geometry Analysis subfeature used for the Coil domain in the Magnetic Fields
interface; the Magnetic and Electric Fields interface; and the Rotating Machinery,
Magnetic interface in 3D has now been equipped with true (anti)periodicity support
— through a Periodic Boundaries subfeature to the Geometry Analysis subfeature. The
Periodic Boundaries subfeature is used together with the Periodic Condition feature
under the physics node. This option is particularly useful for electric machine models
that have some form of sector symmetry.

VOLTAGE EXCITATION FOR THE TERMINATED TERMINAL

The Terminal feature in the Electrostatics interface, the Electric Currents interface, and
the Magnetic and Electric Fields interface is equipped with a Terminated option. This
functionality makes it possible to connect the terminal to an impedance that might
represent a load or a transmission line. The Terminated option has now been extended
to support voltage excitation. Except for the means of excitation, this functionality is
very similar to the existing power-fed terminated terminal.

48 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

BACKGROUND FIELD FEATURE FOR THE MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC
FIELDS INTERFACE
A new Background Magnetic Flux Density feature has been added to the Magnetic and
Electric Fields interface. This provides a convenient way to add a background field when
modeling liquid metals, for example.

Note that this feature only applies a constraint; it does not introduce (or require) a
reduced field formulation.

DEBYE DISPERSION MODEL FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS

New damping models have been added for (weakly) conducting materials. Under
Current Conservation — when the material type is set to Solid — you can now use the
Dispersion dielectric material model. In the Dispersion subnode, you can choose
between the Debye and Multipole Debye dispersion models. This functionality is
available for frequency-domain and time-dependent analysis.

Note that this material model requires a license for the AC/DC Module or the MEMS
Module.

PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, LAYERED MATERIAL MODEL

The Piezoelectric Material model in the Layered Shell interface (under Structural
Mechanics when adding physics interface) is now also available as the Piezoelectric
Material, Layered model in the Shell interface. As a result of this addition, thin
piezoelectric composites can be analyzed using the Shell interface. This can provide
significant savings in terms of computation time.

In addition to a license for the Structural Mechanics Module, this feature requires a
license for either the AC/DC Module or the MEMS Module. If you have a license for
the Composite Materials Module, the material model can be used in multilayered
shells, and the individual layers can have different material properties.

FLOATING POTENTIAL FOR THE CONDUCTING SHELL AND THE

PIEZORESISTIVE SHELL
For the Electric Currents in Shells interface and the Electric Currents in Layered Shells
interface, a new Floating Potential subfeature has been added to the Conductive Shell and
Piezoresistive Shell features. The Floating Potential node is used when modeling a
metallic electrode at floating potential.

The Piezoresistive Shell feature requires a license the MEMS Module.

AC/DC MODULE | 49
 NEW PHASE SECTION IN PLOT GROUP SETTINGS
When creating plots for frequency-domain simulations, it is now possible to specify the
Solution at angle (phase) directly in the plot group settings. Previously, this setting
could only be specified on the datasets. Now, the same dataset can be used for different
plot groups, displaying results for different phase settings.

VARIABLE REFACTORING FOR THE MAGNETIC FIELDS, NO CURRENTS

INTERFACE
For the Magnetic Fields, No Currents interface, a new framework has been
implemented for the definition of derived variables. These are the variables in the
physics (including those used in results analysis) derived from the degrees of freedom
solved for. The new framework enables quicker and more robust maintenance of the
physics interface and better support for solid and liquid materials.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR WITH EFFICIENCY MAP

When electrical energy is transferred into mechanical work in an electric motor, some
of the energy is lost in the form of heat. This modeling example demonstrates how to
couple the Magnetic Machinery, Rotating, Time Periodic interface with the Heat
Transfer in Solids interface in a two-way manner, where electromagnetic losses
influence temperature, and the temperature influences torque and electromagnetic
losses. A Parametric Sweep study over a range of rotor speeds and torque levels is
performed in order to generate a motor efficiency map.

PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR WITH CAMPBELL DIAGRAM

The noise emitted from an electrical machine can have many sources. This model
studies acoustic noise from vibrations created by magnetic force variation is studied.
Such noise is often audible at twice the excitation frequency but can also occur at
higher frequencies or harmonics of the excitation frequency.

The model demonstrates how to couple the Magnetic Machinery, Rotating, Time
Periodic interface with solid mechanics and acoustics to produce a Campbell diagram.
The results provide insight into which of the magnetic force harmonics creates the
most prominent motor noise at various speeds. This insight also correlates this with the
natural frequencies of the motor structure.

50 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

ELECTROMAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF AN INTERIOR
PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR
The magnets in an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor are embedded in the rotor
core, where they form narrow regions known as bridges. The thickness of the magnetic
bridge is an important parameter to consider in the design, both from the
electromagnetic and the mechanical perspective.

This model demonstrates the coupling between the Solid Mechanics and Rotating
Machinery, Magnetic interfaces that is used to perform electromagnetic and
mechanical analysis of an IPM motor. A motor with 10 rotor poles and 12 stator slots
is modeled in 2D. The magnets are embedded in a V-shaped configuration inside the
rotor core. The connection between the magnets and the rotor core is modeled as
springs. The results provide insight into magnetic flux density and stress distribution
in the system.

MAGNETIC–STRUCTURE INTERACTION IN A PERMANENT MAGNET

MOTOR
This model demonstrates how the coupling between the Multibody Dynamics and
Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interfaces can be used to perform electromagnetic and
mechanical analysis. A permanent magnet motor with 10 rotor poles and 12 stator
slots with surface mounted magnets is modeled in 2D. To model the magnetic–
structure coupling integrated with a moving mesh, the electromagnetic force is
transferred to the rotor, and the rotor motion is transferred to the moving mesh. A
time-dependent problem computing the magnetic flux density and displacement is
solved for three complete electrical periods.

RESONANT SPIRAL COIL

A self-resonating, five-turn spiral coil of copper wire with a 1-mm-square cross section
is analyzed in 3D and 2D axisymmetry using the Magnetic and Electric Fields
interface. The wire is equipped with a thin epoxy varnish insulation layer, tightly
wound and mounted on a printed circuit board. The capacitive coupling through the
thin varnish layer is modeled using a special boundary condition in 3D, thereby
avoiding costly volumetric meshing. In the 2D axisymmetric model, a volumetric,
swept mesh is used in the thin varnish layer.

HARTMANN FLOW IN LIQUID METAL BLANKET WITH HEAT TRANSFER

In nuclear fusion reactors, the conducting fluids, such as the fusion plasma and the
liquid metal in the reactor blanket, will interact with the background magnetic field.
This phenomenon is referred to as magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The

AC/DC MODULE | 51
 electromagnetic phenomena and the fluid flow are fully coupled through the Lorentz
force and the electromotive force. The example demonstrates the modeling of an
MHD flow in the duct of a liquid metal blanket, coupled with the heat transfer.

IRON SPHERE IN A MAGNETIC FIELD TUTORIAL SERIES

An iron sphere in a magnetic field is a textbook example that demonstrates the effects
of a magnetic field interacting with a permeable material. This tutorial series is
designed as an introduction to the numeric modeling of electromagnetic effects with
the COMSOL software.

The series investigates four different background magnetic field regimes consisting of
a static background magnetic field and three time-varying fields at 60 Hz, 20 kHz, and
13.56 MHz. Each of these regimes shows unique behavior, has unique underlying
assumptions, and utilizes different modeling techniques.

FEM RESISTOR IN CIRCUIT (USING THE EC EXTERNAL I-TERMINAL)

The External Couplings feature in the Electrical Circuit interface has two options that
can be used for coupling currents: the External I vs. U and the External I-terminal. The
former has two nodes (representing a differential external voltage measurement), and
when coupling to an Electric Currents Terminal feature, you will need to have a local
ground in the electric currents finite element model. The latter is a single node and,
therefore, you will need two instances of it and two Terminal features in the Electric
Currents interface. This simple tutorial model demonstrates how to use these features
in practice.

UPDATED SYNCHRONOUS ELECTRIC DRIVE GEOMETRY PARTS

The geometry parts for the Synchronous Electric Drive 3D have been updated to match
the latest released models in the Motor Tutorial Series.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1 and Earlier

• The switch from the old Ampère’s Law feature to the new default Free Space feature
in the Magnetic Fields interface means that this version of the Magnetic Fields
interface is not compatible with previous versions of COMSOL, considering the
support of model methods, Java® code, and stored MATLAB® scripts. This is
because these scripts typically do not mention the creation of the default feature
explicitly. To patch up old files, in most cases it suffices to add an instruction for
creating the feature right after introducing the Magnetic Fields interface (although
migrating to AmperesLawSolid or AmperesLawFluid is recommended):

52 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 model.physics().create("mf", "InductionCurrents", "geom1");
model.physics("mf").create("al1", "AmperesLaw", 3);
model.physics("mf").feature("al1").selection().all();

• The Ampère’s Law feature in the Magnetic Fields interface has been deprecated and
replaced with Ampère’s Law in Solids and Ampère’s Law in Fluids features.
• The Magnetic Forces, Lorentz Coupling, and Magnetomechanical Forces multiphysics
couplings have been deprecated and replaced by a single multiphysics coupling
called Magnetomechanics.
• The Electric Currents, Single Layer Shell interface has been deprecated and replaced
by the Electric Currents in Shells interface.

AC/DC MODULE | 53
 Acoustics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

FREQUENCY-DEPENDENT IMPEDANCE CONDITIONS IN THE TIME

DOMAIN
New functionality for specifying and setting up frequency-dependent impedance
conditions in acoustic time-domain simulations. The functionality relies on a rational-
fitting approach of the frequency-domain data, resulting in a system of memory ODEs
solved in the time domain. A new Partial Fraction Fit fitting/interpolation function has
been added to perform the transformation from the frequency-domain data to the
time domain. The fitting relies on a variant of the so-called AAA algorithm. The
functionality has been added to the Pressure Acoustics, Transient and Pressure
Acoustics, Time Explicit interfaces.

In Pressure Acoustics, Transient and Pressure Acoustics, Time Explicit, the Impedance
boundary condition can now be used to model realistic surface properties, such as
those of an absorbing panel or any other surface that has frequency-dependent
absorbing properties. This new functionality is essential for realistic full-wave room-
acoustic simulations and more.

The Partial Fractional Fit function (available with the COMSOL Multiphysics base
package) transforms frequency-domain data into a form that is suitable for the time-
domain analysis. The function performs a rational approximation of frequency-domain
responses. This makes it possible to compute its inverse Fourier transform analytically
and thus obtain the time-domain impulse-response function. The fitting algorithm can
be used for any data, but it is particularly important and useful for surface-impedance
data in acoustic simulations.

ANISOTROPIC POROELASTIC MATERIAL IN THE POROELASTIC WAVES

INTERFACE
The material model in the Poroelastic Waves interface has been extended with a new
Anisotropic Poroelastic Material node. Many porous materials, such as fibrous materials,
exhibit anisotropic properties. The anisotropic properties can now be defined for both
the elastic matrix material properties and the relevant poroacoustic properties, that is,
the flow resistivity, the tortuosity factor, and the viscous characteristic length.

54 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

RESTRUCTURE OF THE POROELASTIC WAVES INTERFACE
The Poroelastic Waves interface has been restructured so that conditions that apply to
the porous elastic matrix and those applicable to the saturating fluid are located in
separate menus. The conditions can simultaneously be applied on the same boundary
for defining a multitude of mixed conditions.

PORT CONDITION FOR LINEARIZED POTENTIAL FLOW

A Port boundary condition has been added to the Linearized Potential Flow interface.
The Port condition is used to excite and absorb specific acoustic modes that enter or
leave waveguide structures, like a turbofan duct or other channel structures, in a
convected acoustic simulation based on the linearized potential flow model. To
provide the full acoustic description, several port conditions are applied on the same
boundary. This allows setting up a modal decomposition of noise sources. All relevant
propagating modes in the studied frequency range can be included (among the modes
that have a cutoff frequency in the frequency range). The Linearized Potential Flow,
Boundary Mode interface can be used to analyze and identify the propagating and
nonpropagating modes.

IMPEDANCE CONDITION IN THE LINEARIZED POTENTIAL FLOW,

BOUNDARY MODE INTERFACE
An Impedance condition can now be added in the Linearized Potential Flow, Boundary
Mode interface when computing propagating and nonpropagating modes. This is
important in combination with the Port boundary conditions when exciting a
waveguide system with realistic outgoing and incident modes.

SLIP WALL FEATURE IN THERMOVISCOUS ACOUSTICS FOR NONIDEAL

WALL CONDITIONS
The Slip Wall boundary condition is used to model the effective nonideal wall
conditions that exist in the slip-flow regime, when the Knudsen number is in the range
from 0.001 to 0.1. The Slip Wall condition is used for systems with very small
geometrical dimensions or systems running at very low ambient pressures. This is, for
example, relevant when modeling MEMS transducers and other microdevices. To
model a slip wall on an interior condition, use the Interior Slip Wall condition.

SURFACE TENSION FEATURE IN THERMOVISCOUS ACOUSTICS

The Surface Tension feature adds the necessary condition to model an interface between
two fluids including surface tension effects. This acoustic (perturbation) formulation
of the Young–Laplace equation relies on a linearization around the stationary shape of

ACOUSTICS MODULE | 55
 the fluid–fluid interface. The feature is important when modeling small curved
interfaces between two different immiscible fluids, like microbubbles or microdrops.

NEW RCL OPTION FOR THE IMPEDANCE IN THERMOVISCOUS

ACOUSTICS, FREQUENCY DOMAIN
An RCL options has been added to the Impedance boundary condition in the
Thermoviscous Acoustics, Frequency Domain interface. The condition is useful for
modeling the interaction with simple spring-mass-damper systems using a lumped
representation. An example is the flexible membrane of a microphone.

NEW AND IMPROVED MULTIPHYSICS COUPLINGS AND FUNCTIONALITY

Two new multiphysics couplings have been added and two existing multiphysics
couplings now have the option to add subfeatures to simplify the modeling workflow.

New Pair Acoustic–Thermoviscous Acoustic Boundary Multiphysics Coupling

A new pair version of the existing Acoustic–Thermoviscous Acoustics Boundary
coupling has been added, the Pair Acoustic–Thermoviscous Acoustics Boundary. This
coupling is suited for modeling approaches that have assemblies with nonconforming
meshes.

New Thermoviscous Acoustic–Thermal Perturbation Boundary Multiphysics Coupling

A new Thermoviscous Acoustic–Thermal Perturbation Boundary multiphysics coupling
has been added to couple the acoustic temperature variation in a fluid to temperature
fluctuations in solids. This is a coupling between the Thermoviscous Acoustics,
Frequency Domain/Transient and Heat Transfer in Solids interfaces. The condition is,
for example, useful for advanced acoustic simulations of thermoacoustic engines and
pumps.

Interior Impedance for the Acoustic FEM–BEM Multiphysics Coupling

When coupling FEM- and BEM-based pressure acoustics models using the Acoustic
FEM–BEM Boundary, the Impedance (subfeature) can be added to the multiphysics
coupling to model an interior impedance between the two domains. This extends the
applicability of the hybrid FEM–BEM modeling strategy, which is useful for large
acoustic problems.

Thermoviscous Boundary Layer Impedance for the Acoustic–Structure Interaction

Multiphysics Coupling
When coupling a vibrating structure to an acoustic domain with the Acoustic–Structure
Boundary, the Thermoviscous Boundary Layer Impedance (subfeature) can be added to
the multiphysics coupling. This simplifies the setup of large vibroacoustic models

56 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

where thermoviscous losses are included in the homogenized boundary condition
formulation of the thermoviscous boundary layer impedance. This is, for example,
important to speed up certain shape-optimization problems, or for faster approximate
simulations.

NEW RECEIVER FEATURE IN RAY ACOUSTICS

A new physics-based Receiver feature in the Ray Acoustics interface drastically improves
performance for analyzing the impulse response. The receiver feature is used to define
the boundaries of a receiver sphere in the geometry when setting up the physics. The
receiver collects information (arrival time and power) about the intersecting rays
during the simulation. This information is then used to compute the impulse response
in the results analysis.

RELEASE FROM PRESSURE FIELD IN RAY ACOUSTICS

The new Release from Pressure Field feature is used to create realistic sources extracted
from a wave-based (near-field) simulation done with the Pressure Acoustics, Frequency
Domain interface. This means that the classical point-source approximation of ray
tracing is not always necessary. An example of a near-field source could be a
loudspeaker placed in the dashboard of a car. This placement causes local reflections
and diffraction, which are wave phenomena that cannot be captured by the ray tracing
method. A local pressure-acoustics model can be solved and rays released with the
Release from Pressure Field feature with magnitude and direction given by the intensity
field in the pressure-acoustics model.

IMPROVEMENTS TO PLOTS AND IMPORT FOR ACOUSTIC MODELING

Import of WAVE Audio Files

WAVE audio files (.wav) can now be imported in an Interpolation functions. This is
useful for many applications in acoustics, for example when comparing simulations
with measured data, or when importing source signals for a transient analysis.

Function Input to Impulse Response Plot

The data source for the Impulse Response plot can now also be a function (and not only
a receiver dataset). This means that an Impulse Response plot can be used to analyze
user-defined impulse-response data, for example, data imported from a WAVE audio
file. This allows analysis of measurement data as well as of data resulting from
concatenation of low-frequency wave-based and high-frequency ray simulations.

ACOUSTICS MODULE | 57
 Updates to the Octave Band Plot
The Octave Band Plot can now be used to analyze results based on transient simulations.
The transient data is transformed to the frequency domain before being analyzed. The
Octave Band plot now also has a General (non-dB) input type that can be used to analyze
absorption data in acoustics or vibration velocity data in structural-vibrations models.

GRADIENT-BASED OPTIMIZATION WITH EXTERIOR FIELD OPERATOR IN

2D AXISYMMETRIC MODELS
Gradient-based optimization (shape or topology optimization) is now supported in
2D axisymmetric models when using the dedicated optimization exterior-field
operator pext_opt(r,z) in the Pressure Acoustics, Frequency Domain interface. The
optimization version of the exterior-field operator, similar to the already existing
operator in 3D, is implemented such that its sensitivity can be computed analytically.

OUT-OF-PLANE SOURCE-TERM CONTRIBUTIONS IN THERMOVISCOUS

ACOUSTICS, LINEARIZED NAVIER–STOKES, AND LINEARIZED EULER
Source terms in thermoviscous acoustics, linearized Navier–Stokes, and the linearized
Euler interfaces now include out-of-plane contributions.

FIRST-ORDER MATERIAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN ACOUSTIC STREAMING

A new option to include the first-order material dependency of the viscosity has been
added to the acoustic streaming multiphysics couplings. This effect is typically
important in a rotating streaming flow generated by a combination of two resonances,
generating a rotating acoustic wave.

LAGRANGIAN STEADY VELOCITY VARIABLES IN ACOUSTIC STREAMING

New predefined variables have been added for the Lagrangian steady velocity when
modeling acoustic streaming. This velocity should be used when computing the
trajectories of particles in a streaming flow. The variable is announced and can easily be
selected as input for the viscous drag force in, for example, particle tracing for fluid-
flow physics interfaces.

ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY SWEEP STUDY

A new frequency-domain study type called Adaptive Frequency Sweep has been added
for the Pressure Acoustics, Frequency Domain interface. The study is useful for
performing dense frequency sweeps in an efficient manner using the asymptotic
waveform expansion (AWE) method. The study requires the input of a metric that
keeps track of the acoustic response of the modeled system.

58 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

FREQUENCY MODAL FOR VIBROACOUSTIC MODELS
Both left and right eigenvectors are now computed when performing an
eigenfrequency analysis. This allows the analysis of vibroacoustic (multiphysics) models
using the modal solver.

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS FOR ACOUSTICS MODELS SOLVED WITH

BEM
Several important improvements have been introduced when solving acoustic models
with the boundary element method (BEM) using the Pressure Acoustics, Boundary
Element interface.

• The evaluation of the BEM kernel for complex-valued wave numbers (models with
damping) has been optimized. As an example, the evaluation of the Radiation
Pattern in the Submarine Target Strength model in the Application Library is now
25% faster. The speedup depends on the model size.
• Load balancing for BEM models run on clusters has been significantly improved. As
an example, solving the Submarine Target Strength model at 6 kHz on six nodes on
a cluster is now 7.5 times faster in COMSOL 6.2 when compared with the previous
version, now solving in 55 min instead of 7 h 30 min. The peak memory and
memory balancing has also been greatly improved. This is a substantial speedup for
solving large acoustic problems (the specific speedup is problem- and hardware-
dependent).
• An improved solver is now available for solving models using the stabilized BEM
method in noncluster configurations (on a regular workstation). As an example, the
Submarine Target Strength model now solves in 16 min as compared to 25 min in
the previous version. The actual speedup is problem- and hardware-dependent.
• There is now an option for improved thin gap integration handling.

ACOUSTICS MODULE | 59
 New and Updated Model Examples in 6.2

NEW MODELS
The following models are new in version 6.2:

• Wave-Based Time-Domain Room Acoustics with Frequency-Dependent

Impedance
• MEMS Microphone with Slip Wall
• Generation of Lamb Waves for Nondestructive Inspection of Plate Specimens
• Viscous Damping of a Microperforated Plate in the Slip Flow Regime
• Car Cabin Acoustics — Frequency-Domain Analysis
• Baffled Piston Radiation
• Loudspeaker Driver 3D — Frequency-Domain Analysis
• Eigenmodes of an Air Bubble with Surface Tension
• Scattered Field Formulation for Elastic Waves
• Elastic Cloaking with Polar Material
• Thermoacoustic Engine and Heat Pump
• Fuel Tank Vibration
• Nonlinear Transfer Impedance of a Tapered Orifice
• Type 4.3 Ear Simulator
• Transverse Isotropic Porous Layer
• Active Flame Validation

UPDATED MODELS
The following models have been updated in version 6.2:

• Small Concert Hall Acoustics

• Chamber Music Hall
• Porous Absorber
• Sound Transmission Loss Through a Concrete Wall
• Flow Duct
• Axisymmetric Condenser Microphone
• Optimizing the Shape of a Horn
• Tweeter Dome and Waveguide Shape Optimization

60 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

NEW MODELS IN THE APPLICATION GALLERY ON COMSOL.COM
In addition, several models have been added to the Application Gallery found at
https://www.comsol.com/models/acoustics-module. The new models are:

• Acoustic Streaming Induced by a Focused Ultrasound Beam

• Opto-Acoustophoretic Effect in an Acoustofluidic Trap
• Acoustic Trap in Glass Capillary with Bias Flow
• Room Impulse Response of a Smart Speaker
• Smartphone Microspeaker and Port Acoustics: Linear and Nonlinear Analysis
• Sound Transmission Loss Through a Window

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1

• In the Acoustic Diffusion Equation interface, the Long room option has been
removed from the Mean free path model in the Room feature. To retrieve the old
behavior for the feature room1 in the interface ade, component comp1, add the
following line after selecting the Long room option:
model.component("comp1").physics("ade").feature("room1").
set("lambda", "sqrt(ade.room1.S/(4*pi))");
• The Linearized Potential Flow interfaces have a new default tag for the default
material model. If the default feature has been edited in a Java file, the following line
should be added for the physics lpff in the component comp1 to obtain the old
behavior:
model.component("comp1").physics("lpff").feature().
create("aem1","LinearizedPotentialFlowModel").selection().all();

This line should be added directly after the line where the physics interface is
created.
• In the Prescribed Displacement feature in the Poroelastic Waves interface, notice that
the General notation option has been removed.
• The Poroelastic Waves interface has been updated to improve the overview of the
features and their functionality. A new feature, Impervious Layer, the homogeneous

ACOUSTICS MODULE | 61
 Neumann condition for the pressure, is now added by default. This feature
corresponds to a sound hard wall or a no-flow condition.
The following backward compatibility issues can be seen in certain, less common
models:
- The override rules have been improved for the Porous, Free and Septum Boundary
Load boundary conditions, which only appear if you open a model created in an
earlier version of COMSOL Multiphysics. The Porous Free node has been
renamed Free, Sound Soft.
- Most predefined pair conditions have been removed from the Poroelastic Waves
interface. Add the corresponding nonpair boundary conditions instead if needed.
- The Symmetry condition is now only available on exterior boundaries. To get a
roller condition for the porous matrix, add the Roller condition.
- The symmetry settings have been removed from the Roller condition. Use a
Symmetry condition instead.

• Java backward compatibility for the Poroelastic Waves interface:

- The default features have changed. To retrieve the old behavior, add the
following line after creating the physics interface:
model.component("comp1").physics("pelw").feature().
create("pfree", "PorousFree", 2);

Then, set the selection to the boundaries where the Porous, free condition should
be active, for example, for boundaries 1 and 2:
model.component("comp1").physics("pelw").feature("pfree").
selection().set(new int[]{1, 2});

- The default material model in the Poroelastic Waves interface has changed. To
retrieve the old behavior, add the following line when the interface has been
created and replace all references to "pelm1" by "pelm_def":
model.component("comp1").physics("pelw").
create("pelm_def", "PoroelasticWavesMaterial", 3);

62 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Ba t t e r y De s i g n Mod u l e
New Functionality in Version 6.2

GENERAL
• The Electrode domain node has been renamed Current Conductor in the current
distribution interfaces.
• Contact resistance can now be included in the Electric Ground, Electric Potential,
Electrode Current, and Electrode Power external boundary condition nodes in the
Electrochemistry interfaces.
• An issue related to linearizing concentration dependence for the Lumped Multistep
kinetics type in the Tertiary Current Distribution interface has been fixed.
• The Knudsen diffusion check box in the interface top node in the Transport of
Concentrated Species interface has been renamed Include pore-wall interaction and
moved to the Fluid subnode (under the porous-media nodes). Pore-wall interaction
is now also supported for the Maxwell–Stefan Diffusion model. In addition, the
Kinetic gas theory option has been renamed Knudsen diffusivity.
• A Contributing Velocity node can now be added to the Porous Medium node in
Darcy’s law. This node is typically used together with pore-wall interactions to add
the wall (diffusion slip) velocity stemming from the wall interactions to the Darcy
fluid velocity. The wall velocity variable is only available when using the Maxwell–
Stefan diffusion model in the Transport of Concentrated Species interface.
• The Transport of Concentrated Species interface now supports anisotropic
Tortuosity in porous media. The new functionality allows for specifying different in-
plane and through-plane effective gas diffusivities.
• To model diffusion in solid phase materials, a new Solid feature has been introduced
in the Transport of Diluted Species interface. The new feature supports anisotropic
diffusion as well as translation and deformation of the solid domain.
• The new Free and Porous Media, Darcy multiphysics interface is now available from
the Model Wizard. The interface combines the Darcy’s Law and Laminar Flow
interfaces and is used to compute fluid velocity and pressure fields of single-phase
flow in models including both free flow and porous media.
• The Free and Porous Media interface has been renamed and is now available under
the name Free and Porous Media, Brinkman.

BATTERY DESIGN MODULE | 63

 BATTERY PACK INTERFACE
• The Battery pack capacity text field has been replaced by the text field Initial battery
cell capacity. (This change was also implemented in Update 1 for version 6.1.)
• Internal contact resistances in the Battery Pack interface can now be added to the
Negative Connectors and Positive Connectors nodes.
• The Battery Pack interface supports From material inputs for Initial battery cell
capacity, Open circuit voltage related inputs, and overpotential related lumped
parameters.
• A new node group, Lumped Batteries, has been added in the Battery Material Library.
Included in this group is the sample material Lumped Battery Example, which
includes the Initial battery cell capacity and Open circuit voltage related inputs.

LITHIUM-ION AND BATTERY WITH BINARY ELECTROLYTE INTERFACES

• The new SOC and Initial Cell Charge Distribution node automatically defines cell-level
state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) variables. The same node can also
be used to set an initial cell-level charge distribution based on either an initial cell
SOC, an open-circuit cell voltage, individual electrode potentials, or individual
electrode charge inventories. The node is activated by selecting the Enable state of
charge (SOC) and initial charge distribution check box in the interface top node.
• The Tortuosity in the Porous Electrode, Separator, Porous Conductive Binder, and
Highly Conductive Porous Electrode nodes can now be defined using anisotropic
diagonal or symmetric tensors. The setting can be used in the Effective Transport
Parameter Correction section to specify, for instance, different in-plane and through-
plane diffusivity and conductivity values.
• The Particle Intercalation node now supports setting an Initial electrode potential.
• The default domain has been changed to Separator.
• The default for Electrical conductivity has been changed to User defined with the
default value 10 S/m in the Porous Electrode and Porous Conductive Binder nodes of
the Lithium-Ion and Battery with Binary Electrolyte interfaces
• Fixed issue related to the migrative boundary flux by moving migrative boundary
flux contributions from individual domain nodes to the interface node. The fix may
impact results in models using the Internal Electrode Surface node.
• The Initial Cell Charge Distribution node is now a legacy node and has been removed
from the context menu.

64 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

DEFAULT SOLVER CHANGES IN THE BATTERY INTERFACES
• The default Initial time step in now set to 1 s in the Time-Dependent Solver for all
battery interfaces.
• The Battery Pack, Lumped Battery, and Single Particle Battery interfaces now
enable Stores solution before and after events by default in the Time-Dependent
Solver.

CHEMISTRY INTERFACE
• An issue related to converting concentrations to partial pressures has been fixed.
• An issue was fixed in the Electrode Reaction node. The issue resulted in the local
current density variable not being properly defined if a user-defined equilibrium
potential was combined with, for example, Butler–Volmer.
Reaction formulas entered in a Reaction feature are now automatically updated in the
following manner:

• When the same species occurs several times in a formula, all contributions on the
left-hand side and the right-hand side are separately summed.
• When the type of a species is changed to a surface species, the phase indication (ads)
is added after the species name in all reactions in which it participates. When
changing it to another type, the phase indication is removed.
• To make the formula easier to read, a space is added around all participating species.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

• 1D Isothermal Sodium-Ion Battery (na_ion_battery_1d)
• Silicon–Graphite Blended Electrode with Thermodynamic Voltage Hysteresis
(li_battery_sigr_hysteresis)
• Battery Electrode with a Particle Size Distribution (particle_size_distribution)
• Surrogate Model Training of a Battery Rate Capability Model
(lib_rate_capability_surrogate)
• The model Modeling Impedance in the Lithium-Ion Battery
(li_battery_impedance) and the corresponding app, Lithium-Ion Battery
Impedance (li_ion_battery_impedance), have been updated to use the IPOPT
optimization solver
• The models pouch_cell_utilization, lib_rate_capability, lib_internal_resistance,
lib_drive_cycle, lib_diffusion_induced_stress, capacity_fade,

BATTERY DESIGN MODULE | 65

 li_battery_solid_electrolyte, and li_battery_multiple_materials_1d have all been
updated to make use of the new SOC and Initial Cell Charge Distribution node.

66 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

C AD I m po r t M od u l e, D esi gn Mod u l e,
and LiveLink™ Products for CAD
New Functionality in Version 6.2

CAD IMPORT MODULE GEOMETRY KERNEL UPGRADE

The CAD Import Module, the Design Module, and the LiveLink™ products for CAD
utilize the Parasolid® geometry kernel from Siemens PLM for solid modeling
operations, geometry repair, and defeaturing. (Without these products, a COMSOL-
native geometry modeling kernel is used.) The CAD Import Module released with
COMSOL® version 6.2 includes an upgraded version of the Parasolid kernel. As a
result, a number of stability issues have been fixed, which makes geometry modeling
operations and the import of CAD models more robust.

• The CAD file import and export functionality included with these products has
been extended to support new versions for some of the supported file formats (for
details, see under Read from File, CAD on
www.comsol.com/products/specifications/cad/).
• The Import node for 3D STEP files now includes the setting Import body names
with the options Automatic, On and Off to control whether the body names are
included in the object names after the import. With the Automatic option the body
names are only included in the names of objects imported from multibody parts.
• The settings for the Cap Faces feature now include the option Group adjacent edges
that will automatically select all edges in a loop when clicking on an edge.
• The CAD file import functionality now also supports the import of
SOLIDWORKS® files on a supported Linux® operating system with an Intel® 64-
bit processor.
• When using the CAD kernel, the automatic tolerance setting for the Form Assembly
operation has been adjusted to a relative tolerance of 1e-5 that yields better pair
detection for small overlaps.

New Functionality in the Design Module in Version 6.2

• The Loft operation now has an option Remove redundant profile vertices that can
remove vertices that separate identical curves on the profile objects. The option

CAD IMPORT MODULE, DESIGN MODULE, AND LIVELINK™ PRODUCTS FOR CAD | 67
 makes it easier to use the output of Interpolation Curve features as profiles for the
loft.
• A new check box Propagate selections to resulting objects is available with the Loft,
Offset Faces, Thicken, and Transform Faces operations. Clear this check box if you
want that named selection refer only to the input objects when you choose to keep
those.
• The settings for the Offset Faces feature now include a check box Subtract input
objects. Select this check box to, after the faces are offset, subtract the input objects
from the corresponding offset objects.

New Functionality in LiveLink™ for AutoCAD® in Version 6.2

The LiveLink™ interface now supports AutoCAD® 2024.

New Functionality in LiveLink™ for Inventor® in Version 6.2

• The LiveLink™ interface now supports Inventor® 2024.
• The Component Selection window has been added to the CAD software user
interface for selecting assembly components for synchronization regardless of the
visibility state of components. Previously, visible components where always
synchronized with the assembly.
• The names of geometry objects after synchronization are now derived from the
component names for CAD assemblies.

New Functionality in LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™ in

Version 6.2
• The LiveLink™ interface now supports PTC Creo Parametric™ 10.0.
• The Component Selection window has been added to the CAD software user
interface for selecting assembly components for synchronization regardless of the
visibility state of components. Previously, visible components where always
synchronized with the assembly.
• The names of geometry objects after synchronization are now derived from the
component names for CAD assemblies.
• If you are using PTC Creo Parametric™ together with the Windchill® PLM
software, synchronization is now supported for files that are not checked out. Note

68 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 however, that the associativity of the synchronized geometry can only be ensured
for files that are checked out.
• The LiveLink™ interface now supports the synchronization of multibody parts that
contain both solid and surface bodies.

LiveLink™ for PTC Pro/ENGINEER®

Starting with version 6.2 of COMSOL Multiphysics, we are no longer offering our
LiveLink™ for PTC Pro/ENGINEER® product.

New Functionality in LiveLink™ for Revit® in Version 6.2

The LiveLink™ interface now supports Revit® 2024.

New Functionality in LiveLink™ for Solid Edge® in Version 6.2

• The Component Selection window has been added to the CAD software user
interface for selecting assembly components for synchronization regardless of the
visibility state of components. Previously, visible components where always
synchronized with the assembly.
• The names of geometry objects after synchronization are now derived from the
component names for CAD assemblies.

CAD IMPORT MODULE, DESIGN MODULE, AND LIVELINK™ PRODUCTS FOR CAD | 69
 CFD Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2
• The Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) interfaces
are now also available for weakly compressible and compressible flows.
• Turbulent flow interfaces for all RANS models have been added under the High Mach
Number Flow section in the Fluid Flow branch.
• Physics interfaces for Incompressible Potential Flow and Compressible Potential
Flow have been added to the Fluid Flow branch. These interfaces can be used to
model irrotational flows or to get initial values for more complex fluid-flow
simulations.
• A new option, Limit small time steps effect on stabilization time scale, in the
Consistent Stabilization section in the Settings window for the Single-Phase Flow
interfaces, can be used to avoid the loss of pressure stabilization during initialization
and for small time steps. This option is selected by default for the LES and DES
interfaces.
• By default, the LES and DES interfaces get the Maximum step constraint set to
Expression with the Maximum step set to spf.dt_CFL in the Time-Dependent Solver
node when using automatic solver settings.
• The Free and Porous Media Flow interface has been renamed to Free and Porous
Media Flow, Brinkman. Models created with earlier versions containing the Free and
Porous Media Flow interface will keep the old name for the interface.
• The new Free and Porous Media Flow, Darcy predefined multiphysics interface
under the Porous Media and Subsurface Flow section in the Fluid Flow branch couples
a Darcy’s Law interface and a Laminar Flow interface using the new Free and Porous
Media Flow Coupling multiphysics coupling node.
• The new Multiphase Free and Porous Media Flow predefined multiphysics interface
under the Porous Media and Subsurface Flow section in the Fluid Flow branch couples
Laminar Flow, Darcy’s Law, and the new Phase Transport in Free and Porous Media
Flow interfaces.
• The new Thin-Film and Porous Media Flow interface, under the Porous Media and
Subsurface Flow section in the Fluid Flow branch, couples the Thin-Film Flow and
Darcy’s Law interfaces using the Thin-Film and Porous Media Flow multiphysics
coupling node.

70 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• The new Porous Interface feature in the Laminar Flow, Turbulent Flow interface and
Brinkman Equations interface, applicable on boundaries with different porosity on
each side, accounts for changes in the stress caused by changes in porosity on each
side and can include optional pressure losses.
• The Porous slip option is the new default setting for Porous treatment of the no slip
condition in the Brinkman Equations interface or when Enable porous media domains
is selected in the Laminar Flow interface.
• The Wetted Wall multiphysics feature, used together with the Two-Phase Flow,
Level Set interface, now has the option to apply the Porous slip condition on walls
adjacent to porous domains modeled with the Brinkman Equations interface.
• The mesh velocity from the Free Surface and Fluid-Fluid Interface features can now be
overridden by alternative settings in the Moving Mesh node.
• A warning message is displayed in the Log window when Use reduced pressure or
Compensate for hydrostatic pressure/Compensate for hydrostatic pressure
approximation is selected in a fluid-flow interface that is part of a multiphase flow
multiphysics coupling.

New Models in Version 6.2

TURBULENT FLOW AROUND A FACTORY CHIMNEY

This tutorial model simulates turbulent flow around a factory chimney and investigates
the influence of helical strakes on the downstream vortices.

EPPLER AIRFOIL TRANSITION

This verification example simulates the flow around the Eppler 387 airfoil with the SST
turbulence model and demonstrates how the transition model is able to capture the
separation-bubble induced laminar-to-turbulent boundary-layer transition on the
upper surface of the airfoil.

FDA BENCHMARK BLOOD PUMP

In this verification example, the turbulent flow in a centrifugal blood pump is
simulated using the SST turbulence model, and the results are compared to
experimental data.

CFD MODULE | 71
 SELF-LUBRICATING JOURNAL BEARING
This verification example describes how to model the self-lubricating phenomenon of
a liquid lubricant in a journal bearing to which a porous bush has been press fitted and
impregnated with the lubricant.

SQUEEZE FILM BETWEEN RECTANGULAR POROUS AND NONPOROUS

PLATES
This verification example describes how to simulate the flow of a thin film of fluid in
the gap between two rectangular plates, one of them with a porous facing, when the
fluid is squeezed as a consequence of the relative motion between the plates.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1 and Earlier

NEW DEFAULT MAXIMUM STEP CONSTRAINT AND MAXIMUM STEP

SETTINGS IN THE TIME-DEPENDENT SOLVER NODE FOR THE LARGE
EDDY AND DETACHED EDDY SIMULATION INTERFACES
LES and DES models using default solver settings will get the Maximum step constraint
set to Expression with a Maximum step set to spf.dt_CFL in the Time-Dependent Solver
node. This constraint may be more restrictive than the Automatic option for the
Maximum step constraint obtained prior to version 6.2, and as a result, some models
will take a longer time to solve. The Maximum step constraint option can be reset to
Automatic to get the old behavior back.

NEW DEFINITION OF THE MEAN FREE PATH IN THE THIN-FILM FLOW

INTERFACES
The definition of the mean free path when the Fluid type is set to Gas (modified Reynolds
equation) in the Thin-Film Flow interfaces has been changed to obtain consistency
between different expressions for the Film flow model. The results using the Rarefied-
total accommodation option in the Film flow model are more accurate than in previous
versions.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0 and Earlier

RENAMED THIN-FILM FLOW AND PHASE FIELD, THIN-FILM FLOW

INTERFACES IN COMPILED JAVA FILES
Compiled Java files using the Thin-Film Flow, Shell (tffs) and Thin-Film Flow, Edge
(tffs) interfaces need to be updated manually to run in version 6.1. The identifier for

72 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

these interfaces has been changed to tff. In order to run Java files, you need to replace
all instances of tffs with tff.

Similarly, the identifier for the Phase Field, Thin-Film Flow, Shell (pftffs), and Phase
Field, Thin-Film Flow, Edge (pftffs) needs to be manually changed from pftffs to
pftff.

NON-NEWTONIAN INELASTIC MATERIAL MODELS

Non-Newtonian inelastic material models that were added in older versions will not be
able to define the dynamic viscosity in the Basic (def) material model.

THE LES SMAGORINSKY INTERFACE

The modeled subgrid stress term in the LES Smagorinsky interface has been recast on
symmetric form and the filtering is now instead included in the expression for the
turbulent viscosity. The Smagorinsky parameter now enters the turbulent viscosity
expression as squared, and its default value has therefore been changed to 0.1. Slight
differences in the results may occur for some models.

Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6 and Earlier

BRINKMAN EQUATIONS, FREE AND POROUS MEDIA FLOW AND DARCY’S

LAW
When opening a model created in version 5.6 or earlier, the old Fluid and Matrix
Properties feature is not migrated, but a warning message is prompted. This feature
should be manually replaced by the new Porous Medium feature (which adds Porous
Matrix and Fluid subfeatures) to allow an updated definition of the material properties.
Support for obsolete features is not ensured in future versions; thus it is strongly
recommended to transfer the old feature to the new feature.

CFD MODULE | 73
 Chemical Reaction Engineering
Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

FEATURES FOR EVAPORATION, CONDENSATION, AND VAPOR

TRANSPORT
Three new features for phase transfer and vapor transport in gaseous mixtures are
available in the Transport of Concentrated Species interface:

The Vapor Inflow feature can be used to prescribe vapor inlet conditions injected from
an upstream system involving liquids.

The Vapor–Liquid Interface prescribes equilibrium vapor conditions on a boundary

representing a liquid surface, and can be use to model mass transfer due to evaporation
and condensation.

When modeling liquid solutions, the Vapor–Liquid-Mixture Interface can be used to

solve for the composition in the liquid phase as well as in the vapor phase.

VAPOR FLOW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACES

Multiphysics interfaces, using the new features for vapor transport, are now available
in the Vapor Flow branch under Chemical Species Transport when adding physics
interfaces. These interfaces can be used to simulate evaporation and condensation at a
vapor–liquid interface and to track the position of the interface.

The Laminar Vapor Flow, Concentrated Species multiphysics interface and the
Laminar Vapor Flow, Concentrated Species, Moving Mesh multiphysics interface are
available with a license for the Chemical Reaction Engineering Module. When your
license also included the CFD Module or the Heat Transfer Module, interfaces that
support turbulent flow are also available.

FLUID–FLUID INTERFACE
The Fluid-Fluid Interface feature in the fluid-flow interfaces is now available with a
license for the Chemical Reaction Engineering Module. This feature defines the initial
position of an interface separating two fluid phases and includes equations to track the
evolution of the interface. It can be combined with vapor–liquid interface features to
track the interface motion due to evaporation and condensation.

74 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

MASS-PRESERVING INITIALIZATION
When modeling equilibrium reactions, Mass-preserving initialization can be enabled in
the Initial Values node of the Reaction Engineering interface. When enabled, the solver
will first solve for the values of the species participating in equilibrium reactions, while
disregarding any kinetic reactions. The solution to the equilibrium subproblem is then
used as a consistent starting point for the time stepping.

PARAMETER ESTIMATION
Functionality for performing parameter estimation is now included with a license for
the Chemical Reaction Engineering Module. The Parameter Estimation node and its
Global Least-Squares Objectives subnode can be used to define objectives for parameter
estimation. The Parameter Estimation study node can be used to perform the
estimation.

SOLID FEATURE IN TRANSPORT OF DILUTED SPECIES

In order to model diffusion in solid phase materials, a new Solid feature has been
introduced in the Transport of Diluted Species interface. The Solid feature supports
anisotropic diffusion as well as translation and deformation of the solid domain.

IMPROVED MASS CONSERVATION IN REACTING FLOW

Conservation of mass has been significantly improved when coupling mass transport
to fluid flow using conservation compensation. This functionality is included in the
Reacting Flow, Diluted Species multiphysics interfaces when modeling an
incompressible fluid. Using the Reacting Flow, Concentrated Species multiphysics
interfaces, conservation compensation is used when the fluid is compressible.

REACTING FLOW COUPLING FEATURE SUPPORTS POROUS MEDIA

The Reacting Flow multiphysics coupling feature now supports porous media. When
one of the coupled physics interfaces includes a porous media domain, the coupling
feature checks that all coupled interfaces account for porous media in the domain.

ANISOTROPIC TORTUOSITY
It is now possible to use an anisotropic tortuosity when modeling mass transport in
porous media with the Transport of Concentrated Species interface. An anisotropic
tortuosity factor can be applied in the Fluid subnode when using any of the Porous
Medium, Porous Catalyst, and Packed Bed features.

CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING MODULE | 75

 PORE-WALL INTERACTION REPLACES KNUDSEN DIFFUSION
The Knudsen diffusion check box on the interface top node of the Transport of
Concentrated Species interface has been renamed Include pore-wall interaction and has
been moved to the Fluid subnode (under porous media features). Pore-wall interaction
is now also supported for the Maxwell–Stefan diffusion model. In addition, the Kinetic
gas theory option has been renamed Knudsen diffusivity.

A Contributing Velocity subnode can now be added to the Porous Medium node in the
Darcy’s Law interface. This subnode is typically used together with pore-wall
interaction to add the wall (diffusion slip) velocity stemming from the wall interactions
to the Darcy fluid velocity. The wall velocity variable is only available when using the
Maxwell–Stefan diffusion model in the Transport of Concentrated Species interface.

SHRINKING CORE VISUALIZATION IN THE PELLETS PLOT

The Pellets plot has been extended with support for the shrinking core model. When
enabled, the size of the solid core part is updated, and concentrations are plotted in
the porous region surrounding the core.

NEW FREE AND POROUS MEDIA FLOW INTERFACES

The new Free and Porous Media, Darcy multiphysics interface is now available. The
interface combines the Darcy’s Law and the Laminar Flow interfaces and is used to
compute fluid velocity and pressure fields of single-phase flow where free flow is
connected to flow through porous media.

The Free and Porous Media interface is now available under the name Free and Porous
Media, Brinkman.

SHOWING COORDINATES OF GRAPH PLOTS

For graph plots in 1D plot groups, you can now dynamically inspect the value of a
graph by hovering over it with the mouse. The x- and y-coordinate values of the
current position are shown in a tooltip. The tooltip appears by default; click the Enable
Tooltip button in the Graphics window toolbar to disable it.

REACTING FLOW, CONCENTRATED SPECIES

Multiphysics interfaces previously named Reacting Flow are now named Reacting
Flow, Concentrated Species.

76 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

IMPROVED REACTION FORMULAS
Reaction formulas entered in a Reaction feature are now automatically updated in the
following manner:

• When the same species occurs several times in a formula, all contributions on the left
side and the right side are summed, respectively.
• When the type of a species is changed into a surface species, the phase indication
(ads) is added after the species name in all reactions it participates in. If you change
it into another type, the phase indication is removed.
• To make the formula easier to read, a space is added around all participating species.

New Models in Version 6.2

PRECIPITATION OF BARIUM SULFATE

Crystallization is an important separation process in the chemical industry. It is used
for the production of pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. Crystallization can also
be used in resource recovery as a way of separating valuable materials from waste. This
model solves a discretized formulation of the population balance equation to obtain
the crystal size distribution from precipitation of barium sulfate in 0D and in a 3D T-
mixer.

PARAMETER ESTIMATION FOR PYROLYSIS OF WOOD

The pyrolysis of a centimeter-sized wood particle presents a fully coupled multiphysics
problem with mass transfer, fluid flow, and heat transfer. This example model consists
of two parts. The first part demonstrates how to set up a model describing the pyrolysis
of a porous, anisotropic wood sphere. A reaction scheme consisting of five
pseudospecies and five reactions is used. After that, parameter estimation is used to
optimize the model using experimental data. The parameters to be estimated are one
Arrhenius constant, two reaction heats, and one external heat transfer coefficient.

THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF BETA-CAROTENE IN A FLOW REACTOR

The stability of beta-carotene in a fruit juice, which flows past a heated cylinder, is
studied using Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) study types. The UQ studies identify the
most influential parameters and quantify the importance of their respective
uncertainties. The most likely outcome for the beta-carotene outflow, which is the
quantity of interest (QoI), and the likelihood of it falling short of a lower limit is
determined.

CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING MODULE | 77

 ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIA AND COPPER SPECIATION IN AMMONIA
SOLUTION
Cupric ions show a strong affinity to ammonia in aqueous solutions, forming strongly
colored deep blue complexes. The relative amounts of the different amine ligand
complexes, with varying coordination numbers, are governed by the stability constants
of the equilibria forming the coordination compounds. By entering a series of
equilibrium reactions and an external source of ammonia, the Time Dependent solver
can be used to produce a speciation diagram, which shows how the concentration of
the different complexes vary with the total concentration of added ammonia.

Updated Models in Version 6.2

TURBULENT MIXING
This model has been updated to use the new Periodic values of variables not solved for
option in the time-dependent solver. The fluid-flow field is solved in a time-dependent
analysis until a quasi-steady flow field is developed. When modeling the turbulent
mixing of a trace species, the fluid that flows from the last revolution of the impeller is
sequentially reused by applying the new solver option.

STEFAN DIFFUSION
The new Comparison node, available for line graphs, is used to compute the root-mean
square difference between the computed results and the imported experimental
results.

PARAMETER ESTIMATION MODELS

Models that include parameter estimation have been updated to use the functionality
now included in the Chemical Reaction Engineering Module. Those models now use
the Global Least-Squares Objective node for defining objectives and the Parameter
Estimation study node to perform the estimation. The following models have been
updated:

• Finding Kinetic Arrhenius Parameters Using Parameter Estimation

• Degradation of DNA in Plasma
• Parameter Estimation for Nonideal Reactor Models

78 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Composite Materials Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL, LAYERED MATERIAL MODEL

The Piezoelectric Material model in the Layered Shell interface is now also available as
Piezoelectric Material, Layered in the Shell interface. As a result of this addition, thin
piezoelectric composites can be analyzed using the Shell interface. This can give
significant savings in terms of computation time.

This feature requires a license for the AC/DC Module or the MEMS Module. If the
license also includes the Composite Materials Module, the material model can be used
in multilayered shells, and the individual layers can have different material properties.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: PIEZORESISTIVITY, LAYERED SHELL

The new Piezoresistivity, Layered Shell multiphysics interface is used to model
piezoresistivity in layered structures. The interface combines an Electric Currents in
Layered Shells interface, a Layered Shell interface, and new Piezoresistivity, Layered
multiphysics coupling.

This feature requires a license for the MEMS Module.

PARTS FOR HOMOGENIZATION OF MICROSTRUCTURES

In the part libraries, an existing folder named Representative Volume Elements under the
COMSOL Multiphysics branch has been renamed to Unit Cells and RVEs. New
microstructure geometries for corrugated sheets, honeycombs, and gyroid have been
added.

MISCELLANEOUS
• For the Contact feature in the Layered Shell interface, a predefined plot for contact
forces is added. The predefined plot shows contact pressures and friction forces on
the destination boundaries.
• The selection of variables representing the normal vector in various edge level
features in Layered Shell interface is changed to the base selection.

COMPOSITE MATERIALS MODULE | 79

 New Models in Version 6.2

HOMOGENIZED MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF PERIODIC

MICROSTRUCTURES
In this app, homogenized material properties of various periodic microstructures can
be computed. Such data can then be used in macroscopic analyses.

Ten different microstructures represented by unit cells are available. The dimensions
and the properties of the constituent materials are given by the user of the app. The
app calculates the homogenized density, elasticity matrix, coefficient of thermal
expansion, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity.

The computed data can be stored in an MPH file or an XML file that can subsequently
be imported into a COMSOL Multiphysics model.

STACKING SEQUENCE OPTIMIZATION

In this example, the stacking sequence of composite laminate is optimized based on
the Hashin failure criterion. An optimization analysis is performed to find the
optimum fiber orientation in each layer under specified loading conditions with the
objective of minimizing the maximum failure index value in the laminate. The
BOBYQA method is applied to find the optimum stacking sequence.

80 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

C o r r o s i o n M o du l e
New Functionality in Version 6.2

GENERAL
• The Electrode domain node has been renamed Current Conductor in the current
distribution interfaces.
• Contact resistance can now be included in the Electric Ground, Electric Potential, and
Electrode Current external boundary condition nodes in the Electrochemistry
interfaces.
• An issue related to linearizing concentration dependence for the Lumped Multistep
kinetics type in the Tertiary Current Distribution interface has been fixed.
• To model diffusion in solid phase materials, a new Solid feature has been introduced
in the Transport of Diluted Species interface. The new feature supports anisotropic
diffusion as well as translation and deformation of the solid domain.
• The new Free and Porous Media, Darcy multiphysics interface is now available from
the Model Wizard. The interface combines the Darcy’s Law and the Laminar Flow
interfaces and is used to compute fluid velocity and pressure fields of single-phase
flow in models including both free flow and porous media.
• The Free and Porous Media interface has been renamed and is now available under
the name Free and Porous Media, Brinkman.

CATHODIC PROTECTION AND SECONDARY CURRENT DISTRIBUTION

INTERFACES
• The new Impressed Current Point node can be added at any point in an electrolyte
domain to define the location of the active electrode of an impressed current
protection system. The feature is typically used together with a Connection Point
node for setting up a local impressed cathodic current protection system.
• The new Sacrificial Point Anode feature can be added at any point in an electrolyte
domain to define a sacrificial anode.
• The Connection Point feature, available as a subnode to an Edge Electrode or a
Sacrificial Edge Anode feature has been updated with a Define reference electrode
check box which allows for setting a reference electrode potential at the same
location. The reference electrode potential can typically be used by an Impressed

CORROSION MODULE | 81
 Current Point feature to actively control the electrode potential at the location of the
connection point.
• A new External Short point feature is now available as subnode to an Edge Electrode
for more flexible connection options between various points in a model.
• An issue related to duplicate parameter or variable name errors when using multiple
Connection Point subnodes has been fixed.
• A current contribution sign error for the Floating potential electric potential option
in the Edge Electrode and Sacrificial Edge Anode features has been fixed. (Also fixed in
Update 2 for COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.1.)

CHEMISTRY INTERFACE
• An issue related to converting concentrations to partial pressures has been fixed.
• An issue was fixed in the Electrode Reaction node. The issue resulted in the local
current density variable not being properly defined if a user-defined equilibrium
potential was combined with, for example, Butler–Volmer.

Reaction formulas entered in a Reaction feature are now automatically updated in the
following manner:

• When the same species occurs several times in a formula, all contributions on the
left-hand side and the right-hand side are separately summed.
• When the type of a species is changed to a surface species, the phase indication (ads)
is added after the species name in all reactions in which it participates. When
changing it to another type, the phase indication is removed.
• To make the formula easier to read, a space is added around all participating species.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

• A new model named Pipeline Corrosion Protection Using Impressed Current
Cathodic Protection (pipeline_corrosion_protection_iccp) has been added.
• A new Evans Droplet (evans_droplet) model has been added.
• The co2_corrosion model has been updated to more correctly define carbonic acid
speciation and the resulting pH effects.

82 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

ECAD Import Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2
• The ECAD Import Module includes the new option Metal layer between dielectric
layers for Elevations, when automatically generating layer stackup for imported IPC-
2581, and ODB++ files. Previous options, including the manual specification of
elevations and the automatic positioning of copper layers inside the dielectric layer
above the copper, are also available.
• For the import of GDS files, the All option for Grouping of geometries has been
removed as it is only applicable in very special cases.

ECAD IMPORT MODULE | 83

 Electrochemistry Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

GENERAL
• The Electrode domain node has been renamed Current Conductor in the current
distribution interfaces.
• Contact Resistance can now be included in the Electric Ground, Electric Potential, and
Electrode Current external boundary condition nodes in the Electrochemistry
interfaces.
• An issue related to linearizing concentration dependence for the Lumped Multistep
kinetics type in the Tertiary Current Distribution interface has been fixed.
• To model diffusion in solid phase materials, a new Solid feature has been introduced
in the Transport of Diluted Species interface. The new feature supports anisotropic
diffusion as well as translation and deformation of the solid domain.
• The new Free and Porous Media, Darcy multiphysics interface is now available from
the Model Wizard. The interface combines the Darcy’s Law and the Laminar Flow
interfaces and is used to compute fluid velocity and pressure fields of single-phase
flow in models including both free flow and porous media.
• The Free and Porous Media interface has been renamed and is now available under
the name Free and Porous Media, Brinkman.

CHEMISTRY INTERFACE
• An issue related to converting concentrations to partial pressures has been fixed.
• An issue was fixed in the Electrode Reaction node. The issue resulted in the local
current density variable not being properly defined if a user-defined equilibrium
potential was combined with, for example, Butler–Volmer.

Reaction formulas entered in a Reaction feature are now automatically updated in the
following manner:

• When the same species occurs several times in a formula, all contributions on the
left-hand side and the right-hand side are separately summed.

84 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• When the type of a species is changed to a surface species, the phase indication (ads)
is added after the species name in all reactions in which it participates. When
changing it to another type, the phase indication is removed.
• To make the formula easier to read, a space is added around all participating species.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY MODULE | 85
 Electrodeposition Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

GENERAL
• The Electrode domain node has been renamed Current Conductor in the current
distribution interfaces.
• Contact Resistance can now be included in the Electric Ground, Electric Potential, and
Electrode Current external boundary condition nodes in the Electrochemistry
interfaces.
• An issue related to linearizing concentration dependence for the Lumped Multistep
kinetics type in the Tertiary Current Distribution interface has been fixed.
• To model diffusion in solid phase materials, a new Solid feature has been introduced
in the Transport of Diluted Species interface. The new feature supports anisotropic
diffusion as well as translation and deformation of the solid domain.
• The new Free and Porous Media, Darcy multiphysics interface is now available from
the Model Wizard. The interface combines the Darcy’s Law and the Laminar Flow
interfaces and is used to compute fluid velocity and pressure fields of single-phase
flow in models including both free flow and porous media.
• The Free and Porous Media interface has been renamed and is now available under
the name Free and Porous Media, Brinkman.

CHEMISTRY INTERFACE
• An issue related to converting concentrations to partial pressures has been fixed.
• An issue was fixed in the Electrode Reaction node. The issue resulted in the local
current density variable not being properly defined if a user-defined equilibrium
potential was combined with, for example, Butler–Volmer.
Reaction formulas entered in a Reaction feature are now automatically updated in the
following manner:

• When the same species occurs several times in a formula, all contributions on the
left-hand side and the right-hand side are separately summed.

86 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• When the type of a species is changed to a surface species, the phase indication (ads)
is added after the species name in all reactions in which it participates. When
changing it to another type, the phase indication is removed.
• To make the formula easier to read, a space is added around all participating species.

New Model in Version 6.2

ALLOY DEPOSITION
A new Alloy Deposition (alloy_deposition) model has been added.

ELECTRODEPOSITION MODULE | 87
 Fatigue Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

HARMONIC VIBRATION IMPROVEMENT

For frequency-sweep computations, the list of excitation frequencies entered in the
preceding frequency-domain analysis no longer needs to be monotonic. The Fatigue
Module internally considers the frequencies in ascending order. Additionally, the sign
of the entered Rate of change under Harmonic Vibration is disregarded.

New Model in Version 6.2

BRACKET FATIGUE HARMONIC VIBRATION

A new tutorial for fatigue using Harmonic Vibration has been added. The
bracket_fatigue_harmonic_vibration tutorial considers a steel bracket subjected to
harmonic base excitation, and it includes the effect of a static load case (mean stress).

88 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Fuel Cell & Electrolyzer Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

GENERAL
• The Electrode domain node has been renamed Current Conductor in the current
distribution interfaces.
• Contact Resistance can now be included in the Electric Ground, Electric Potential,
Electrode Current, and Electrode Power external boundary condition nodes in the
Electrochemistry interfaces. The nonisothermal_pem_fuel_cell and
pemfc_serpentine_flow_field models have been updated to use the new features.
• An issue related to linearizing concentration dependence for the Lumped Multistep
kinetics type in the Tertiary Current Distribution interface has been fixed.
• The Knudsen diffusion check box in the interface top node in the Transport of
Concentrated Species interface has been renamed Include pore-wall interaction and
moved to the Fluid subnode (under the porous-media features). Pore-wall
interaction is now also supported for the Maxwell–Stefan diffusion model. In
addition, the Kinetic gas theory option has been renamed Knudsen diffusivity.
• A Contributing Velocity node can now be added to the Porous Medium node in
Darcy’s law. This node is typically used together with pore-wall interactions to add
the wall (diffusion slip) velocity stemming from the wall interactions to the Darcy
fluid velocity. The wall velocity variable is only available when using the Maxwell–
Stefan diffusion model in the Transport of Concentrated Species interface.
• The Transport of Concentrated Species interface now supports anisotropic
Tortuosity in porous media. The new functionality allows for specifying different in-
plane and through-plane effective gas diffusivities.
• To model diffusion in solid phase materials, a new Solid feature has been introduced
in the Transport of Diluted Species interface. The new feature supports anisotropic
diffusion as well as translation and deformation of the solid domain.
• The new Free and Porous Media, Darcy multiphysics interface is now available from
the Model Wizard. The interface combines the Darcy’s Law and the Laminar Flow
interfaces and is used to compute fluid velocity and pressure fields of single-phase
flow in models including both free flow and porous media.
• The Free and Porous Media interface has been renamed and is now available under
the name Free and Porous Media, Brinkman.

FUEL CELL & ELECTROLYZER MODULE | 89

 HYDROGEN FUEL CELL AND WATER ELECTROLYZER INTERFACES
• Pore-wall interaction can now be enabled in the Gas Diffusion Layer and Gas Diffusion
Electrode nodes in the Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Water Electrolyzer interfaces. The
wall diffusivity can either be defined using Knudsen diffusivities or user-defined
values. The sofc_unit_cell, soec and soec_thermodynamics models have been
updated to use the new feature.
• Anisotropic tortuosities can now be used in the Gas Diffusion Layer and Gas Diffusion
Electrode nodes to compute effective diffusion coefficients in the Hydrogen Fuel
Cell and Water Electrolyzer interfaces. The pem_gdl_species_transport_2d model
has been updated to use the new feature.
• Film resistance functionality has been added to H2/O2 Electrode Surface, H2/O2
Internal Electrode Surface, and H2/O2 Thin Gas Diffusion Electrode nodes in the
Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Water Electrolyzed interfaces.
• The new Internal Electrode Contact Resistance subnode can now be added to the
Electronic Conducting Phase node.
• The new Internal Electrolyte Contact Resistance subnode can now be added to
Electrolyte Phase node.
• The default value for the Anodic transfer coefficient has been changed to 1.5 in
electrode reactions when running in electrolysis mode for Proton Exchange, Solid
Oxide, and Molten Carbonate electrolyte types.

CHEMISTRY INTERFACE
• An issue related to converting concentrations to partial pressures has been fixed.
• An issue was fixed in the Electrode Reaction node. The issue resulted in the local
current density variable not being properly defined if a user-defined equilibrium
potential was combined with, for example, Butler–Volmer.

Reaction formulas entered in a Reaction feature are now automatically updated in the
following manner

• When the same species occurs several times in a formula, all contributions on the
left-hand side and the right-hand side are separately summed.
• When the type of a species is changed to a surface species, the phase indication (ads)
is added after the species name in all reactions in which it participates. When
changing it to another type, the phase indication is removed.
• To make the formula easier to read a space is added around all participating species.

90 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

New Model in Version 6.2

SHUNT CURRENTS IN AN ALKALINE ELECTROLYZER STACK

A new Shunt Currents in an Alkaline Electrolyzer Stack (aec_shunt_currents) tutorial
has been added.

FUEL CELL & ELECTROLYZER MODULE | 91

 Geomechanics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

ENHANCEMENTS TO CONCRETE
• A new Coupled damage-plasticity model is available under the Concrete node.
• The Mazars damage model is available under the Concrete node.

ENHANCEMENTS TO SOIL PLASTICITY

A new flow-rule formulation based on the multiplicative decomposition of
deformation gradients is available for the material models in the Plasticity, Soil Plasticity,
and Elastoplastic Soil Material nodes. This means that these material models now better
accommodate large strains.

ENHANCEMENTS TO HARDENING SOIL MATERIAL MODEL

The Hardening Soil Material model includes several enhancements:

• A new control Failure criterion has been added. You can choose between the Mohr–
Coulomb, Matsuoka–Nakai, and Panteghini–Lagioia criteria.
• A new control named Mobilized dilatancy angle has been added. You can choose
between the expressions Soreide, Rowe, Modified Rowe, Wehnert, Li–Dafalias, Rowe–Li–
Dafalias, and User Defined.
• A new material property Reference stiffness for primary loading has been added.
• The cap of the yield surface is now centered at the tip of the cone of the p-q curve
instead of at the (0,0) coordinate.
• The combination of yield functions has been smoothed.

HARDENING SOIL SMALL STRAIN MATERIAL MODEL

Under the Elastoplastic Soil Material node, Hardening Soil Small Strain has been added
as a new material model.

SMALL STRAIN OVERLAY MATERIAL MODEL

Under the Nonlinear Elastic Material node, Small Strain Overlay has been added as a new
material model.

92 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

ENHANCEMENTS TO PLASTICITY
• The user interface for the Plasticity node has been updated. The Formulation list has
been removed; instead, the formulation is now controlled from the parent node.
• Kinematic hardening is available also for large-strain plasticity.
• A simplified user interface for Set Variables has been introduced. For the large-strain
formulation, you now directly set the components of the plastic strain tensor. In
models created in a previous version, in which the option Plastic Deformation
Gradient Inverse was used, the new user input will be shown. The values of old user
inputs will, however, not be converted. You must enter the new data.

NON-ZERO OUT-OF-PLANE INELASTIC SHEAR STRAINS

For 2D problems involving plasticity or creep, it is possible that the out-of-plane
inelastic shear strains are nonzero if the material is anisotropic. This can now be
accommodated by selecting the Include out-of-plane strains check box in the Advanced
section for the corresponding features.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: PHASE FIELD DAMAGE

This multiphysics coupling connects a Phase Field in Solids interface and a Solid
Mechanics interface. The stresses, strains, or strain energy drive the phase-field value,
and the phase-field value provides the degree of damage to the elastic material model.
The settings for the Phase Field Damage node are similar to those in a Damage node in
Solid Mechanics.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: PHASE FIELD DAMAGE

The new multiphysics interface Phase Field Damage combines a Solid Mechanics
interface, a Phase Field in Solids interface and a Phase Field Damage multiphysics
coupling. It is found under the Structural Mechanics branch in the Add Physics window.

New Models in Version 6.2

HYSTERESIS IN SOIL USING THE SMALL STRAIN OVERLAY MODEL

In this example, cyclic tensile and shear tests show the stiffness degradation and
hysteresis effect with the small strain overlay model. The small strain overlay material
model captures the effect of high stiffness at low strain as well as hysteresis under cyclic
loading, which is a common effect for most soils. The formulation allows stiffness
degradation with an increase in the shear strain and the recovery of the full stiffness at
load reversal.

GEOMECHANICS MODULE | 93
 TRIAXIAL TEST WITH THE HARDENING SOIL SMALL STRAIN MATERIAL
MODEL
In this example, monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests are simulated using the Hardening
Soil Small Strain material model. The model captures the effects of small strain stiffness
and hysteresis under cyclic loading. The stress–strain relationship matches the
hyperbolic curve reported in a reference.

CONCRETE DAMAGE-PLASTICITY MATERIAL TESTS

This example shows the behavior of the coupled damage-plasticity material model for
concrete when subjected to different loading conditions.

FAILURE OF A CONCRETE BEAM USING COUPLED DAMAGE-PLASTICITY

Failure of reinforced concrete structures involves advanced material behavior and
interaction between materials. This example demonstrates how to model various stages
of the failure of a reinforced concrete beam by including a coupled damage-plasticity
material model for the concrete, metal plasticity for the rebars, and a nonlinear bond-
slip law for the interaction between concrete and the rebar.

94 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

H e a t T r a ns f e r Mod u l e
New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2

SST TURBULENCE MODEL ADDED TO THE HEAT TRANSFER MODULE

The list of turbulence models available with the Heat Transfer Module has been
extended with the Menter shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. It combines
the accuracy of the k- model and the robustness of the k- model. It is suitable for
many external flow cases and internal flows with sudden expansions.

IMPROVED COMPUTATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR ORBITAL THERMAL

LOADS AND SURFACE-TO-SURFACE RADIATION
The evaluation of the heat flux of a source at infinity is now avoided on elements with
very small view factors. In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface, this concerns the
External Radiation Source feature when the Source position is set to Infinite distance. In
the Orbital Thermal Loads physics interface, both the Sun Properties and Planet
Properties features are concerned, since they can be considered as infinite distance
sources. It results in a decrease of the CPU time and memory requirements, particular
when used with the hemicube method. The performance gains increase with the
number of external sources at infinite distance and interior mesh elements.

In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation and Orbital Thermal Loads interfaces, a new

Lower integration order for irradiation option is available with the Hemicube algorithm
in 3D and 2D. This option, which is activated by default in the Jacobian Contribution
section, reduces the integration order and, therefore, the number of evaluation for
irradiation. This speeds up the computation while having a minimal effect on results.

NONISOTHERMAL REACTING FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA

The Nonisothermal Reacting Flow multiphysics coupling is now available with porous
media. For the coupling to be applicable, the domain must exclusively be either a fluid
or porous medium in all three transport interfaces. In the Transport of Concentrated
Species in Porous Media interface, the Porous Medium and Porous Catalyst features are
supported. For both features, reactions in the fluid are supported. For the latter,
reactions on the surface of the porous matrix are supported as well. In the Heat
Transfer in Porous Media interface, the Local thermal equilibrium and Local thermal
nonequilibrium models are supported.

HEAT TRANSFER MODULE | 95

 ORBITAL THERMAL LOADS
The Orbital Thermal Loads physics interface now does not require an extra Events
interface. The Generate Events Interface feature has been removed and replaced by the
Events Timeline feature, which handles events internally to the interface. The use of the
Orbital Thermal Loads interface is now simplified thanks to this feature.

DISCRETE ORDINATES METHOD IN 2D AXISYMMETRY

In the Radiation in Participating Media and Radiation in Absorbing-Scattering Media
interfaces, the discrete ordinates method (DOM) is now available for 2D axisymmetric
configurations with isotropic scattering.

THERMAL CONNECTION BETWEEN FACES

The new Thermal Connection feature, available in the Heat Transfer physics interfaces,
is designed to connect two boundary selections by a thermal resistor, a thermal
capacitor, or a Lumped Thermal System interface. This is used to reduce the
complexity of a model by replacing parts of it with equivalent circuit elements to
represent, for example, the thermal interaction between parts in large assemblies.

This feature greatly simplifies the setup of such models by eliminating the need to
create a separate Lumped Thermal System interface for a thermal resistor or capacitor
between two boundary selections.

For more advanced connection where a Lumped Thermal System interface is needed
between the two boundary selections, only one Thermal Connection feature is now
required instead of two Lumped system connector features.

THERMAL INSULATION CONDITION ON EDGES

A new Thermal Insulation, Edge feature has been added to the Heat Transfer physics
interfaces and is available for 3D, 2D axisymmetric, and 2D components. It is designed
to cancel the default continuity condition when two 3D objects are in contact along
an edge, or when 2D objects are in contact at a point.

SURFACE-TO-SURFACE RADIATION AND ORBITAL THERMAL LOADS

IMPROVEMENTS
In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation and Orbital Thermal Loads interfaces, the Check
consistency option for the hemicube and ray-shooting methods has been updated to
account for external radiation sources at finite or infinite distance. A solver warning is
issued when external radiation sources irradiates a surface radiating toward the other
side.

96 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation and Orbital Thermal Loads interfaces, you can
now set the opacity, layer opacity and radiation direction for all bands from one input
when User defined for all bands is selected, regardless of the number of spectral bands.
This option can be used if the transparency or opacity properties of the material are not
wavelength dependent.

In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation and Orbital Thermal Loads interfaces, radiation

directions are now displayed on boundaries on which opacity is the same for all
wavelengths.

In the Orbital Thermal Loads interface, a new predefined Trajectory Following

Visualization plot has been added. It makes it possible to visualize the trajectory of the
spacecraft from the spacecraft’s point of view.

DEFAULT AND PREDEFINED PLOTS

Default plots have been reworked for all interfaces in the Heat Transfer Module, and
many predefined plots are now available depending on the physics interfaces and
features present in the study. Several plots that were default plots are now instead
optional and can be added from the Add Predefined Plot window. A default plot for the
Nonisothermal Flow multiphysics coupling has also been added.

VISUALIZATION TOOLS FOR WAVELENGTH-DEPENDENT PROPERTIES

In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation, Orbital Thermal Loads, Radiation in
Participating Media, and Radiation in Absorbing-Scattering Media interfaces,
predefined functions have been added to help visualize the wavelength dependency of
material properties. When selecting Solar and ambient or Multiple spectral bands
wavelength dependence, numerous functions are available for surface and domain
material properties and can be used under the Results node. Predefined plots have also
been added to visualize both the continuous wavelength dependency of properties and
the band-averaged values used in the computation.

NONISOTHERMAL FLOW
The High viscous dissipation at wall thermal wall function, available in the Nonisothermal
Flow coupling, has been updated to automatically calculate the critical wall distance.
The critical wall distance, which depends on turbulence parameters, gives the location
of the switch between the linear and logarithmic behaviors in the boundary layer. This
will improve the accuracy of the viscous heat flux calculation by the thermal wall
function with nondefault turbulence parameters.

HEAT TRANSFER MODULE | 97

 HEAT AND MOISTURE TRANSPORT IN ANISOTROPIC POROUS MEDIA
Support for anisotropic properties has been added for the following material properties
in applicable physics interfaces:

• Heat Transfer interfaces: Building Material: Vapor permeability

• Moisture Transport interfaces: Building Material: Moisture diffusivity
• Moisture Transport interfaces: Building Material: Vapor permeability.
• Moisture Transport interfaces: Hygroscopic Porous Medium: Moisture diffusivity
• Moisture Transport interfaces: Thin Moisture Barrier: Moisture diffusivity

NEW OPTION FOR WEATHER STATION SELECTION

A new Around location option for choosing a weather station in Ambient Properties has
been added to the Ambient Properties node. Once the latitude and longitude of a
specific location are given, this option displays the 100 nearest weather stations using
the haversine formula.

THIN MOISTURE BARRIER ON EXTERIOR BOUNDARIES

The Thin Moisture Barrier feature in the Moisture Transport interfaces is extended to
be applicable on exterior boundaries.

NEW OPTIONS FOR PAIR THERMAL CONTACT FEATURE

In the Heat Transfer interfaces, the Pair Thermal Contact feature has new options to
specify the Equivalent thin resistive layer. It is now possible to specify the Total resistance
or Total conductance of the thermal contact. With these options, the resistance or
conductance of the thermal contact is independent of the contact surface.

MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS
• In the Radiation in Participating Media and Radiation in Absorbing-Scattering
Media interfaces, the Pair Continuity and Periodic Condition features have been
corrected in 2D axisymmetric geometries to ensure continuity or periodicity,
respectively.
• The model input used in the Surface-to-Surface Radiation, Orbital Thermal Loads,
Radiation in Participating Media, and Radiation in Absorbing-Scattering Media
interfaces has been changed to wavelength instead of length.
• All features of the physics interfaces in the Heat Transfer Module with a Constraint
Settings section available have been harmonized and now follow the same naming as
interfaces in other modules. Notably, Classic constraint has been changed to

98 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 Pointwise constraints, and Discontinuous Galerkin constraints has been changed to
Nitsche constraints.

Updated Models in Version 6.2

The tutorials have been updated to take advantage of the latest geometry, mesh, and
solver features in order to have simplified step-by-step instructions for the model
construction. In addition to these updates, some tutorials have been updated
regarding physical modeling:

• The Nonisothermal Turbulent Flow over a Flat Plate model is now using the SST
turbulence model.
• The Lumped Composite Thermal Barrier model is now using the new Thermal
Connection feature.
• The Parasol, Orbit Calculation, Spacecraft Thermal Analysis, and Orbit
Thermal Loads models are now using the Define properties for all bands option.
• The Condensation Risk in a Wood-Frame Wall model is now using the Around
location option for Ambient Properties.
• The Radiation in a Cavity model is now using the Thermal Insulation, Edge feature.
• The Orbit Calculation, Spacecraft Thermal Analysis, and Orbit Thermal Loads
models are now using the new Orbital Thermal Loads interface with the Events
Timeline feature.
• All models have been updated with the new default plots, and many have been
updated to use the new predefined plots.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1

• In COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.2, the Isothermal domain check box has been
removed from the physics interface settings. The Isothermal Domain feature is now
always available in the domain features list, under the Specific Media subfolder. The
default Isothermal Domain Interface feature is automatically added as soon as one
Isothermal Domain is present in the physics interface.
• When Heat Transfer with Surface-to-Surface Radiation, Heat Transfer with Radiation in
Participating Media, or Heat Transfer with Radiation in Absorbing-Scattering Media
couplings are added from the Multiphysics node, their selection is set to All
boundaries by default.

HEAT TRANSFER MODULE | 99

 • The Heat transfer in porous media check box has been removed from the Heat
Transfer in Thin Structures physics interfaces settings. Backward compatibility is
ensured in most cases with two exceptions. API scripts need to be updated to disable
Porous Medium and Fracture features if they were enabled and the check box was
deselected afterward. In version 6.1 these steps would disable Porous Medium and
Fracture features, while in version 6.2, the features remain active. The second
exception is when opening a model from a previous version where Porous Medium
or Fracture features were present but the check box was deselected. In that case the
features need to be duplicated to be enabled.
• To be able to handle events internally to the Orbital Thermal Loads physics interface
while still ensuring backward compatibility, a new Orbital Thermal Loads physics
interface has been created and the former one has been deprecated. Backward
compatibility for the Orbital Thermal Loads interface is ensured for API scripts, but
will continue to use the deprecated interface with the Generate Events Interface
feature as well as the Events interface. For simple setups, when opening a model
from version 6.1 with one active Orbital Thermal Loads interface and exactly one
autogenerated Events interface, the model is migrated to the new interface with the
Events Timeline feature. In other cases no migration is done, but the model will
remain fully functional.
• In the Radiation in Participating Media and Radiation in Absorbing-Scattering Media
interfaces, the pair versions of the Opaque Surface, Semitransparent Surface, and
Incident Intensity features are now interpreted on the spatial frame, as their nonpair
versions, instead of the material frame in version 6.1.
• In the Heat Transfer interfaces, the default opacity of the Thin Layer and Fracture
features has been changed to opaque. In the Heat Transfer in Thin Structures
interfaces, the default opacity of the Solid and Porous Medium features has been
changed to opaque. To get the same behavior as in version 6.1, API scripts need to
be updated to explicitly change the opacity of these features to Transparent if the
default opacity of these features were used in a Heat Transfer with Surface-to-Surface
Radiation or Heat Transfer with Orbital Thermal Loads study. The same process must
be carried when opening a model from version 6.1.
• In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation and Orbital Thermal Loads physics interfaces, the
new Lower integration order for irradiation option is available with the Hemicube
algorithm in 3D and 2D and activated by default. While it should have a negligible
effect, this option can be deactivated in the Jacobian Contribution section to get the
same behavior as in version 6.1.

100 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0
• In version COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0, when the From material option was
selected in Shape Memory Alloy feature for the heat capacity at constant pressure, Cp,
the property was taken from the material Basic group. In version 6.1, the material
properties CpA and CpM are taken from the groups Austenite Phase and Martensite
Phase, respectively. Identity rules enable to ensure backward compatibility in most
cases. However, if different values were set for Cp and CpA or CpM, the results may
differ between versions 6.0 and 6.1.
• In the Symmetry for Surface-to-Surface Radiation feature of the Surface-to-Surface
Radiation interface, the check box Apply symmetry to external radiation sources is
selected by default in version 6.1. API script need to be updated by clearing this
check box to get the same results as in version 6.0 when there are both a Symmetry
for Surface-to-Surface Radiation and an External Radiation Source feature in the model.
• It is now no longer possible to set an Inflow, Outflow, or Open Boundary condition on
boundaries of Shape Memory Alloy or Building Material domains.
• In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface features, the diffuse irradiance variables
(Idiff, Idiffu_band, Idiffd_band, and Idiff_band) are set to 0 when the
Include diffuse irradiance check box is not selected.
• In the settings of the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface, the Mesh element self-
irradiation check box does not exist in version 6.1. Self-irradiation is always taken
into account when High order mesh elements is selected.
• In the settings of the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface, the High order mesh
elements check box is available for the following combinations in version 6.1: the ray
shooting method in 3D, 2D axisymmetric and 2D, and the hemicube method in 2D
axisymmetric and 2D. In case the model saved in version 6.0 had the High order
mesh elements check box selected, the behavior in version 6.1 is the same as when
this check box was cleared. View factor results should be checked for consistency.
• The contribution of the shell curvature on gradient definition to account for the
surface area change has been corrected for cases where the shell normal is pointing
toward the center of curvature.
• The speed of sound variable definition has been corrected in the Fluid and Moist Air
features and subfeatures.
• For turbulent nonisothermal flow, the constraints added to guarantee the continuity
of the temperature between multiple wall boundaries has been revised to be much
faster to treat in case of very large number of boundaries, and to improve the
readability of the Equation view.

HEAT TRANSFER MODULE | 101

 • Refactored Boundary Heat Source feature to give the control if the continuity is
prescribed or not, and to control where the source is added: source, destination or
both.
• Updated the heat source contribution in Heat Transfer with Radiative Beam in
Absorbing Media coupling in case of temperature variation across the boundary to
account for the side of the boundary that absorbs the radiation.
• In the Building Material feature, the material properties are now interpreted in the
material frame. This affects models where a Building Material feature is on a domain
where the spatial frame is controlled by an interface, such as a Moving Mesh. The Mass
Properties node now handles Building Material features and can be used to compute
the total mass.

Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6

• In the Prescribed Radiosity feature in the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface, if the
graybody model is selected to define the radiative intensity, the emissivity is
temperature dependent, and the temperature model input is automatically defined
from a multiphysics coupling in an API script, then you must update the script to
define Text. In other cases, Text is set to the value that was set to the model input
in version 5.6 or earlier so that the model behavior is unchanged.
• In Heat Transfer interfaces, in the Deposited Beam Power boundary condition, for
User defined beam profiles, the beam intensity is now defined from its value in the
beam cross section, which corresponds to the deposited beam power divided by the
cosine of the incidence angle. Nevertheless, for User defined beam profiles, the
models and API scripts created in version 5.6 or earlier behave identically in version
6.0.
• In the Opaque Surface feature of the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface, the
coordinate system choice is restricted to the boundary system. When opening a
model created in version 5.6 or earlier with another coordinate system selected, this
input should be checked for consistency.
• In the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface, when the Expression or Tolerance
settings had been modified in the View Factor Update section of a model created in
version 5.6 or earlier, these settings are reported in the new View Factor section.
• A modification of the numerical results within the solver tolerance range may be
observed when computing surface-to-surface radiation models created in version
5.6 or earlier, due to the introduction in the Surface-to-Surface interface of the
Jacobian contribution option set by default to Only local contributions to radiosity.

102 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 When opening a model created in version 5.6 or earlier, a warning is displayed under
the Surface-to-Surface Radiation interface. Note that the accuracy level remains the
same because the convergence criteria and the solver tolerance are unchanged.
• The Local Thermal Nonequilibrium predefined multiphysics interface and the Local
Thermal Nonequilibrium multiphysics coupling are now obsolete. When opening a
model created in version 5.6 or earlier, this feature is not migrated. It should be
manually replaced by the Porous Medium feature with the Porous medium type set to
Local thermal nonequilibrium. Support for features marked as obsolete is not ensured
in future versions; thus it is strongly recommended to transfer this feature to the new
feature.
• In the Moisture Transport interface, the Hygroscopic Porous Medium feature not
supporting the Porous Material functionality is now obsolete. When opening a model
created in version 5.6 or earlier, this feature is not migrated. It should be manually
replaced by the new Hygroscopic Porous Medium feature. Support for features marked
as obsolete is not ensured in future versions; thus it is strongly recommended to
transfer this feature to the new feature.

HEAT TRANSFER MODULE | 103

 MEMS Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: PIEZORESISTIVITY, LAYERED SHELL

The new Piezoresistivity, Layered Shell multiphysics interface is used to model
piezoresistivity in multilayer structures. This new multiphysics interface combines an
Electric Currents in Layered Shells interface, a Layered Shell interface, and the new
Piezoresistivity, Layered multiphysics coupling. This interface requires the Composite
Materials Module.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: THERMAL EXPANSION, THIN LAYER

For details, see New Multiphysics Coupling: Thermal Expansion, Thin Layer in the
release notes for the Structural Mechanics Module.

NEW FEATURE IN SHELL INTERFACE: PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL,

LAYERED
Piezoelectric Material, Layered is a new feature in the Shell interface. This addition saves
assembly and computation time when solving thin piezoelectric composites with the
Shell interface. This new features requires the Structural Mechanics Module and
Composite Materials Module.

NEW FEATURE IN THERMOVISCOUS ACOUSTICS: SLIP WALL FOR

NONIDEAL WALL CONDITIONS
The Slip Wall boundary condition is used to model the effective nonideal wall
conditions that exist in the slip-flow regime, when the Knudsen number is in the range
of 0.001 to 0.1. The Slip Wall conditions is used for systems with very small geometrical
dimensions or systems running at very low ambient pressures. This is relevant when
modeling, for example, MEMS transducers and other microdevices. To model a slip
wall on an interior condition, use the Interior Slip Wall condition. This feature requires
the Acoustics Module.

STABILIZATION OF UNCONSTRAINED CONTACT PROBLEMS

For details, see Stabilization of Unconstrained Contact Problems in the release notes
for the Structural Mechanics Module.

104 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

COMPUTATION OF WARPAGE
For details, see Computation of Warpage in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

LIMITED DISPLACEMENT
For details, see Limited Displacement in the release notes for the Structural Mechanics
Module.

SPECIMEN SIZE IN TEST MATERIAL

For details, see Specimen Size in Test Material in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

ACTIVATION OF VISCOELASTIC MATERIALS

For details, see Activation of Viscoelastic Materials in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

THIN LAYER ENHANCEMENTS

For details, see Thin Layer Enhancements in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

THIN ELASTIC LAYER DEPRECATED

For details, see Thin Elastic Layer Deprecated in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

ENERGY DISSIPATION COMPUTATION

For details, see Energy Dissipation Computation in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

GEOMETRIC NONLINEARITY SETTINGS

For details, see Geometric Nonlinearity Settings in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

LINEAR KINEMATICS USING EXTERNAL STRESS-STRAIN RELATION

For details, see Linear Kinematics Using External Stress–Strain Relation in the release
notes for the Structural Mechanics Module.

RESULTANT LOADS IN SYMMETRY PLANES

For details, see Resultant Loads in Symmetry Planes in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

MEMS MODULE | 105

 APPLICATION POINT FOR RESULTANT IN GLOBAL COORDINATE SYSTEM
For details, see Application Point for Resultant in Global Coordinate System in the
release notes for the Structural Mechanics Module.

COMBINING FRICTION WITH ADHESION AND DECOHESION

For details, see Combining Friction with Adhesion and Decohesion in the release notes
for the Structural Mechanics Module.

CHANGES IN SETTINGS FOR CONTACT AND CONTINUITY

For details, see Changes in Settings for Contact and Continuity in the release notes for
the Structural Mechanics Module.

IMPROVED SYMMETRY CONDITION

For details, see Improved Symmetry Condition in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

SYMMETRY PLANE IMPROVED FOR TWISTING MOTION

For details, see Symmetry Plane Improved for Twisting Motion in the release notes for
the Structural Mechanics Module.

LOCAL COORDINATE SYSTEM IN ROLLER CONDITION

For details, see Local Coordinate System in Roller Condition in the release notes for
the Structural Mechanics Module.

MIXED FORMULATION IMPROVEMENTS

For details, see Mixed Formulation Improvements in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

LINEARIZATION POINT TEMPERATURE

For details, see Linearization Point Temperature in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

THERMOELASTICITY USING FINITE STRAINS

For details, see Thermoelasticity Using Finite Strains in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

INERTIAL LOADS ON RIGID FEATURES

For details, see Inertial Loads on Rigid Features in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

106 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

CELL PERIODICITY ENHANCEMENTS
For details, see Cell Periodicity Enhancements in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

ENERGY VARIABLES IN FREQUENCY DOMAIN

For details, see Energy Variables in Frequency Domain in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

CHANGED DEFAULT VARIABLES IN RESULT PRESENTATION

For details, see Changed Default Variables in Result Presentation in the release notes
for the Structural Mechanics Module.

GROUPING OF ODE VARIABLES IN SOLVER

For details, see Grouping of ODE Variables in Solver in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

RENAMED FEATURES
Several features have been renamed in order to get a more consistent naming structure.
These are:

• Piezoelectric Effect renamed to Piezoelectricity

• Piezoresistive Effect, Domain Currents renamed to Piezoresistivity, Domain Currents
• Piezoresistive Effect, Boundary Currents renamed to Piezoresistivity, Boundary
Currents
• Piezoresistive Effect, Shell renamed to Piezoresistivity, Shell

New Models in Version 6.2

ALUMINUM NITRIDE LAMB WAVE RESONATOR

Lamb wave resonators are used as filters in wireless communication systems and as
sensors. This tutorial shows how to create a 3D model of an aluminum nitride lamb
wave resonator and perform eigenfrequency and frequency-response analyses to
characterize the device.

CAPACITIVE MICROMACHINED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER WITH LUMPED

MODEL
A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) converts ultrasound to
electrical signal for imaging applications. This tutorial demonstrates how to derive a

MEMS MODULE | 107

 lumped model of a CMUT from its physical model. The lumped model is created using
the Lumped Mechanical System interface, with the lumped parameters obtained from
the Parameter Estimation study available in the Optimization Module.

SOLIDLY MOUNTED RESONATOR WITH UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION

A solidly mounted resonator (SMR) is a piezoelectric resonator made from multiple
layers of materials. This tutorial shows how to use the Uncertainty Quantification
Module to analyze the impact of manufacturing variation on an SMR’s resonance
frequency. The tutorial shows how a surrogate model is used in sensitivity analysis,
uncertainty propagation, and reliability analysis to obtain statistical data on a physical
model.

THIN-FILM BAW RESONATOR WITH EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

This tutorial demonstrates how an electrical circuit model can be derived from the
physical model of a resonator using the Optimization Module. The equivalent circuit
model is a modified Butterworth–Van Dyke circuit created using the Electrical Circuit
interface, with the lumped parameters obtained from the Parameter Estimation study
available in the Optimization Module.

108 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

M e ta l P r o c e s s i n g Mod u l e
New Functionality in Version 6.2

IMPORT OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES

For general steels, magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity can now be
imported from JMatPro®.

CALCULATION OF TRANSFORMATION TEMPERATURES

Certain transformation temperatures are now calculated based on the chemical
composition of hypoeutectoid steels. Examples include the martensite start
temperature, Ms, as well as Ae1 and Ae3 lines in an Fe-C diagram. These temperatures
can be used to define lower and upper temperature limits in phase transformation
nodes.

CALCULATION OF EQUILIBRIUM PHASE FRACTIONS

Temperature-dependent equilibrium phase fractions of different metallurgical phases
can now be calculated based on the chemical composition and different carbon
solubility levels in an iron-carbon (Fe-C) diagram. These phase fractions can be used
in the definitions of phase transformations for hypoeutectoid steels.

CALCULATION OF HARDNESS
Functionality for calculating Vickers hardness (HV), after quenching, has been added.
The hardness calculation is based on the chemical composition of the steel and the rate
of cooling.

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS
The calculations of TRIP strains and plastic recovery have been improved by local
integration of the underlying ODEs. Memory consumption is reduced, and a
significant speedup typically ensues.

MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING SUBNODE FOR ANNEALING

It is now possible to reset degrees of freedom related to plasticity in the metallurgical
phases once a specified temperature is exceeded. This is accomplished using the
Annealing subnode to the Phase Transformation Strain multiphysics coupling.

METAL PROCESSING MODULE | 109

 Microfluidics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2
• The new Incompressible Potential Flow interface has been added to the Fluid Flow
branch. This can be used to model solenoidal, irrotational flows, or to obtain initial
values for more complex fluid flow simulations.
• The new Limit small time step effects on stabilization time scale option (located in
the Consistent Stabilization section of the Settings window for the Single-Phase Flow
interfaces) can be used to avoid the loss of pressure stabilization during initialization
and for small time steps.
• The Free and Porous Media Flow physics interface has been renamed to Free and
Porous Media Flow, Brinkman. Models created with earlier software versions
containing the Free and Porous Media Flow interface will keep the old name for the
interface.
• The new predefined multiphysics interface, Free and Porous Media Flow, Darcy,
under the Porous Media and Subsurface Flow section in the Fluid Flow branch couples
a Darcy’s Law interface and a Laminar Flow interface using the new Free and Porous
Media Flow Coupling multiphysics coupling node.
• The new Porous Interface feature in the Laminar Flow and Brinkman Equations
interfaces, applicable on boundaries with different porosity on each side, accounts
for changes in the stress caused by changes in porosity on each side and can include
optional pressure losses.
• The new default setting for Porous treatment of the no slip condition, in the
Brinkman Equations interface or when Enable porous media domains is selected in
the Laminar Flow interface, is Porous slip.
• The mesh velocity from the Free Surface and Fluid-Fluid Interface features can now be
overridden by alternative settings in the Moving Mesh node.
• A warning message is displayed in the Log when Use reduced pressure or Compensate
for hydrostatic pressure/Compensate for hydrostatic pressure approximation is
selected in a fluid flow interface that is part of a multiphase flow multiphysics
coupling.

110 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Updated Models in Version 6.2
The tutorials have been updated to take advantage of the latest geometry, mesh, and
solver features in order to provide simplified step-by-step instructions for the model
construction.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0

• An error in the expression for the mean free path when using the
Alternative (Sharipov) option for the Mean free path definition under User defined in
the External Slip Wall and Interior Slip Wall features has been corrected. This might
lead to slight differences in the results. In addition, the default values for the
Standard option for the Mean free path definition setting have been modified to
correspond to those of the Alternative (Sharipov) option.
• Non-Newtonian inelastic material models that were added in older versions will not
be able to define the dynamic viscosity in the Basic (def) material model.

MICROFLUIDICS MODULE | 111

 Mixer Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2
A Mixing Plane feature, applicable to interior boundaries at the intersection of rotating
and nonrotating domains, has been added in the Mixer Module. This is an approach,
alternative to and often more accurate than the frozen rotor approach, in which
averaging in the direction of rotation is performed such that the flow on each side is
influenced by mixed flow conditions on the other side. Hence, variations in the flow
topology on the other side are accounted for in an averaged sense. The mixing plane
approach is an efficient method for modeling sectors of centrifugal pumps, turbines,
and compressors.

112 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Multibody Dynamics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE FOR MODELING MAGNETIC–STRUCTURE

INTERACTION IN ROTATING MACHINERY
A new multiphysics interface and a multiphysics coupling for modeling electric motors
and generators have been added. This multiphysics interface, Magnetic-Rigid Body
Interaction in Rotating Machinery combines a Multibody Dynamics interface with a
Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interface through the new Magnetic Forces, Rotating
Machinery multiphysics coupling. This functionality can be used to compute how
deformations and stresses originated from air gap forces are distributed in both the
stator and rotor of an electric motor. Some of the applications are magnetic bearings,
unbalanced rotors, etc.

RADIAL CONSTRAINT IN PLANAR JOINT

A new option to add a radial constraint is available in the Constraints subnode under
Planar Joint. This option can be used to restrict the planar motion of a body within a
circle of a given center and radius.

EMBEDDED REINFORCEMENT
Using the Embedded Reinforcement multiphysics coupling, it is possible to embed
elements from a Wire interface into a flexible solid domain to act as reinforcements.
When using a Multibody Dynamics interface with a license for the Structural
Mechanics Module, it is also possible to insert edge elements from the Truss or Beam
interfaces as well as surface elements from the Membrane interface into a domain.

STABILIZATION OF UNCONSTRAINED CONTACT PROBLEMS

For details, see Stabilization of Unconstrained Contact Problems in the release notes
for the Structural Mechanics Module.

INERTIA RELIEF ANALYSIS

For details, see Inertia Relief Analysis in the release notes for the Structural Mechanics
Module.

MULTIBODY DYNAMICS MODULE | 113

 LIMITED DISPLACEMENT
For details, see Limited Displacement in the release notes for the Structural Mechanics
Module.

ENERGY DISSIPATION COMPUTATION

For details, see Energy Dissipation Computation in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

GEOMETRIC NONLINEARITY SETTINGS

For details, see Geometric Nonlinearity Settings in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

CHANGES IN SETTINGS FOR CONTACT AND CONTINUITY

For details, see Changes in Settings for Contact and Continuity in the release notes for
the Structural Mechanics Module.

LOCAL COORDINATE SYSTEM IN ROLLER CONDITION

For details, see Local Coordinate System in Roller Condition in the release notes for
the Structural Mechanics Module.

MIXED FORMULATION IMPROVEMENTS

For details, see Mixed Formulation Improvements in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

INERTIAL LOADS ON RIGID FEATURES

For details, see Inertial Loads on Rigid Features in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

ELASTIC WIRE SETTINGS RESTRUCTURED

For details, see Elastic Wire Settings Restructured in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

CHANGED DEFAULT VARIABLES IN RESULT PRESENTATION

For details, see Changed Default Variables in Result Presentation in the release notes
for the Structural Mechanics Module.

ENERGY VARIABLES IN FREQUENCY DOMAIN

For details, see Energy Variables in Frequency Domain in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

114 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

GROUPING OF ODE VARIABLES IN SOLVER
For details, see Grouping of ODE Variables in Solver in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

New Models in Version 6.2

MAGNETIC–STRUCTURE INTERACTION IN A PERMANENT MAGNET

MOTOR
In this example, the coupling between Multibody Dynamics and Rotating Machinery,
Magnetic for performing electromagnetic and mechanical analysis is demonstrated. A
permanent magnet motor with 10 rotor poles and 12 stator slots with surface mounted
magnets is modeled in 2D. To model magnetic–structure coupling integrated with
moving mesh, the electromagnetic force is transferred to the rotor, and the rotor
motion is transferred to the moving mesh. A time-dependent problem, computing the
magnetic flux density and displacement, is solved for three complete electrical periods.

DYNAMICS OF A HOPPING HOOP

In this example, the dynamics of a hopping hoop is simulated. The different types of
motion, which a thin rolling ring-point mass system can exhibit, are investigated. It is
shown that under certain conditions, the rolling ring can disconnect from the ground
and lift into the air.

MULTIBODY DYNAMICS MODULE | 115

 Nonlinear Structural Materials
Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

PARAMETER ESTIMATION
New functionality for parameter estimation has been implemented. The addition of a
larger family of solvers, including, for example, the Levenberg–Marquardt and IPOPT
solvers, can greatly improve performance for some parameter estimation studies for
uniaxial, biaxial, or cyclic load cases. Three models have been added to showcase this
new functionality.

NEW POLYMER VISCOPLASTICITY NODE

A new Polymer Viscoplasticity subnode has been added to the Hyperelastic Material in
Solid Mechanics.

• Three new viscoplastic models are introduced: the Bergstrom–Boyce model, the
Bergstrom–Bischoff model, and the Parallel network model. It is also possible to
define User defined viscoplastic models.
• The new framework can handle large viscoplastic strains, and it is based on the
multiplicative decomposition of deformation gradients.

HYPERELASTICITY IMPROVEMENTS
The following improvements have been made to hyperelastic materials:

• It is now possible to define the strain energy density for the Arruda–Boyce model in
terms of the inverse Langevin function.
• Plasticity has been added to Hyperelastic Material, Layered material model in the Shell
interface.

ENHANCEMENTS TO PLASTICITY
• The user interface for the Plasticity node has been updated. The Formulation combo
box has been removed from the Plasticity and Porous Plasticity nodes. The
formulation is now controlled in the parent node.
• Kinematic hardening is also available for large strain plasticity.

116 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

• Large strain plasticity is available in the Membrane and Shell interfaces.
• A simplified user interface for Set Variables had been introduced. For the large strain
formulation, you now directly set the components of the plastic strain tensor. In a
model created in a previous version where the Plastic Deformation Gradient Inverse
option was used, the new user input will be shown. The values of old user inputs
will, however, not be converted. You must enter the new data.

NONZERO OUT-OF-PLANE INELASTIC SHEAR STRAINS

For 2D problems involving plasticity, creep, or viscoplasticity, where the material is
anisotropic, it is possible that the out-of-plane inelastic shear strains are nonzero. This
can now be accommodated by selecting the Include out-of-plane strains check box in
the Advanced section of the corresponding features.

NEW MIXED FORMULATION

When using a mixed formulation under plane stress conditions, a new option called
Implicit formulation is available. In this case, the plane stress equations are used to
simplify the problem. The following features have this option:

• Nonlinear Elastic Material in the Solid Mechanics interface (available in 2D plane

stress)
• Hyperelastic Material in the Solid Mechanics interface (available in 2D plane stress)
• Hyperelastic Material in the Membrane interface (available for all space dimensions)
• Hyperelastic Material, Layered in the Shell interface (available for all space
dimensions)

ANAND–NARAYAN MATERIAL MODEL

A new material model, Anand–Narayan, has been added under the Viscoplasticity node.
This model targets the properties of lithium in battery applications.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: PHASE FIELD DAMAGE

This multiphysics coupling connects a Phase Field in Solids interface and a Solid
Mechanics interface. The stresses, strains, or strain energy drive the phase field value,
and the phase field value provides the degree of damage to the elastic material model.
The settings for the Phase Field Damage node are similar to those in a Damage node in
the Solid Mechanics interface.

NONLINEAR STRUCTURAL MATERIALS MODULE | 117

 NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: PHASE FIELD DAMAGE
The new Phase Field Damage multiphysics interface combines a Solid Mechanics
interface, a Phase Field in Solids interface, and a Phase Field Damage multiphysics
coupling. It is found under the Structural Mechanics branch in the Add Physics window.

IMPROVEMENTS TO SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY

There are several enhancements to the Shape Memory Alloy material models:

• A new predefined plot shows the stress-temperature phase diagram. The plot shows
the austenite to martensite transition, and it is useful for understanding the behavior
of the SMA with respect to changes in material parameters.
• The penalty method for enforcing the upper bound for the transformation strain has
been improved. There is a new setting in the Advanced section for both the Lagoudas
and the Souza–Auricchio models for better control of the penalty constraint in the
pseudoplastic domain.
• The Prager–Lode yield surface is now available for the Souza–Auricchio model. The
new formulation makes possible it to model a situation where the martensite start
stress differs between tension and compression.
• Large strain plasticity is available for the Souza–Auricchio model.
• The material parameters for the phase transformation can now be entered as start
and finish stresses or start and finish temperatures.

IMPROVEMENTS TO FIBER
• Compressible fibers are available in the Holzapfel–Gasser–Ogden hyperelastic
material model.
• Thermal Expansion is available as a subnode under Fiber for hyperelastic materials.
• The Uniaxial data material model for nonlinear stress–strain relations is available for
Fiber under Linear Elastic Material and Nonlinear Elastic Material.

EXTENDED BUILT-IN MATERIAL FOR SOLDER

The built-in material Solder, 60Sn-40Pb has been augmented to include Anand
viscoplasticity data.

118 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

New Models in Version 6.2

LARGE SWELLING IN POLYMER HYDROGELS

In this example model, it is demonstrated how to implement a coupled nonlinear field
theory of large deformation and solvent diffusion for polymer hydrogels. Polymer
hydrogels consist of a cross-linked network of long-chained polymers that has imbibed
a large number of solvent molecules. Such materials are used in many biomedical
applications, such as targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, and stimuli-sensitive
actuators.

UNIAXIAL LOADING OF A SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY USING SOUZA–

AURICCHIO MODEL
The model uses the Souza–Auricchio model and shows the thermomechanical
properties of a NiTi alloy sample subjected to uniaxial tension-compression loading.

The first parametric study displays the pseudoelasticity effect at different temperatures.
In the second study, a partial loading–unloading cycle is added. The third study shows
the shape memory effect in a low-temperature loading cycle followed by a temperature
increase.

CHLOROPRENE RUBBER COMPRESSION TEST

In this example, the Bergstrom–Boyce material model is used to capture the
nonequilibrium behavior of carbon-black-filled chloroprene rubber under a strain
history that alternates compression with relaxation. Results are verified against
experimental and numerical results taken from literature.

SMALL PUNCH TEST FOR UHMWPE POLYETHYLENE

This example demonstrates the use of the Bergstrom–Bischoff material to model ultra-
high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a material commonly employed in
knee and hip joint replacements. The small punch test is designed to assess mechanical
properties using very small samples.

BUCKLING OF HDPE LINERS

In this example, the Bergstrom–Bischoff viscoplastic material is used to model the
temperature and strain dependent behavior of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
liners.

HDPE is used to make liners for damaged pipes in oil and gas applications and to
manufacture hydrogen storage vessels for fuel cells. In these application areas, the

NONLINEAR STRUCTURAL MATERIALS MODULE | 119

 material is prone to collapse due to gas penetration between the liner and the hosting
structure.

TIRE INFLATION
This example showcases how to use fibers in thin layers to model thin anisotropic
composites embedded in a solid, without explicitly drawing either the layer of material
or the reinforcing fibers. In particular, this is used to model steel cords in tire belts that
are used to provide structural support to the tire below the tread. A curvilinear
coordinate system is used to define the anisotropic material properties of the carcass
ply.

The model also makes use of the “twist” degree of freedom in 2D axisymmetry to
capture the azimuthal displacement induced by the orientation of the cords during
inflation of the tire.

UNIAXIAL STRETCHING OF A RECTANGULAR SHEET

This example demonstrates the wrinkling of a thin rectangular sheet stretched
uniaxially. First, a static analysis is performed to determine the region of compressive
stresses without wrinkling. Next, a prestressed buckling analysis is carried out to find
out the potential linearized buckling modes. Finally, a nonlinear postbuckling analysis
is carried out to investigate the evolution of wrinkles.

PARAMETER ESTIMATION OF HYPERELASTIC MATERIALS

This example demonstrates how to set up a parameter estimation study for fitting the
parameters of an Ogden hyperelastic model from experimental data. The process
considers multiple load cases under large deformations, which is often necessary in
order to obtain constitutive models with good predictive capabilities.

PARAMETER ESTIMATION OF ELASTOPLASTIC MATERIALS

This example demonstrates how to estimate the material parameters of an elastoplastic
material model given cyclic shear data. The elastoplastic material model includes mixed
isotropic and kinematic hardening parameters.

PARAMETER ESTIMATION OF VISCOPLASTIC POLYMERS

This example demonstrates how to estimate the parameters of a viscoplastic material
suitable for the modeling of rubber-like materials. The data used for parameter
estimation of a Bergstrom–Boyce model consists of cyclic uniaxial tension and
compression tests at two different strain rates. After estimating the primary parameters,

120 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

the formulation is extended to include temperature dependence using additional data
from tensile experiments at different temperatures.

NONLINEAR STRUCTURAL MATERIALS MODULE | 121

 Optimization Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

IMPROVED GRADIENT-BASED OPTIMIZATION

Gradient-based optimization for eigenvalue problems has been extended with the
Stationary Then Eigenfrequency study step. This study step makes it possible to use the
Shape Optimization and Topology Optimization interfaces when optimizing
eigenvalue problems. Both interfaces have also been extended with mirror and sector
symmetry features to treat such eigenvalue problems, which often call for design
symmetry.

This functionality is demonstrated in three new or updated Application Library

models: Maximizing the Eigenfrequency of a Beam
(beam_eigenfrequency_topology_optimization), Maximizing the Eigenfrequency of a
Shell (shell_eigenfrequency_shape_optimization), and Bracket — Eigenfrequency
Shape Optimization (bracket_eigenfrequency_shape_optimization).

EXTENDED PARAMETER ESTIMATION

Parameter estimation has been extended with support for the covariance matrix, which
gives more information about the uncertainty of the estimated parameters than the
confidence intervals. This functionality is available with the Levenberg–Marquardt
solver, which now supports bounds for the control parameters. Both the Global Least-
Squares feature and the Parameter Estimation study step now include support for
specifying the variance of individual measurements by providing a variance column in
the Settings window.

ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS
• Shape optimization was previously limited to symmetry box bounds for the
maximum displacement, but now it is also possible to have a circular or Euclidean
bound or to specify asymmetric bounds on individual components, optionally in a
custom coordinate system.
• The Control Variable Field feature has been extended with a discretization that is
constant over geometric entities, and it is now possible to group these entities when
vertices are shared. The user interface for the boundary conditions of the Control
Function feature has been changed to increase the number of options and improve

122 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 the consistency when changing between polynomial and Helmholtz (maximum
slope) regularization.
• Material sweeps over one of the optimization study steps is now supported.
Derivative-free optimization also supports optimization over the material sweep,
similar to the parametric sweep.
• The ribbon layout has been split with new dedicated Shape Optimization, Topology
Optimization, and Parameter Estimation ribbons, while the Control Variable Field and
Control Function features remain in the Definitions ribbon.
• Topology optimization with milling constraints now supports setting a diffusion
length if the discretization is linear, which can avoid numerical artifacts for certain
angles between the mesh and the milling directions.
• The default solver suggestion has been improved to put optimization first in
segregated solvers, which simplifies the setup of the solver configuration for 3D
models. Also, the adjoint dependent variables can be initialized with the forward
variables, which can lead to dramatic speedup for certain self-adjoint problems that
use iterative solvers, as often seen for large-scale topology optimization of structural
mechanics.
• An error message now appears for the case where the Times to store list is set to Steps
taken by solver while performing transient optimization of least-squares objectives.
This combination was never fully supported.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.1

The Monte Carlo solver has been removed from the Optimization study step.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0

The Free Shape Boundary and Free Shape Shell behave differently in 3D, but the change
is limited to lines where the features intersect with Symmetry/Roller features.
Specifically, in previous versions, the continuity of the slope was not preserved at
internal points on such lines, but in version 6.1, the continuity of the slope is
preserved.

OPTIMIZATION MODULE | 123

 Particle Tracing Module
New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW OPTION FOR FRICTION FORCE CALCULATION

It is now possible to accurately calculate the friction force in the low electric field limit.
The electric field limit is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the electric field to
the background gas number. When the electric field limit is low, the kinetic energy of
charged particles is mostly thermal, that is, the thermal energy of charged particles is
much greater than the energy acquired from the electric field between collisions. The
Friction Force feature in the Charged Particle interface has a new option for calculating
the friction force in the low electric field limit using the Mason–Schamp equation.

124 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Plasma Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

HEAT EQUATION IN GLOBAL MODELS

It is now possible to solve the heavy species energy conservation equation in global
models. This new functionality can be enabled in the settings of the Plasma interface,
in the Heavy Species Energy Balance section. In the Plasma Model settings, there are
options to set the initial gas temperature, heat transfer to the surfaces, and gas
temperature of the feed.

New model that solves the heavy species energy conservation equation:

Hydrogen Global Model Coupled with the Two-Term Boltzmann Equation

REACTION GROUP FEATURE

The Reaction Group feature can be used to add heavy species reactions in a table. The
reactions can be added manually or imported from a file. It is also possible to add
Reaction Group features and reactions using the Plasma Chemistry add-in.

New models that showcase the Reaction Group feature:

• Hydrogen Global Model Coupled with the Two-Term Boltzmann Equation

• Microwave Cavity Plasma

FREQUENCY-STATIONARY STUDIES FOR MICROWAVE PLASMAS

It is now possible to solve microwave plasma models using a Frequency-Stationary study
when the system is excited using input power instead of deposited power.

The new model Microwave Cavity Plasma Reactor uses a Frequency-Stationary study
step to parameterize the input power.

New and Updated Applications in Version 6.2

MICROWAVE CAVITY PLASMA REACTOR

This tutorial shows how to prepare a model of a hydrogen plasma sustained in a
microwave cavity at moderate pressures. The model solves the plasma transport
equations fully coupled with Maxwell’s equations, fluid flow, and heat transfer. A
microwave cylindrical chamber contains a bell jar were a hydrogen plasma is created.

PLASMA MODULE | 125

 The reactor is carefully designed so that the electric field has its maximum intensity
above a substrate and much lower intensity at the bell jar boundary.

HYDROGEN GLOBAL MODEL COUPLED WITH THE TWO-TERM

BOLTZMANN EQUATION
This tutorial studies the chemistry of a hydrogen plasma at moderate pressures. The
main goals are to show how to prepare a global model to study a plasma chemistry and
the influence of the electron energy distribution function. The plasma global model,
which includes the heavy species heat equation, is solved self-consistently with the
Boltzmann equation in the two-term approximation.

HYDROGEN BOLTZMANN ANALYSIS

This model solves the Boltzmann equation in the two-term approximation for a
background of molecular and atomic hydrogen. Electron mobility and source terms
are computed by suitable integration of the electron energy distribution function over
electron impact cross sections.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0 and Earlier

There is a new version of the Plasma, Time Periodic interface. When opening models
created with version 6.0 and earlier, a warning sign appears saying, “This physics
interface is obsolete and will be removed in a future version. A new version of the
physics interface is available from the Add Physics window.” These models can still be
changed and will run as before, but it is encouraged to recreate the models using
COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.2.

126 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Porous Media Flow Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW PHYSICS INTERFACE: MOISTURE TRANSPORT IN SOLIDS

A new physics interface, Moisture Transport in Solids, has been added. The new
interface is useful, for example, in conjunction with deformations in solids. The new
interface accounts for large strains.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: UNSATURATED POROELASTICITY

The new multiphysics interface Unsaturated Poroelasticity combines a Solid
Mechanics interface, a Moisture Transport in Solids interface, and an Unsaturated
Poroelasticity multiphysics coupling. It is found under the Structural Mechanics branch
in the Add Physics window.

This multiphysics interface requires a license for the Structural Mechanics Module.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: UNSATURATED POROELASTICITY

This multiphysics coupling connects a Moisture Transport in Solids interface and a
Solid Mechanics interface. The moisture pressure acts as a load in the pores, and
structural deformations modify the storage coefficients and porosity. The settings for
the Unsaturated Poroelasticity node are similar to those in the Poroelasticity node.

BIPHASIC POROELASTICITY
A new Biphasic poroelasticity model has been added to the Poroelasticity multiphysics
coupling node. The new option is suitable for modeling the coupling between fluid
flow and deformation in hydrogels and soft biological tissues for which both solid and
fluid constituents can be assumed materially incompressible.

The default Elastic Predeformation node that was added with the Poroelasticity, Large
Deformation, Solid interface has been removed as the default feature.

NEW FEATURE: DUAL PERMEABILITY

A new Dual Permeability node has been added to the Darcy’s Law and Richards’
Equation interfaces. This feature makes it possible to model saturated fluid flow within
a dual permeability approach, where two distinct and interconnected porous systems
are present. The dual permeability approach can be applied to situations where both
porous systems are fully saturated and have varying permeabilities.

POROUS MEDIA FLOW MODULE | 127

 NEW FEATURE: UNSATURATED DUAL PERMEABILITY
A new Unsaturated Dual Permeability node has been added to the Darcy’s Law and
Richards’ Equation interfaces. The feature allows for modeling unsaturated fluid flow
within two distinct and interconnected porous systems.

Fluid flow through macropores and micropores is described by the Richards’ Equation
interface and is solved separately for both systems. This accounts for the heterogeneous
nature of unsaturated porous media flow, where the presence of two distinct and
interconnected systems significantly affects fluid flow.

NEW FEATURE: DUAL POROSITY

A new Dual Porosity node has been added to the Darcy’s Law and Richards’ Equation
interfaces. This feature allows for the modeling of saturated fluid flow where two
distinct and interconnected porous systems are present.

One system possesses significantly larger pores (macropores), in which the fluid flow
takes place. This system is interconnected with a second system of smaller pores
(micropores).

NEW PHYSICS INTERFACE: PHASE TRANSPORT IN FREE AND POROUS

MEDIA FLOW
A new physics interface, Phase Transport in Free and Porous Media Flow, has been
added. The new interface allows for easier modeling of multiphase transport in coupled
free and porous media flow.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: FREE AND POROUS MEDIA FLOW,

DARCY
The new Free and Porous Media Flow, Darcy multiphysics interface combines a
Darcy’s Law interface, a Laminar Flow interface, and the new Free and Porous Media
Flow Coupling node. It is found under the Porous Media and Subsurface Flow branch
under Fluid Flow in the Add Physics window.

RENAMED INTERFACE
The Free and Porous Media Flow physics interface has been renamed to Free and
Porous Media Flow, Brinkman. Models created with earlier versions containing the Free
and Porous Media Flow interface will keep the old name.

NEW DENSITY OPTIONS

The options for the Fluid type in the Fluid subnode to Porous Medium and Unsaturated
Porous Medium in the Darcy’s Law and Richards’ Equation interfaces have been

128 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

extended to better describe the equation of state used for the fluid. Two new options,
Incompressible and Compressible, linearized have been added, and the previous default
option Gas/Liquid has been renamed to Compressible.

When opening an old model, these new options will be used. When building a model
using the API, the new default option will also be used. This is true even if, for
example, a Java® file created from an older version is used when the Porous Medium or
Unsaturated Porous Medium nodes uses the Linearized or Poroelastic storage model and
the default gas/liquid fluidType is used. If you want to achieve full backward
compatibility using the API, and you have code such as

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").set("st
orageModelType", "poroelastic");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rho_mat", "userdef");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rho", "1000[kg/m^3]");

it will need to be changed to

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").set("st
orageModelType", "poroelastic");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("fluidType", "compressibleLinearized");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rhoref_mat", "userdef");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rhoref", "1000[kg/m^3]");

ADDITIONAL VELOCITY CONTRIBUTIONS

A new Contributing Velocity subnode is available under Porous Medium, Unsaturated
Porous Medium, and Dual Porosity Medium in the Darcy’s Law and Richards’ Equation
interfaces. This new subnode makes it possible to add external velocity contributions
to the Darcy velocity, which can, for example, arise due to solute concentration
gradients in liquid flow or Knudsen diffusion in gas flow applications.

REFACTORING OF VELOCITY VARIABLES

For results evaluation, the velocity variables have been updated such that dl.u now
includes possible Contributing Velocity fields. The Darcian/non-Darcian contribution
is available in the new variable dl.ud. The latter has been corrected to include the
correct frame transformation, which has an effect during results evaluation for large

POROUS MEDIA FLOW MODULE | 129

 deformations. For consistency, the corresponding material frame Darcy velocity
variable has been renamed to dl.Ud.

REFACTORING OF GRAVITY
The user input for Acceleration of gravity in the Gravity Effects section in the Darcy’s
Law, Richards’ Equation, Fracture Flow, and Layered Darcy’s Law interfaces has been
removed. Instead, the variable dl.g for the acceleration of gravity is by default set to
g_const if gravity effects are excluded in the physics interface. If gravity effects are
included, the acceleration of gravity can be edited in the Gravity feature.

BOUSSINESQ APPROXIMATION
Boussinesq approximation for the Nonisothermal Flow multiphysics couplings is now
available. The approximation assumes that density variations are only contributing to
buoyancy effects.

CONTEXT MENUS FOR BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Boundary conditions have been organized into context menus to enhance the user
interface. The Interior Surfaces menu groups Flux Discontinuity, Interior Wall, and Thin
Barrier under a single context menu.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

PAPERBOARD ROLL
This example demonstrates how to model moisture transfer and induced swelling in a
paperboard roll subjected to varying ambient conditions. The material properties of
the paperboard are anisotropic.

130 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Polymer Flow Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2
• Two new viscoelastic models are introduced in the Viscoelastic Flow Interface: the
finitely extensible nonlinear elastic model with the Chilcott and Rallison closure
(FENE–CR) and the Rouse linear entangled polymers model (Rolie–Poly).
• Two different formulations of the rheological constitutive equation can now be
selected in the Viscoelastic Flow interface. In addition to the stress formulation,
where the dependent variable is the extra stress, the conformation formulation,
where the conformation tensor is an intermediate structural-dependent variable, is
introduced.
• The new Incompressible Potential Flow interface has been added in the Fluid Flow
branch. This can be used to model solenoidal, irrotational flows, or to obtain initial
values for more complex fluid flow simulations.
• The new Limit small time steps effect on stabilization time scale option can be used
to avoid the loss of pressure stabilization during initialization and for small time
steps. This option can be found in the Consistent Stabilization section of the Settings
window for the Laminar Flow and Brinkman Equations interfaces.
• The Free and Porous Media Flow physics interface has been renamed to Free and
Porous Media Flow, Brinkman. Models created with earlier versions containing the
Free and Porous Media Flow interface will keep the old name for the interface.
• The new Porous Interface feature in the Laminar Flow and Brinkman Equations
interfaces, applicable on boundaries with different porosity on each side, accounts
for changes in the stress caused by changes in porosity on each side and can include
optional pressure losses.
• The new default setting for Porous treatment of the no slip condition, in the
Brinkman Equations interface or when Enable porous media domains is selected in
the Laminar Flow interface, is Porous slip.
• The mesh velocity from the Free Surface and Fluid-Fluid Interface features can now be
overridden by alternative settings in the Moving Mesh node.
• A warning message is displayed in the Log when Use reduced pressure or Compensate
for hydrostatic pressure/Compensate for hydrostatic pressure approximation is
selected in a fluid flow interface that is part of a multiphase flow multiphysics
coupling.

POLYMER FLOW MODULE | 131

 Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0
Non-Newtonian inelastic material models that were added in older versions will not be
able to define the dynamic viscosity in the Basic (def) material model.

132 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Ray Optics Module
New and Improved Functionality in Version 6.2

RELEASE GAUSSIAN BEAM WITH ELLIPTICAL CROSS SECTION

The Gaussian Beam feature now has options for defining the cross section of released
beam of rays. You can choose between a circular and elliptical cross section. The
Elliptical option can be used if the desired beam is not perfectly axisymmetric. For this
option, specify the aspect ratio of the cross section of the beam, which is the ratio of
the major axis of the ellipse to the minor axis. The major axis is always equal to the
diameter of a corresponding circular cross section. In addition, the orientation of the
major axis in the plane perpendicular to the beam axis can be specified as required.

OPTICAL MATERIAL LIBRARY UPDATES

In the Optical material library, 93 new glasses from CDGM Glass Co. ltd have been
added. These added glasses have all the material properties required to perform
structural-thermal-optical performance (STOP) analyses.

SPECIFY DIFFERENT VALUES FOR S AND P POLARIZED RAYS

The absorption and reflection coefficients can have different values for s and p
polarized rays when either intensity or power or both are computed for released rays.
Now, a dedicated Specify different values of s- and p-polarization check box is added,
which, when selected, makes it possible to specify different values of absorption
coefficients or reflection coefficients for s- and p-polarized rays. This check box has
been added to the following features:

• Wall, when Wall Condition is set to either Specular reflection, Diffuse scattering,
Isotropic scattering, Mixed diffuse and specular reflection, or General reflection
• Mirror
• Illuminated Surface, when Rays to release is set to Reflected and Reflection coefficient
calculation is set to Using absorption coefficient in the Ray Direction Vector section

RAY OPTICS MODULE | 133

 New Model in Version 6.2

MICHELSON INTERFEROMETER
This tutorial model demonstrates how to plot the interference pattern from the
combination of two rays with slightly different optical path lengths. A simple
Michelson interferometer is used to achieve a change of optical path length by slightly
moving one of the mirrors.

134 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

RF Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW BOUNDARY CONDITION ADDED TO THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

WAVES, FREQUENCY DOMAIN INTERFACE
A new feature, Cable Shield, has been integrated into the Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain interface. This feature allows for the efficient simulation of
intricate shields, such as braided or perforated types, by utilizing a streamlined
boundary condition that reduces computational demands.

NEW ELECTRIC DISPLACEMENT FIELD MODE

The Wideband Debye electric field displacement model is now available in the Wave
Equation, Electric feature. This model can be used to accurately describe losses and
dispersive effects in PCB substrates in the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain
and Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary Elements interfaces.

AUTOMATIC PATH PARAMETERIZATION FOR LIGHTNING AND

ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) APPLICATIONS
The Edge Current feature in the Electromagnetic Waves, Transient interface can
adaptively determine a parameterized path based on the selected geometry's unique
shape. This enhancement simplifies the modeling process for lightning and ESD
applications.

REFERENCE-EDGE CONTROLLED LUMPED PORT DESIGN

The Lumped Port feature now includes the Reference-edge controlled type. This allows
users to designate extra edge selections, ensuring the proper direction of voltage flow
between two conductive boundaries where the lumped port is positioned.

ENHANCED MATERIAL OPTIONS FOR MMWAVE APPLICATIONS

The RF Material Library has been expanded to include Alumina Ribbon Ceramic from
Corning Incorporated; WavePro® WP025LDf, WavePro® WP025, WavePro®
WP030, WavePro® WP050, WavePro® WP108, WavePro® WP120, and WavePro®
WP150 from Garlock, Radix™ Printable Dielectric by Rogers Corporation; and
Zetamix  Filaments, White Zirconia Zetamix Filament, and Alumina Zetamix
Filament, all sourced from Zetamix.

RF MODULE | 135
 ASSESSMENT OF SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATE (SAR) FOR 1G AND 10G
MASS
In the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface, when using the Specific
Absorption Rate feature, postcomputation provides the predefined variables SAR1g and
SAR10g, representing SAR values for 1 g and 10 g of mass, respectively. These values
are commonly used in industrial applications to measure radiation exposure levels.

ABCD PARAMETERS FOR TWO-PORT DEVICES

Analysis of a two-port device includes the option to compute two-port ABCD
parameters. Using a port sweep, a comprehensive set of ABCD parameters can be
derived from a full 2 x 2 S-parameter matrix. Moreover, even with just a single port
excitation, the system can generate ABCD parameters by presuming the device
operates as a reciprocal network.

NEW BOUNDARY CONDITIONS ADDED TO THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

WAVES, BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACE
Both the Impedance Boundary Condition and the Layered Impedance Boundary Condition
have been added to the Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary Elements interface. The
Impedance Boundary Condition typically represents a metallic bulk material outside the
simulation domain. With the Layered Impedance Boundary Condition, additional layers
of different materials and thicknesses can be added between the interior simulation
domain and the exterior domain.

ELECTRIC DISPLACEMENT FIELD MODELS ADDED TO THE

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACE
Now, for the Wave Equation, Electric feature in the Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary
Elements interface it is possible to choose between several different material models,
like Relative permittivity, Refractive index, Dielectric loss, and so on, when specifying the
dielectric properties in the domain solved for. The options are also available for the new
Impedance Boundary Condition and Layered Impedance Boundary Condition nodes.

SYMMETRY FUNCTIONALITY FOR THE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES,

BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACES
In the settings for the Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary Elements interface it is now
possible to select symmetry planes to reduce the computational domain. The
symmetry settings also control the far-field calculations and the physics-controlled
meshing.

136 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

PHYSICS-CONTROLLED MESHING FOR THE TIME-DOMAIN INTERFACES
The time-domain physics interfaces, Electromagnetic Waves, Transient and
Electromagnetic Waves, Time Explicit, now provide physics-controlled mesh suggestions
based on the frequency/wavelength content in the simulation.

CYCLIC SYMMETRY OPTION FOR PERIODIC CONDITIONS

Cyclic symmetry has been added as an additional option for the Periodic Condition. This
allows you to perform simulations of a smaller structure, if the problem is cyclically
symmetric.

HIGHER-ORDER DISCRETIZATION ELEMENTS

Up to seventh-order curl elements can now be used with the Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain and Electromagnetic Waves, Transient interfaces.

API COMMAND FOR THE ADD DIFFRACTION ORDER BUTTON ACTION

Now, it is possible to perform the same action as when clicking the Add Diffraction
Orders button for periodic ports, using the COMSOL Java API. Use the Java statement

model.component("comp1").physics("emw").feature("port1")
.runCommand("addDiffractionOrders");

where “comp1”, “emw”, and “port1” are the tags for the model component, the
physics interface, and the excited port, respectively, and model is a model object.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY CAN BE SPECIFIED WITH THE DRUDE–

LORENTZ AND DEBYE DISPERSION MODELS
Now, when using the Drude–Lorentz dispersion model and the Debye dispersion model
Electric displacement field model options, the Electrical conductivity can now be specified
in a separate input field. This functionality is applicable to the Wave Equation, Electric,
Impedance Boundary Condition, Transition Boundary Condition, Layered Impedance
Boundary Condition, and Layered Transition Boundary Condition nodes for the
Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain and Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary
Elements interfaces.

PHYSICS-CONTROLLED MESHING HANDLES MORE FUNCTIONS AND

VARIABLES
The algorithm for building physics-controlled meshes has been improved to better
handle material property expressions, including functions and material property
variables. For instance, a material property can be defined as f(freq), where f is the
function name and freq is the model input for the frequency. However, it is not

RF MODULE | 137
 possible to specify functions that depend on spatial coordinates, like g(x), where x is
a spatial coordinate. Material property variables, like mat1.rfi.n11, for example, can
now be used as part of other user-defined material property expressions. Here, mat1 is
the material tag, rfi is a material property group identifier, and n11 is a tensor element
(in this case, a refractive index element).

HEXAGONAL UNIFORM ARRAY FACTOR

The hexagonal uniform array factor quickly estimates the far-field pattern of antenna
arrays on a triangular grid. The hexagonal antenna arrays provide lower sidelobes,
more robust performance with better resolution, lower spatial noise, and wider
coverage.

INSTANTANEOUS NORM VARIABLES FOR VECTOR QUANTITIES

New variables have been introduced of the form
phys.normXi = sqrt(real(Xx)^2+real(Xy)^2+real(Xz)^2), where phys is the
physics tag, such as emw, and X is a physical quantity like electric field (E), magnetic field
(H), and so on. These variables are especially useful when visualizing time-harmonic
vector waves.

USER-DEFINED SURFACE IMPEDANCE OPTION

For the Impedance Boundary Condition and Layered Impedance Boundary Condition, the
surface impedance can now be directly entered, instead of being indirectly calculated
from the given material parameters.

ONLY ISOTROPIC MATERIAL PROPERTIES ALLOWED FOR SOME

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
The UI has been updated to reflect that the Transition Boundary Condition, Impedance
Boundary Condition, Layered Transition Boundary Condition, and Layered Impedance
Boundary Condition nodes only support the entry of isotropic material properties.
Thereby, the UI better reflects the assumptions used in the implementation of these
boundary conditions.

UPDATED ALGORITHM FOR PHYSICS-CONTROLLED MESHING FOR MODE

ANALYSIS
The algorithm for physics-controlled meshing for mode analysis has been slightly
changed. A slightly different mesh can be obtained when running an old model in
COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.2.

138 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

EXPORT EXPRESSIONS SUBNODE ADDED TO DEFAULT RADIATION
PATTERN PLOTS
To simplify the export of data from Radiation Pattern (far-field) plots, when default
Radiation Pattern plots are generated, there is now an Export Expressions subnode. Use
the Export Expressions subnode to add expressions for additional quantities to include
in plot data export for the Radiation Pattern plot.

REUSE SPARSITY PATTERN ENFORCED WHEN PERFORMING FREQUENCY

AND WAVELENGTH SWEEPS
To improve performance, the automatic solver suggestions now checks the Reused
sparsity pattern check box in the Assembly Settings section of the Advanced solver
feature node, when performing frequency or wavelength domain sweeps.

NEW PHASE SECTION IN PLOT GROUP SETTINGS

When creating plots for frequency-domain simulations, it is now possible to specify the
Solution at angle (phase) directly in the plot group settings. Previously, this setting
could only be set on the datasets. Now, the same dataset can be used for different plot
groups, displaying results for different phase settings.

REVISED SOLVER CONFIGURATIONS FOR THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

WAVES, BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACE
The Direct Preconditioner now uses the MUMPS solver and adopts the Block low rank
factorization with a default tolerance of 1e-6 for the Block low rank factorization. These
enhancements are especially advantageous when processing models of a substantial
size.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

LIGHTNING SURGE ON A POWER TRANSMISSION TOWER

This model aims to address these concerns by simulating the effects of lightning surges
on high-voltage transmission line towers. By examining the lightning-induced voltage
on three-phase conductors, it allows for the assessment of potential overvoltages and
helps in designing effective protection measures. This model specifically focuses on
lightning carrying a current of 10 kA that strikes one of the tower’s shielded wires. The
induced voltage on the three-phase conductors is computed through rigorous
simulation techniques.

RF MODULE | 139
 LIGHTNING SURGE ANALYSIS OF AN OFFSHORE WIND FARM
This model simulates the effects of a lightning strike on one turbine and its resulting
induced electric fields on adjacent turbines. The simulation aids in understanding the
potential impacts of lightning on interconnected turbines within an offshore wind
farm. Through analysis of these fields, engineers and researchers can gauge potential
overvoltages and transient effects, thereby informing design for protection measures,
wind turbine layout optimization, and continuous farm operation.

MODELING OF DIPOLE ANTENNA ARRAY USING THE BOUNDARY

ELEMENT METHOD
This example of a dipole antenna array demonstrates a cost-effective analysis using the
boundary element method (BEM). When dealing with a large array made of metallic
radiators, the finite element method (FEM) would necessitate greater computational
resources. The simulation results depict the radiation patterns of a 12-by-1 array,
consisting of metallic half-wave dipole antennas resonant at 1 GHz.

RCS OF A METALLIC SPHERE USING THE BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD

This model illustrates the process of evaluating the radar cross section (RCS) of a
metallic sphere through the use of the boundary element method (BEM). By taking
advantage of a vertical symmetry plane that is parallel to the polarization of an incident
background field, the model reduces computational expenses. The computed RCS
values are compared with analytical values within the Mie RCS region.

SAR OF A HUMAN HEAD NEXT TO A WI-FI ANTENNA

This example has been revised to demonstrate the application of the SAR1g variable
within a simulated model of a human head.

LIGHTNING-INDUCED VOLTAGE OF A WIRE IN AN AIRPLANE

This example has been revised to illustrate the use of an automatically parameterized
path representing a lightning channel.

140 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Rotordynamics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING IMPROVEMENTS

The functionality in the Hydrodynamic Bearing interface has been subject to the
following changes:

• A new predefined bearing type for modeling step thrust bearings has been
implemented in the Hydrodynamic Thrust Bearing feature.
• For a thrust bearing, the equilibrium position can now be determined based on a
force balance between an external load and the resulting force from the pressure
field. This functionality is available by selecting Load under Collar Properties in the
settings for the Hydrodynamic Thrust Bearing node.
• It is now possible to specify a User defined bearing center in all the different bearing
nodes in the Hydrodynamic Bearing interface.

NEW PREDEFINED PLOT

In the Hydrodynamic Bearing interface, a set of new unwrapped plots has been added
to the list of predefined plot. These new plots are present when the Hydrodynamic
Journal Bearing node is used. The functionality unwraps the journal bearing surface for
easier interpretation of pressure and velocity plots.

CHANGED INPUT IN ROTOR CROSS SECTION

In the Beam Rotor interface, the settings in the Rotor Cross Section node have been
simplified by removing one level of settings.

GEOMETRIC NONLINEARITY SETTINGS

For details, see Geometric Nonlinearity Settings in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

INERTIAL LOADS ON RIGID FEATURES

For details, see Inertial Loads on Rigid Features in the release notes for the Structural
Mechanics Module.

ROTORDYNAMICS MODULE | 141

 ENERGY VARIABLES IN FREQUENCY DOMAIN
For details, see Energy Variables in Frequency Domain in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

GROUPING OF ODE VARIABLES IN SOLVER

For details, see Grouping of ODE Variables in Solver in the release notes for the
Structural Mechanics Module.

142 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Semiconductor Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

FINITE ELEMENT FORMULATIONS

Significant enhancements have been made to the stability, accuracy, and efficiency of
finite element formulations, including logarithmic, quasi-Fermi level, and density-
gradient formulations. These improvements encompass various aspects, such as
improvements in weak form equations, constraint settings, and default solver settings.
As a result, the majority of library models can now be solved more efficiently using
finite element formulations. For instance, solving a 3D bipolar transistor model with
the Finite volume formulation would typically take a day. With the improved Finite
element, log formulation, this model can now be solved on a standard PC in 15 minutes.
Several factors contribute to this achievement:

• The finite-element, log formulation with linear shape function significantly reduces
the degree of freedom required for tetrahedral meshes in 3D.
• Unlike the finite volume formulation, the 3D finite element formulation does not
necessitate a swept mesh.
• In general, continuation studies with the finite element formulation are more
efficient compared to the finite volume formulation.
• The finite element formulation demands less stringent initial conditions for current
terminals (metal contact).

DOPING FEATURES
The Analytic Doping Model and Geometric Doping Model features now include preview
buttons for visualizing doping profiles before solving the model equations. Two
preview buttons, Plot Doping Profile for Selected and Plot Net Doping Profile for All are
accessible in both the toolbar and the context menu. Plot Doping Profile for Selected
illustrates the dopant concentration added by the selected doping feature, while Plot
Net Doping Profile for All displays the absolute value of the net dopant concentration.
P-type and n-type regions are easily distinguishable by their red and blue coloring,
respectively.

You can explore this new functionality in tutorial models such as bipolar_transistor,
bipolar_transistor_3d, mosfet, trench_gate_igbt_3d, and
gaas_pn_junction_infrared_led_diode.

SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE | 143

 METAL CONTACT
For finite element formulations, the accuracy of using current-type terminals in metal
contact has been significantly improved. This enhancement is achieved by setting the
default constraint to Weak Constraints when the Contact Type is Ideal Ohmic and the
Terminal Type is Current, Circuit (Current), or Power.

OPTICAL TRANSITIONS
An information message will now appear if optical physics are provided by the
Semiconductor Electromagnetic Waves multiphysics coupling. Additionally, a schematic
image has been added to the Equation section within the Semiconductor Electromagnetic
Waves Coupling feature.

INFINITE ELEMENT DOMAIN

An Infinite Element Domain can now be added to a model containing the Schrödinger
Equation interface with only a Semiconductor Module license.

You can view this new feature in the solving_hydrogen_atom model.

IMPACT IONIZATION GENERATION

The Okuto–Crowell model in the Impact Ionization Generation feature has been extended
to a more general expression that can account for different dependencies on the
electric field.

DEFAULT PLOTS
A plot group visualizing the net doping profile has been added to the default plots for
the Semiconductor interface. This net doping profile displays the absolute value of the
net dopant concentration.

CORRECTIONS AND BACK COMPATIBILITY

• For finite element formulations, the Constraint Settings now include the dependent
variable Electric Potential.
• The finite element (linear, quadratic shape function) formulation using electron and
hole concentrations as the dependent variables is deprecated, and old models solved
with this formulation will be converted to the finite volume formulation.
• The Streamline diffusion for the finite element, log formulation, found under the
Consistent Stabilization section, is now turned off by default.

144 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

New Models in Version 6.2

ELECTROLYTE-GATED ORGANIC FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR

This model demonstrates how to simulate an electrolyte-gated organic field-effect
transistor using a general drift–diffusion model. The model uses the Stabilized
Convection–Diffusion Equation interface and the Electrostatics interface. It allows for
the visualization of transistor characteristics and showcases the formation of the electric
double layers (EDLs) in the simulated device, highlighting key features of EGOFETs.

SOLVING THE HYDROGEN ATOM

This model provides guidance on solving the hydrogen atom using the Schrödinger
Equation interface. It offers visualizations of the hydrogen atom's orbitals and
demonstrates that the simulated eigenenergies and probability densities align closely
with analytical results.

UPDATED MODELS
Several models have been updated to showcase the advantages of the improved finite
element formulations. These updated models are not only easier to set up but also
demonstrate more efficient solutions. These models include bipolar_transistor,
bipolar_transistor_3d, bipolar_transistor_thermal.

SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE | 145

 Structural Mechanics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW PHYSICS INTERFACE: PHASE FIELD IN SOLIDS

A new physics interface, Phase Field in Solids, has been added. For consistency, the
existing physics interface Phase Field has been renamed to Phase Field in Fluids. The
new interface is useful, for example, in conjunction with some damage models for
solids. In the Add Physics view, you can find it under Mathematics, in the subfolder
Moving Interface.

NEW PHYSICS INTERFACE: TRANSPORT IN SOLIDS

A new physics interface, Transport in Solids, has been added. It is intended for analysis
of diffusion-type problems in deforming solid media. When the diffusion is stress-
driven, it can easily be coupled with a Solid Mechanics interface. In the Add Physics
view, you find it under Chemical Species Transport.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: MAGNETIC FORCES, ROTATING

MACHINERY
Using the new Magnetic Forces, Rotating Machinery multiphysics coupling, you can
combine a Solid Mechanics interface with a Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interface at
the domain level. The coupling adds the loading on a deformable and rotating
structure, caused by Maxwell stresses.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: MAGNETIC–ELASTIC INTERACTION IN

ROTATING MACHINERY
The Magnetic–Elastic Interaction in Rotating Machinery combines a Solid Mechanics
interface with a Rotating Machinery, Magnetic interface, using the Magnetic Forces,
Rotating Machinery multiphysics coupling.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: THERMAL EXPANSION, THIN LAYER

Using the new Thermal Expansion, Thin Layer multiphysics coupling, you can couple the
thermal expansion in boundaries having a Thin Layer material model with the
temperature field on the same boundaries (computed with a heat transfer interface).

146 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

NEW MULTIPHYSICS COUPLING: UNSATURATED POROELASTICITY
This multiphysics coupling connects a Moisture Transport in Solids interface and a
Solid Mechanics interface. The moisture pressure acts as a load in the pores, and
structural deformations modify the storage coefficients and porosity. The settings for
the Unsaturated Poroelasticity node are similar to those in the Poroelasticity node.

This feature requires a license for the Porous Media Flow Module.

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: UNSATURATED POROELASTICITY

The new Unsaturated Poroelasticity multiphysics interface combines a Solid
Mechanics interface, a Moisture Transport in Solids interface, and the new Unsaturated
Poroelasticity multiphysics coupling. It is found under the Structural Mechanics branch
in the Add Physics window.

This feature requires a license for the Porous Media Flow module.

STABILIZATION OF UNCONSTRAINED CONTACT PROBLEMS

When modeling contact problems, it is common that some parts of the structure do
not have sufficient constraints until contact has been established. This would lead to a
singular stiffness matrix. A new automatic stabilization of such problems has been
added. It can be controlled using the new Stabilization subnode under Contact.

INERTIA RELIEF ANALYSIS

Inertia relief analysis is a special type of static analysis of unconstrained structures that
are accelerated by external loads. There will then be a force balance between the
external loads and the inertial forces.

In all structural mechanics interfaces, a new feature, Inertia Relief, has been added.
Using this feature, you can automate the setup of a special study sequence that
computes the acceleration field, the corresponding inertia forces, and the resulting
stresses.

COMPUTATION OF WARPAGE
In some applications, it is important to determine to what extent an originally planar
surface deviates from its intended shape after deformation. Using the new Warpage
node, available in the Solid Mechanics, Shell, and Layered Shell interfaces, the
deviation from the original shape of a boundary can be automatically computed.

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 147

 IMPROVED FORMULATION OF AVERAGE ROTATION
In the Average Rotation feature, the formulation for small rotations has been changed.
The rotation is now computed using analytical expressions, so that extra dependent
variables are no longer added. As an effect of this change, the user interface has been
simplified.

FLUID-FILLED CAVITIES
A new feature, Enclosed Cavity, has been added to the Solid Mechanics interface. It can
be used to model closed, fluid-filled cavities without the need to mesh the cavity itself.
The pressure in the cavity acts as a load on the structure, and the volume of the cavity
is controlled by the structural deformations. There are several available equations of
state for the contents of the cavity, such as isothermal or adiabatic gas, or
incompressible fluid.

VIRTUAL CRACK EXTENSION METHOD

The possibility to compute energy release rate and stress intensity factors using the
virtual crack extension method has been added. To do this, you add a Virtual Crack
Extension subnode under a Crack node. The method is an alternative to a J-integral,
with the advantage that it can also be used in the presence of, for example, body loads
or thermal expansion.

LIMITED DISPLACEMENT
In the Prescribed Displacement node in the Solid Mechanics, Multibody Dynamics,
Shell, Layered Shell, and Membrane interfaces, the Limited Displacement option has
been added. Using this option, it is possible to prescribe a maximum allowed
displacement in a certain direction.

SPECIMEN SIZE IN TEST MATERIAL

Some material models have an inherent length scale. When using the Test Material
feature for studying the behavior of a certain material model, it is now possible to
specify a specimen size. In previous versions, it was assumed that the material model
was length-scale independent.

ACTIVATION OF VISCOELASTIC MATERIALS

The Activation feature, in which elements can be added during the simulation, can now
also be used for viscoelastic materials.

THIN LAYER ENHANCEMENTS

The Thin Layer feature is now also available for pairs.

148 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

In the Spring Material, new options have been introduced for prescribing a
predeformation and for adding viscous damping.

THIN ELASTIC LAYER DEPRECATED

The Thin Elastic Layer feature in the Solid Mechanics interface has been deprecated.
The same functionality is available using the more general Thin Layer feature.

In models created in versions prior to 6.2, Thin Elastic Layer nodes are still functional,
but it is not possible to add such nodes from the UI. You are encouraged to replace
Thin Elastic Layer by Thin Layer in existing models.

ENERGY DISSIPATION COMPUTATION

In Spring Foundation, Thin Elastic Layer, and Thin Layer, energy dissipation can now be
computed when damping is present. A new Energy Dissipation section has been added
to the settings.

RESULTANT LOAD IN SHELL INTERFACE

The possibility to specify load distribution by resultant has been added to the Face
Load, Edge Load, and Point Load features in the Shell interface.

BIPHASIC MODEL IN POROELASTICITY

In the Poroelasticity multiphysics coupling, a new poroelasticity model named Biphasic
has been added. It is suitable when modeling, for example, biological tissues and
hydrogels.

This feature requires a license for the Porous Media Flow Module.

ENHANCEMENTS TO FIBER FUNCTIONALITY

The possibility to add a distribution of fibers to a material by adding a Fiber subnode
was introduced in version 6.0. In the current release, there are several extensions to
this functionality.

• The functionality is now also available in the Shell interface. In this context, fibers
can also be assigned a bending stiffness and a through-thickness location.
• The material model of the fiber can now be a general nonlinear function between
stress and strain.
• The Fiber subnode can now also be added to material models in a Thin Layer.
• The variable that is, by default, plotted for fibers has been changed from second
Piola–Kirchhoff stress to Cauchy stress.

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 149

 GEOMETRIC NONLINEARITY SETTINGS
The control over the formulation of geometric nonlinearity in the Geometric
Nonlinearity section of various material models has been revamped. The purpose is to
make the behavior more transparent, and also to enforce better consistency between a
parent material and its subnodes.

LINEAR KINEMATICS USING EXTERNAL STRESS–STRAIN RELATION

The user-defined material model External Stress-Strain Relation no longer forces study
steps to be geometrically nonlinear. The kinematic behavior is now controlled in the
same way as for other material models. The default behavior is, however, the same as
before.

RESULTANT LOADS IN SYMMETRY PLANES

When a load is given on a resultant form, it is now possible to account for symmetry
and antisymmetry planes in the model. All load features having the Resultant option
now have a new Symmetry section for specifying symmetry properties.

APPLICATION POINT FOR RESULTANT IN GLOBAL COORDINATE SYSTEM

When the Resultant option is used for input of a load, and Application point defined
using is selected as Coordinates, the given coordinates are now always interpreted in the
global coordinate system, irrespective of the settings in the Coordinate System Selection
section.

When opening a model created in version 6.1, the conversion is automatic. However,
it is not possible to perform an automatic conversion when models are created using
the API. If this is the case, you may need to modify the script in order to adhere to the
new convention.

WIRE AS EMBEDDED REINFORCEMENT

Using the Embedded Reinforcement multiphysics coupling, it is now also possible to
embed elements from a Wire interface as reinforcements.

CROSS SECTIONS FOR BEAM AND TRUSS

In the Beam and Truss interfaces, the settings in the Cross-Section Data node have been
simplified by removing one level of settings.

150 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

COMBINING FRICTION WITH ADHESION AND DECOHESION
Friction and adhesion are now by default considered as additive contributions. With
this behavior, a smooth transition from bonded to frictional contact is obtained when
an adhesive bond is broken by decohesion.

CHANGES IN SETTINGS FOR CONTACT AND CONTINUITY

As part of an effort to homogenize the terminology for Nitsche type constraints, there
have been some changes to the settings for Contact and Continuity. In particular, the
Nonsymmetric formulation has been renamed to Incomplete.

IMPROVED SYMMETRY CONDITION

When a symmetry condition is applied in the Solid Mechanics interface, the normal to
the symmetry plane is now evaluated in an average sense rather than per element. This
remedies problems that could occur when not all nodes on a symmetry plane of an
imported mesh lie exactly on the same plane.

PERIODIC CONDITION FOR AXISYMMETRIC SHELLS

In the Shell interface, the Periodic Condition boundary condition is now also available
in 2D axisymmetry.

SYMMETRY PLANE IMPROVED FOR TWISTING MOTION

In the Symmetry Plane node, available in the Solid Mechanics interface in 2D
axisymmetry, it is now possible to choose between two interpretations of the
symmetry. If you have enabled twisting degrees of freedom by selecting Include
circumferential displacement in the physics interface settings, the new section
Circumferential Condition will be available in the Symmetry Plane node. There, you can
choose between symmetry and antisymmetry.

LOCAL COORDINATE SYSTEM IN ROLLER CONDITION

In the settings for Roller in the Solid Mechanics interface, a Coordinate System Selection
section has been added. The local coordinate system can be used to specify directions
when Normal orientation is selected as Plane or Cylinder.

EQUIVALENT STRESS IN STRESS LINEARIZATION

In the Stress Linearization feature, it is now also possible to evaluate Tresca and von
Mises equivalent stresses along the stress classification line based on the linearized
stress tensors.

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 151

 MIXED FORMULATION IMPROVEMENTS
• The mixed formulations have been improved so that they will always produce
symmetric contributions to the stiffness matrix.
• When using a mixed formulation under plane stress conditions, a new option called
Implicit formulation is available. With this option, the plane stress equations are used
to simplify the problem.

THERMAL EXPANSION FOR CONSTRAINTS

It is now possible to add a Thermal Expansion subnode under essentially all constraints.
This functionality, in which a constraint deforms due to temperature changes, has been
available since several releases for the more common types of constraints. From version
6.2, it is also present in more specialized constraints in, for example, the Beam and
Shell interfaces.

LINEARIZATION POINT TEMPERATURE

When performing a coupled structural–thermal analysis in the frequency domain, it is
now possible to set the temperature for the linearization point without a preceding
stationary heat transfer solution. Select the Use volume reference temperature as
linearization point check box in the settings or the Thermal Expansion multiphysics
coupling to use the reference temperature as a linearization point.

THERMOELASTICITY USING FINITE STRAINS

In case of large deformations, the Thermoelasticity multiphysics interface uses a new
formulation based on multiplicative decomposition and the logarithmic Hencky
strains.

INERTIAL LOADS ON RIGID FEATURES

Frame acceleration loads are now also applied to mass contributions given by the Mass
and Moment of Inertia subnode under several features. These features are:

• Rigid Connector
• Rigid Domain
• All types of gears in the Multibody Dynamics and Solid Rotor interfaces

In the Mass and Moment of Inertia nodes, there is now a new section named Frame
Acceleration Forces, in which you can select whether or not to include this contribution
using the Exclude contribution check box. When you add a new node, the default is that
the force contribution is included. If, however, you open a model created in version
6.1 or earlier, the Exclude contribution check box is selected. The reason is that in a

152 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

correct model built in an earlier version, separate point loads modeling the inertial
loads should already be present.

The frame acceleration forces can come from any of these features:

• Gravity
• Rotating Frame
• Base Excitation
• Linearly Accelerated Frame

CELL PERIODICITY ENHANCEMENTS

The following changes have been made to the Cell Periodicity feature:

• The possibility to use homogeneous boundary conditions has been added, both for
displacements and for tractions. Using the new Type list, you can now choose
between Periodic and Homogeneous boundary conditions.
• It is now also possible to define a parametric sweep. This is controlled from the
Advanced section.
• In the special study generated from Cell Periodicity, there is now also a solver
suggestion for an iterative solver.

TOTAL REACTION FORCES FROM RIGID CONNECTORS

In the Shell and Beam interfaces, any reaction forces acting on rigid connectors are
now also included in the variable for total reaction force.

ELASTIC WIRE SETTINGS RESTRUCTURED

The Advanced section has been removed from the Elastic Wire node in the Wire
interface. The contents of this section are now available in the Wire Properties section
under Compressive stiffness. The Basic Section Properties section has been renamed to
Cross-Section Data.

INERTIAL TERMS IN BEAM INTERFACE

In the Beam interface, contributions to the mass matrix have been improved. A
bending–torsion inertial coupling has been added to the Linear Elastic Material and
Section Stiffness material models.

ENERGY VARIABLES IN FREQUENCY DOMAIN

In the frequency domain, the stored energy density, Wh, and the strain energy density,
Ws, are no longer identical. Wh is defined as the cycle average elastic strain density,

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 153

 whereas Ws is a complex-valued variable that acts as a potential for the instantaneous
stress state.

PREDEFINED PLOTS
Several of the multiphysics couplings between different structural mechanics physics
interfaces have options for automatically selecting coupled regions. New predefined
plots indicating the regions that are actually connected have been added.

The predefined stress plot created by an Embedded Reinforcement node has been moved
from the Solid Mechanics branch in the plot tree to the Multiphysics branch.

CHANGED DEFAULT VARIABLES IN RESULT PRESENTATION

When using the menus for adding variables (Add/Replace Expression or Ctrl+Space),
most stress and strain variables will now have different default definitions depending
on where in the model tree you are working. When modeling in the physics interfaces,
or generally under Definitions, the standard definition of variables is used whereas when
working under Results, variables that are determined from a least-squares fit to the
Gauss point values are used. For example, if you want to add the stress in the x-
direction, the suggested variable is solid.sxx in the first case and solid.sGpxx in the
latter case.

The variables that are visible in a certain context can be controlled using the Show All
Variables check boxes in the Show More Options dialog box.

GROUPING OF ODE VARIABLES IN SOLVER

In several features, a set of ordinary differential equation (ODE) degrees of freedom
representing rigid body motion can be created. Up to version 6.1, some of these nodes
would add two or three nodes under Dependent Variables in the solver sequence. For
models with many such features, this list could become long. In version 6.2, the default
is that such variables are grouped together instead.

The features where this new possibility has been introduced are:

• Rigid Material
• All gears
• All joints

In version 6.1, the same functionality was introduced for:

• Rigid Connector
• Attachment

154 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

You can control whether or not to use the grouping. This setting can be done in two
places:

• The default behavior can be controlled from the Advanced Settings section in the
settings for the physics interface.
• The default behavior can, however, be overridden for each individual feature by
using a selection in the Advanced section in the feature itself.

When opening an old model, the grouping will be turned off in order to maintain full
compatibility with the previous version. When building a model using the API, the
new default will be used. This is true even if, for example, a Java® file created from an
older version is used. If you want to achieve full backward compatibility using the API,
you need to add lines similar to

model.component("comp1").physics("solid").prop("AdvancedSettings").
set("GroupPhysOdesRd", false);

OVERRIDE PROPERTIES FOR CONSTRAINTS IN THE BEAM INTERFACE

The Pinned and No Rotation nodes in the Beam interface now contribute to each other.
Previously, they would override each other.

In the unlikely situation that the previous behavior was used in an old model, the
boundary conditions that are applied will change if it is solved in version 6.2. You will
have to restructure the constraints or use the Modify model configuration for study step
control in the settings for the study.

POINT MASS DAMPING REMOVED

Point Mass Damping, which existed as an optional subnode under Point Mass in some
physics interfaces, has been removed. It is replaced by a new section named Damping
in the settings for Point Mass. Old models are automatically converted when opened.

GENERAL NOTATION FOR PRESCRIBED DISPLACEMENT REMOVED

The General notation option, which was present in the Prescribed Displacement node for
several physics interfaces, has been removed. This option was almost never used, and
there are several better ways to include the same effect in a model.

RENAMED FEATURES
Several features have been renamed in order to get a more consistent naming structure.
These are:

• Layered Linear Elastic Material renamed to Linear Elastic Material, Layered

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 155

 • Layered Hyperelastic Material renamed to Hyperelastic Material, Layered
• Layered Adiabatic Heating renamed to Adiabatic Heating, Layered
• Piezoelectric Effect renamed to Piezoelectricity
• Piezomagnetic Effect renamed to Piezomagnetism
• Piezoresistive Effect, Domain Currents renamed to Piezoresistivity, Domain Currents
• Piezoresistive Effect, Boundary Currents renamed to Piezoresistivity, Boundary
Currents
• Piezoresistive Effect, Shell renamed to Piezoresistivity, Shell

PART LIBRARIES
The Representative Volume Elements folder has been renamed to Unit Cells and RVEs.
The structure inside this folder has been changed, and a number of new geometries
have been added. These geometries include five different types of corrugated sheets
and a gyroid.

New Models in Version 6.2

ELASTIC CLOAKING WITH POLAR MATERIAL

In this example, the External Stress feature is used to set the material model with
nonsymmetric stress required in the design of an elastic invisibility cloak. This is a
device whose aim is to shield a region of space from both P and S waves.

SCATTERED FIELD FORMULATION FOR ELASTIC WAVES

This model showcases how to solve for the scattered field when knowing the incident
field for three different types of scatterers: an infinitely rigid object, a cavity, and an
elastic inclusion.

This formulation can be useful when the scatterer is in the far field of the source, such
that the probing wave resembles a plane wave. In this case, including the source would
require an unnecessarily huge computational domain to be meshed. Both P and S
plane waves are thus used as incident fields in the model.

Moreover, the model shows how to numerically compute the field emitted by a point
source, and then use the solution as the known incident field for a subsequent study
where the scattering problem is solved.

156 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

HOMOGENIZED MODEL OF A CORRUGATED SHEET
This example presents a homogenized numerical model of a corrugated sheet based on
a unit cell, where numerically obtained equivalent stiffness matrices are compared with
various analytical models. Two corrugation profiles, trapezoidal and round, are
considered in this example.

MICROMECHANICAL MODEL OF A PIEZOELECTRIC FIBER COMPOSITE

In this example, the micromechanical properties of a piezoelectric fiber composite are
studied. The homogenized electromechanical properties of the composite are derived
from the individual microscopic properties of the matrix and fiber.

MICROMECHANICAL MODEL OF A TRIPLY PERIODIC MINIMAL SURFACE-

BASED COMPOSITE
In this example, the homogenized elastic and thermal properties of a composite
material based on a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) are computed.

A gyroid TPMS-based unit cell is subjected to periodic boundary conditions to get the
homogenized material properties. The effects of negative Poisson's ratio and different
volume fractions on the homogenized properties are analyzed.

EIGENFREQUENCY SHIFTS CAUSED BY TEMPERATURE CHANGES

This example explores the shift in natural frequencies that results from change of the
temperature. One study investigates a doubly clamped beam where both ends are
fixed, while the other study looks at a cantilever beam where only one end is fixed.

The following effects are studied:

• Stress stiffening
• Change in size
• Constraint effects
• Temperature-dependent Young's modulus

Results shows a very good fit to analytical values based on the small changes in
geometry caused by the thermal expansion.

LADDER FRAME
This model illustrates how to perform eigenfrequency and static analyses of a ladder
frame structure for a light truck. The example shows how to convert a solid geometry
to a shell model, implement a distributed load by specifying the corresponding
resultant, and verify a weld junction.

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 157

 POSTBUCKLING ANALYSIS USING AN INCREMENTAL ARC LENGTH
METHOD
For slender structures, buckling is a catastrophic instability if the service load is above
the critical limit. For such structures, it can be important to study the behavior of the
structure beyond the critical buckling load, which is known as postbuckling analysis.
Tracing the equilibrium path in postbuckling analysis is not easy, as it leads to
numerical difficulties such as limit points. Using an arc-length method is a well-known
strategy to trace equilibrium paths in such situations.

In this example model, an incremental arc-length method combined with cubic

extrapolation is used for postbuckling analysis of a hinged cylindrical panel subjected
to a point load at its center. The results are compared with a similar example in which
a global equation approach based on monotonically increasing average displacement is
used.

MOISTURE TRANSPORT IN A PAPERBOARD ROLL

This example demonstrates how to model moisture transfer and induced swelling in a
paperboard roll subject to varying ambient conditions. The material properties of the
paperboard are anisotropic.

VACANCY ELECTROMIGRATION IN IC INTERCONNECT LINES

As integrated circuit (IC) technology advances, with circuits becoming more powerful
and compact, it is increasingly important to identify and prevent any cause of circuit
failure.

One particularly critical factor contributing to circuit failure is electromigration within

the interconnects, stemming from the accumulation of vacancies within the metal.

Electromigration denotes the migration of vacancies within the metal, driven by

electric fields, concentration, hydrostatic stress, and temperature gradients. This
example illustrates how this highly coupled phenomenon can be modeled and analyzed
in COMSOL Multiphysics.

HYDROGEN DIFFUSION IN METALS

This model shows how to simulate the uptake and diffusion of hydrogen in a notched
metal sample from an aqueous electrolyte. It uses the Transport in Solids interface to
model both the concentration-driven and stress-driven diffusion in the solid domain.

158 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

ELECTROMAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF AN INTERIOR
PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR
The magnets in an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor are embedded in the rotor
core, where they form narrow regions known as bridges. The thickness of the magnetic
bridge is an important parameter to consider in design, both from the electromagnetic
and mechanical perspectives. As the magnetic saturation in bridge areas affect the
electromagnetic characteristics of an IPM, the thickness of the bridge should be kept
minimum to reduce losses. However, during high-speed rotation, these narrow
bridges also experience high stress, caused by centrifugal forces. These two conflicting
aspects makes the design and analysis of an IPM motor challenging.

In this example, the coupling between Solid Mechanics and Rotating Machinery,
Magnetic for performing electromagnetic and mechanical analysis of an IPM motor is
demonstrated. A motor with 10 rotor poles and 12 stator slots is modeled in 2D. The
magnets are embedded in a V-shaped configuration inside the rotor core. The
connection between magnets and rotor core is modeled as springs. The results give
insight into magnetic flux density and stress distribution in the system.

BRACKET — INERTIA RELIEF ANALYSIS

This is a tutorial example, showing how to perform an inertia relief analysis.

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS MODULE | 159

 Subsurface Flow Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW FEATURE: DUAL PERMEABILITY

A new Dual Permeability node has been added to the Darcy’s Law and Richards’
Equation interfaces. The feature allows for the modeling of saturated fluid flow within
a dual permeability approach, where two distinct and interconnected porous systems
are present. The dual permeability approach can be applied to situations where both
porous systems are fully saturated and have varying permeabilities.

NEW FEATURE: UNSATURATED DUAL PERMEABILITY

A new Unsaturated Dual Permeability node has been added to the Darcy’s Law and
Richards’ Equation interfaces. The feature allows modeling unsaturated fluid flow
within two distinct and interconnected porous systems.

Fluid flowing through macropores and micropores is described by the Richards’

Equation interface and is solved separately for both systems. This accounts for the
heterogeneous nature of unsaturated porous media flow, where the presence of two
distinct and interconnected systems significantly affects fluid flow.

NEW FEATURE: DUAL POROSITY

A new Dual Porosity node has been added to the Darcy’s Law and Richards’ Equation
interfaces. This feature allows for the modeling of saturated fluid flow where two
distinct and interconnected porous systems are present.

One system possesses significantly larger pores (macropores) in which the fluid flow
takes place. This system is interconnected with a second system of smaller pores
(micropores).

NEW PHYSICS INTERFACE: PHASE TRANSPORT IN FREE AND POROUS

MEDIA FLOW
A new physics interface, Phase Transport in Free and Porous Media Flow, has been added.
The new interface allows for the easier modeling of multiphase transport in coupled
free and porous media flow.

160 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

NEW MULTIPHYSICS INTERFACE: FREE AND POROUS MEDIA FLOW,
DARCY
The new multiphysics interface Free and Porous Media Flow, Darcy combines a Darcy’s
Law interface, a Laminar Flow interface, and the new Free and Porous Media Flow
Coupling node. It is found under the Porous Media and Subsurface Flow branch under
Fluid Flow in the Add Physics window.

RENAMED INTERFACE
The Free and Porous Media Flow physics interface has been renamed to Free and Porous
Media Flow, Brinkman. Models created with earlier versions containing the Free and
Porous Media Flow interface will keep the old name.

NEW DENSITY OPTIONS

The options for the Fluid type in the Fluid subnode to the Porous Medium and
Unsaturated Porous Medium nodes in the Darcy’s Law and Richards’ Equation
interfaces have been extended to better describe the equation of state used for the
fluid. Two new options, Incompressible and Compressible, linearized have been added,
and the previous default option, Gas/Liquid, has been renamed to Compressible.

When opening an old model, the new implementation will be used. When building a
model using the API, the new default will also be used. This is true even if, for example,
a Java® file created from an older version is used when the Porous Medium or
Unsaturated Porous Medium node uses the Linearized or Poroelastic storage model and
the default gas/liquid fluidType is used. If you want to achieve full backward
compatibility using the API, and you have code such as

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").set("st
orageModelType", "poroelastic");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rho_mat", "userdef");
model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rho", "1000[kg/m^3]");

it will need to be changed to

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").set("st
orageModelType", "poroelastic");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("fluidType", "compressibleLinearized");

model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rhoref_mat", "userdef");

SUBSURFACE FLOW MODULE | 161

 model.component("comp1").physics("dl").feature("porous1").feature
("fluid1").set("rhoref", "1000[kg/m^3]");

ADDITIONAL VELOCITY CONTRIBUTIONS

A new Contributing Velocity subnode is available under Porous Medium, Unsaturated
Porous Medium, and Dual Porosity Medium in the Darcy’s Law and Richards’ Equation
interfaces. The new subnode allows for adding external velocity contributions to the
Darcy velocity, which can, for example, arise due to solute concentration gradients in
liquid flow or Knudsen diffusion in gas flow applications.

REFACTORING OF VELOCITY VARIABLES

For results evaluation, the velocity variables have been updated such that dl.u now
includes possible Contributing Velocity fields. The Darcian or non-Darcian contribution
is available in the new variable dl.ud. The latter has been corrected to include the
correct frame transformation, which has an effect in results evaluation for large
deformations. For consistency, the corresponding material frame Darcy velocity
variable has been renamed to dl.Udi.

REFACTORING OF GRAVITY
The user input for Acceleration of gravity in the Gravity Effects section in the Darcy’s
Law, Richards’ Equation, Fracture Flow, and Layered Darcy’s Law interfaces has been
removed. Instead, the variable dl.g for the acceleration of gravity is by default set to
g_const if gravity effects are excluded in the physics interface. If gravity effects are
included, the acceleration of gravity can be edited in the Gravity feature.

BOUSSINESQ APPROXIMATION
Boussinesq approximation for the Nonisothermal Flow multiphysics couplings is now
available. The approximation assumes that density variations are only contributing to
buoyancy effects.

CONTEXT MENUS FOR BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Boundary conditions have been organized into context menus enhancing the user
interface. The Hydraulics menu combines the Pressure Head, Hydraulic Head,
Atmosphere/Gauge, Pervious Layer and Precipitation boundary conditions, whereas the
Interior Surfaces menu groups the Flux Discontinuity, Interior Wall, and Thin Barrier
boundary conditions under a single context menu.

162 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

PREDEFINED PLOTS AND VARIABLES FOR WELL FEATURE
The Well feature has been enhanced to include predefined global quantities for
assessing injection and production rates. Additionally, for time-dependent simulations,
predefined plots for injection and production rates are available.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

MODELING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

A simple model for groundwater contamination is developed containing a well that is
bored into an aquifer. The aquifer consists of a partially saturated layer and a fully
saturated layer. The model investigates how much of the contaminant ends up in the
well after a contaminant is introduced in the aquifer. It employs the Free and Porous
Media Flow and the Reacting Flow, Diluted Species coupling nodes, which link Creeping
Flow, Darcy’s Law, and Transport of Diluted Species in Porous Media interfaces.

SEAWATER INTRUSION IN A COASTAL AQUIFER

Seawater intrusion is a critical issue in coastal regions, where it endangers both
freshwater supplies and the overall quality of groundwater.

This example showcases seawater intrusion in a coastal aquifer where a pumping well
is located at some distance from the shoreline. The model incorporates a dual porosity
approach in order to account for the distinctive condition, where a low-conductivity
aquifer intersects with highly conductive “lava tubes”.

FURROW IRRIGATION — DUAL PERMEABILITY

This example shows how to set up a model of furrow irrigation in a nonuniform soil
column. It employs the Unsaturated Dual Permeability feature, which links two
Richards’ Equation interfaces through a fluid transfer function. This scenario can be
regarded as a benchmark problem for dual permeability modeling.

SUBSURFACE FLOW MODULE | 163

 Uncertainty Quantification Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

DEPENDENT INPUT PARAMETERS FOR UQ STUDIES

Settings for input parameters now support dependent input parameters. The
dependent input parameters can be selected in the same correlation group with a
specified correlation matrix. The dependent input parameters are sampled using the
Gaussian copula method, which uses the user-specified marginal distributions and
correlation matrix for data sampling. When surrogate function settings are used to
specify the surrogate-based Monte Carlo analysis’ input parameters and surrogate
model verification input parameters, the same correlation settings used in training the
surrogate function are used to sample data for the Monte Carlo analysis and
verification.

SURROGATE FUNCTIONS ADDED TO SURROGATE-BASED UQ STUDIES

The surrogate-based UQ study types, including sensitivity analysis, uncertainty
propagation, reliability analysis, and inverse uncertainty quantification now create a
global surrogate function after you run the study. The function can be evaluated
without a license for the Uncertainty Quantification Module.

164 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Wave Optics Module
New Functionality in Version 6.2

NEW BOUNDARY CONDITIONS ADDED TO THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

WAVES, BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACE
Both the Impedance Boundary Condition and the Layered Impedance Boundary Condition
have been added to the Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary Elements interface. The
Impedance Boundary Condition typically represents a metallic bulk material outside the
simulation domain. With the Layered Impedance Boundary Condition, additional layers
of different materials and thicknesses can be added between the interior simulation
domain and the exterior domain.

ELECTRIC DISPLACEMENT FIELD MODELS ADDED TO THE

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACE
Now, for the Wave Equation, Electric feature in the Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary
Elements interface it is possible to choose between several different material models,
like Relative permittivity, Refractive index, Dielectric loss, and so on, when specifying the
dielectric properties in the domain solved for. The options are also available for the new
Impedance Boundary Condition and Layered Impedance Boundary Condition nodes.

SYMMETRY FUNCTIONALITY FOR THE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES,

BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACES
In the settings for the Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary Elements interface, it is now
possible to select symmetry planes to reduce the computational domain. The
symmetry settings also control the far-field calculations and the physics-controlled
meshing.

PHYSICS-CONTROLLED MESHING FOR THE TIME-DOMAIN INTERFACES

The time-domain physics interfaces, Electromagnetic Waves, Transient and
Electromagnetic Waves, Time Explicit, now provide physics-controlled mesh
suggestions based on the frequency or wavelength content in the simulation.

CYCLIC SYMMETRY OPTION FOR PERIODIC CONDITIONS

Cyclic symmetry has been added as an additional option for the Periodic Condition. This
allows you to perform simulations of a smaller structure, if the problem is cyclically
symmetric.

WAVE OPTICS MODULE | 165

 HIGHER-ORDER DISCRETIZATION ELEMENTS
Up to seventh-order curl elements can now be used with the Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain and Electromagnetic Waves, Transient interfaces.

API COMMAND FOR THE ADD DIFFRACTION ORDER BUTTON ACTION

Now, it is possible to perform the same action as when clicking the Add Diffraction
Orders button for periodic ports, using the COMSOL Java API. Use the Java statement

model.component("comp1").physics("ewfd").feature("port1").runComman
d("addDiffractionOrders");

where “comp1”, “ewfd”, and “port1” are the tags for the model component, the
physics interface, and the excited port, respectively, and model is a model object.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY CAN BE SPECIFIED WITH THE DRUDE–

LORENTZ AND DEBYE DISPERSION MODELS
Now, when using the Drude-Lorentz dispersion model and the Debye dispersion model
Electric displacement field model options, the Electrical conductivity can now be specified
in a separate input field. This functionality is applicable to the Wave Equation, Electric;
Impedance Boundary Condition; Transition Boundary Condition; Layered Impedance
Boundary Condition; and Layered Transition Boundary Condition nodes for the
Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain; Electromagnetic Waves, Beam
Envelopes; and Electromagnetic Waves, Boundary Elements interfaces.

PHYSICS-CONTROLLED MESHING HANDLES MORE FUNCTIONS AND

VARIABLES
The algorithm for building physics-controlled meshes has been improved to better
handle material property expressions, including functions and material property
variables. For instance, a material property can be defined as f(freq), where f is the
function name and freq is the model input for the frequency. However, it is not
possible to specify functions that depend on spatial coordinates, like g(x), where x is
a spatial coordinate. Material property variables, like mat1.rfi.n11 can now be used
as part of other user-defined material property expressions. Here, mat1 is the material
tag, rfi is a material property group identifier, and n11 is a tensor element (in this
case, a refractive index element).

INCIDENT WAVE DIRECTION INPUT FIELD FOR GAUSSIAN BEAMS

When using the Gaussian beam input option in the Scattering Boundary Condition and
Matched Boundary Condition in the Electromagnetic Waves, Beam Envelopes interface,
there is a new Incident wave direction input field. This input field specifies the main

166 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

propagation direction for the incident Gaussian beam. Previously, it was the wave
vector defined by the physics interface that specified the propagation direction. This
solution could be problematic if the wave vector distribution was inhomogeneous due
to a complicated phase distribution.

HEXAGONAL UNIFORM ARRAY FACTOR

The hexagonal uniform array factor quickly estimates the far-field pattern of antenna
arrays on a triangular grid. The hexagonal antenna arrays provide lower sidelobes,
more robust performance with better resolution, lower spatial noise, and wider
coverage.

INSTANTANEOUS NORM VARIABLES FOR VECTOR QUANTITIES

New variables have been introduced of the form
phys.normXi = sqrt(real(Xx)^2+real(Xy)^2+real(Xz)^2), where phys is the
physics tag, such as ewfd, and X is a physical quantity like electric field (E), magnetic
field (H), and so on. These variables are especially useful when visualizing time-
harmonic vector waves.

USER-DEFINED SURFACE IMPEDANCE OPTION

For the Impedance Boundary Condition and Layered Impedance Boundary Condition, the
surface impedance can now be directly entered instead of being indirectly calculated
from the given material parameters.

ONLY ISOTROPIC MATERIAL PROPERTIES ALLOWED FOR SOME

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
The UI has been updated to reflect that the Transition Boundary Condition, Impedance
Boundary Condition, Layered Transition Boundary Condition, and Layered Impedance
Boundary Condition nodes only support the entry of isotropic material properties.
Thereby, the UI better reflects the assumptions used in the implementation of these
boundary conditions.

UPDATED ALGORITHM FOR PHYSICS-CONTROLLED MESHING FOR MODE

ANALYSIS
The algorithm for physics-controlled meshing for mode analysis has been slightly
changed. A slightly different mesh can be obtained when running an old model in
COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.2.

WAVE OPTICS MODULE | 167

 EXPORT EXPRESSIONS SUBNODE ADDED TO DEFAULT RADIATION
PATTERN PLOTS
To simplify the export of data from Radiation Pattern (far-field) plots, when default
Radiation Pattern plots are generated, there is now an Export Expressions subnode. Use
the Export Expressions subnode to add expressions for additional quantities to include
in plot data export for the Radiation Pattern plot.

REUSE SPARSITY PATTERN ENFORCED WHEN PERFORMING FREQUENCY

AND WAVELENGTH SWEEPS
To improve performance, the automatic solver suggestions now checks the Reused
sparsity pattern check box in the Assembly Settings section of the Advanced solver
feature node, when performing frequency-domain or wavelength-domain sweeps.

NEW PHASE SECTION IN PLOT GROUP SETTINGS

When creating plots for frequency-domain simulations, it is now possible to specify the
Solution at angle (phase) directly in the plot group settings. Previously, this setting
could only be set on the datasets. Now, the same dataset can be used for different plot
groups, displaying results for different phase settings.

REVISED SOLVER CONFIGURATIONS FOR THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

WAVES, BOUNDARY ELEMENTS INTERFACE
The Direct Preconditioner now utilizes the MUMPS solver and adopts the Block low rank
factorization functionality with a default tolerance of 1e-6. These enhancements are
especially advantageous when processing models of a substantial size.

New and Updated Models in Version 6.2

NEW APPLICATION LIBRARY CATEGORIES

Two new categories — Couplers, Filters, and Mirrors and Modulators and Switches —
have been added to the Wave Optics Module Application Library. The Waveguides and
Couplers category has been renamed Waveguides. Some existing models have been
moved to the new categories. For instance, the Directional Coupler model is now
found in the Couplers, Filters, and Mirrors category.

IN-PLANE SWITCHING OF A LIQUID CRYSTAL CELL

This model demonstrates the switching capability of a liquid crystal (LC) display cell
in an in-plane switching (IPS) configuration. The Oseen–Frank model is used to solve
for the LC director (optical axis) distribution when a static electric field is applied. A

168 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Weak Form PDE interface is used to define the Oseen–Frank weak equation, whereas
the Electrostatics interface is used to solve the electric potential distribution. For the
given inhomogeneous anisotropic LC material, a full-wave simulation is performed
using the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface.

METASURFACE BEAM DEFLECTOR

This model demonstrates how to simulate a metasurface beam deflector that uses
anomalous refraction. The structure itself is a repeated array of six posts (so-called meta
elements). The periodicity of the individual posts is 500 nm, so the full structure of six
posts is 3 m wide. The posts are made of silicon and are 1 m tall. The substrate is
Si02. The structure is designed so that incident light coming through the substrate at
a normal angle of incidence will be refracted at prescribed angle (the anomalous
refraction angle).

WAVEGUIDE S-BEND
This model demonstrates how to simulate the propagation of guided waves in a
dielectric S-bend optical waveguide. The model demonstrates that the phase
approximation, required by the Electromagnetic Waves, Beam Envelopes interface, can
be numerically calculated by solving an additional partial differential equation.

RCS OF A METALLIC SPHERE USING THE BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD

This model illustrates the process of evaluating the radar cross section (RCS) of a
metallic sphere through the utilization of the boundary element method (BEM). By
taking advantage of a vertical symmetry plane that is parallel to the polarization of an
incident background field, the model reduces computational expenses. The computed
RCS values are compared with analytical values within the Mie RCS region.

SIMULATION OF METAL-AIR SURFACE PLASMON POLARITON

PROPAGATION AND DISPERSION
Electromagnetic waves that are confined to propagate along a surface, such as surface
plasmon polaritons (SPPs), are of great research interest due to their potential
applications in nanoscale manipulation of light. This model demonstrates how to set
up a simulation of the frequency-wave vector dispersion relationship of SPPs
propagating along an interface between air and bulk silver.

THRESHOLD GAIN CALCULATIONS FOR VERTICAL-CAVITY SURFACE-

EMITTING LASERS
This model has been extended to also include a far-field calculation.

WAVE OPTICS MODULE | 169

 TAPERED WAVEGUIDE
The mesh sequence has been improved to better handle different taper length sweep
ranges.

170 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

Material Library
New and Updated Material Data in Version 6.2
In version 6.2, the Material Library contains 15,412 materials and 139,553 material
property datasets. The following improvements and additions have been made:

• Data has been added for over 600 glasses and over 500 polymers.
• Data has been added for several solders, graphites, and thermoelectric materials.
• Data has been added for several glasses, several PMMAs, Colmonoy, Haynes 6B,
Haynes 6K, Hastelloy HYBRID-BC1, Haynes G-35, Haynes NS-163, Haynes HR-
224, Haynes 233, Haynes HR-235, and Haynes 25.
• Data has been added for several superalloys, magnetic materials, and sealing glasses.
• Data has been added for CMSX-2 Plus, IN-939, and Inconel 718.
• The refractive index versus wavelength and temperature are now available as new
properties.
• New references for H2O and KCl were incorporated, and some of the values
changed by a few percent.
• Added stress–strain curves for Al 6005, Al 6111, Al 7075, 1035 steel, Ti-6Al-4V,
C37700, and 34CrNi3MoV.
• A new reference has been added for H11 tool steel thermal properties.
• The expansion data for several Corning glasses (1415, 1416, 1417, 1990, 7046,
7056, 7070, 7555, 7556, 7567, 7568, 7570, 7572, 7574, 7575, 7576, 7578,
7580, 7583, 7585, 7586, 7589, 7590, 7595, 7597, 7598, 7599, 7723, 7732,
7761, 8161, 8445, 8463, 9010, 9013, 9108, and 9119) were high by a factor of
10. These values have been fixed.
• The -N fatigue data for 314 stainless steel, the UTS/YS data for Mg alloy HM31
F temper, and the thermal diffusivity for the 4 compacted graphitic irons were
incorrect. These values have been fixed.
• The thermal expansion data for Ti-4Al-4Mo-2Sn (IMI550) was incorrect and has
been corrected. The correct values are 5% to 10% lower.
• The creep data for Hytrel 4556 were incorrect. These values have been fixed.
• The thermal conductivity of Inconel HX/Hastelloy X/Nimonic PE13 was too high
by a factor of 100. This value has been fixed.

MATERIAL LIBRARY | 171

 • The compressive stress–strain data for Sn - 3.8 Ag - 4.8 Bi, UNS 26000, 300M, SX
Rene N5, and CMSX-4 were incorrect. These have all been fixed.
• The compressive stress–strain data for Al 7075 were incorrect due to an error in the
reference. A correction was released by the authors and the data has been updated
accordingly.
• The expansion data for Ti-150A was incorrect and has been fixed.
• The expansion data for Timetal 834 was incorrect in the reference. It was replaced
with data from a new reference.
• Data for Mg alloy AE44 was incorrectly labeled as being for AE33. This error has
been fixed.
• Several sets of viscosity data have been refitted to the Arrhenius equation.
• The stress rupture for Waspaloy age hardened bar was in error and has been revised.
• The density data for several graphites were incorrect and have been corrected:
Graphite CZR, Graphite HPD, Graphite SFG-1, Graphite DFP-1, Graphite PLS-1,
and Graphite SCF.
• New references have been added for the viscosity and expansion of some liquid
metals and solders. Any changes in values are only a few percent.

172 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

LiveLink™ for Excel ®
New Functionality in Version 6.2
• The COMSOL ribbon tab inside the Excel® user interface now includes functionality
to evaluate, and insert into a worksheet, the results from Evaluation Group nodes. A
corresponding VBA method is also available.
• It is now possible to browse models saved on a Model Manager database when
opening models with the LiveLink™ add-in inside the Excel® user interface.

LIVELINK™ FOR EXCEL® | 173

 LiveLink™ for MATLAB ®
New Functionality in Version 6.2

IMPROVED PLOTTING
When plotting using mphplot, mphgeom, and mphmesh, the plots now show the axes
labels for the x-, y- and z-axes. In addition, the following view setting are used: lighting
and hiding. This leads to plots in MATLAB® that are closer to the plots seen inside of
COMSOL Multiphysics. This behavior could previously be obtained using the view
property when calling these functions, but the behavior is now on by default.

CHANGING PARAMETERS
Changing parameter values and re-solving a model is probably the most used feature
of LiveLink™ for MATLAB®. The mphsetparam function has been added to make it
easier to set such parameters and to pass parameter values between functions. The
setparam function permits setting parameter values (real or complex) using the
numerical types in MATLAB® as well as using strings. Values can be set using cell
arrays, structs, and dictionaries, which all make it easy to transfer parameters from one
function to another all, contained in a single variable name. Parameter groups and
parameter cases are supported.

MODEL MANAGER SUPPORT

The Model Manager is a tool that can be used to store and manage COMSOL
Multiphysics® models and other related files in a database. An API has been added to
the Model Manager that can be used to access and work with such models and files.
Some wrapper functions have been added that can be used to load, save, and search for
models. You can use the mmsearch function to search for models in a specific branch.
It returns results in MATLAB® struct arrays that can be easily modified and displayed
in MATLAB®.

OTHER NEW FUNCTIONS

The mphselectball function is a new function in LiveLink™ for MATLAB® that has
functionality similar to the existing mphselectcoords function but uses the built-in
Ball Selection from COMSOL Multiphysics®, which have more options and finer
control.

174 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

The new mphbatchinfo function gives information about the model.batch model
node, which contains settings for parametric sweeps and cluster operations.

Backward Compatibility with Version 6.0

The mphint and mphgetp functions that have been deprecated for some time have
been removed.

All functions that were named after the names of color tables (prism, heat, spectrum,
and so on) that have been deprecated for some time have been removed. Use the
mphcolortable function instead to get information and data about color tables that
are distributed with the COMSOL Multiphysics software, stored on disk, or
embedded inside models. The colortable function is deprecated but can still be used.

Backward Compatibility with Version 5.6

COLOR TABLES
All functions that have to do with color tables (for example, cividis, cyclic, and
disco) except for colortable have been deprecated. When using the colortable
function, you can use autocompletion to get a list of available color tables. As an
alternative to using, for example, cividis you can instead use

table = colortable('cividis');

REPLACED AND DEPRECATED FUNCTIONS

The mphint, mphgetp, and mphgetmodelnode functions are deprecated.
mphgetmodelnode has been replaced by mphcomponentinfo where new features have
been added. The deprecated functions still exist but will result in a warning when used,
and they may be removed in a future release of COMSOL Multiphysics. Such warnings
can be disabled using this command

warning('off','COMSOL:DEPRECATED')

LIVELINK™ FOR MATLAB® | 175

 LiveLink™ for Simulink ®
New Functionality in Version 6.2
A new block has been added, which makes it easier to use reduced-order models
exported from COMSOL Multiphysics®.

General Backward Compatibility

Models that were built with earlier versions of COMSOL® must be reexported from
COMSOL® again. If simulations with old models are attempted, the following error
message will appear in the COMSOL Multiphysics server window as well as the
functional mockup unit (FMU) log file that can be opened from Simulink®: The
COMSOL Cosimulation Block and COMSOL Multiphysics server version mismatch.
Please reexport the cosimulation FMU-file from COMSOL Multiphysics.

176 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

The COMSOL API for Use with Java ®
COMSOL 6.2 API Changes

MESH ENTITY NUMBERS

For meshes that define their own geometric models, such as imported meshes, the
entity numbering will change if any of the following features are used in the meshing
sequence: Union, IntersectPlane, IntersectLine, MergeEntities,
CreateDomains, CreateEdges, CreateFaces, CreateVertices, or FillHoles.

COMSOL 6.1 API Changes

PERIODIC CONDITIONS — DESTINATION SELECTION

The Destination Selection subnode under Periodic Condition nodes has been removed in
version 6.1 and has been replaced by an optional Destination Selection section in the
Settings windows for Periodic Condition nodes. It can still be added from the API for
backward compatibility. The only difference in behavior for old API code when using
Destination Selections is what the entities of the feature’s selection are when it is set to
all boundaries:

A periodic condition:

PhysicsFeature pc = model.physics("ec").feature("pc1");

Set the selection to all boundaries of the destination domains feature:

pc.feature("dd1").selection().all();

The result of this statement typically differs between versions 6.0 and 6.1:

int[] entities = pc.feature("dd1").selection().entities();

In version 6.0, only the automatic destination entities from the parent’s automatic
destination selection were returned. Now, the software returns all entities that overlap
with the parent selections (source and destination). The interpretation of the all
boundaries flag being set is still the same: making the periodic condition use the
automatic destination. The only difference is what the API returns for the selection of
the destination domains.

THE COMSOL API FOR USE WITH JAVA® | 177

 FILLETS AND CHAMFERS IN 2D GEOMETRIES
In new 2D models, when adding Fillet and Chamfer features, you typically do not
need to set the selectinsketch property, as it is set to on by default.

GEOMETRY EXPORT
The following method now sets the file format of the geometry export:

model.component(<ctag>).geom(<tag>).export().setType(<format>);

where <format> can take the following values: nativeascii, nativebin,

parasolidbin, parasolidascii, acisbin, acisascii, iges, step, stlbin,
stlascii, or dxf.

To get the file format that is set for the geometry export, use:

String fileType = model.component(<ctag>).geom(<tag>).export().

getType();

COMSOL 6.0 API Changes

PAIR FEATURES
The removal of the fallback features under pair features can break API code that you
have written that accesses those features. The presence of a default pair feature may also
create a different configuration compared to what previous API runs did.

Java® or MATLAB® program that accessed fallback features under a pair feature will
not work anymore. This is a necessary limitation because any attempt to support such
API backward compatibility will be both unintuitive and unsafe. For most physics
created from the API, the default feature from the physics will act as the fallback to the
pair features. As long as the default fallback feature in 5.6 was of the same type, the
behavior in 6.0 will be equivalent. If you used a special fallback feature for a pair feature
in 5.6, you now place it either before or after the pair feature and use the same selection
as the pair feature. Placing the fallback feature afterward makes it possible to use the
pair feature’s selection directly. The example below shows such code for 5.6 and how
the equivalent code in 6.0 can be written:

// Creating a pair feature in both 5.6 and 6.0

model.component("comp1").physics("es").create("cont1",
"Continuity", 2);
// Assign some pairs to the pair feature
model.component("comp1").physics("es").feature("cont1").
set("pairs", new String[]{"ap1", "ap2"});

178 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES

 // Creating a fallback feature under a pair in 5.6 (this will not
work in 6.0)
model.component("comp1").physics("es").feature("cont1").
create("sfcd1", "SurfaceChargeDensity", 2);
// Accessing a settings in 5.6 (this will not work in 6.0)
model.component("comp1").physics("es").feature("cont1").
feature("sfcd1").set("rhoqs", "1e-9");

// Creating an equivalent feature in 6.0 that act as fallback to

the pair feature
model.component("comp1").physics("es").create("sfcd1",
"SurfaceChargeDensity", 2);
// Use the same selection as the pair feature
int[] ent = model.component("comp1").physics("es").
feature("cont1").selection().entities();
model.component("comp1").physics("es").feature("sfcd1").
selection().set(ent);
// Accessing a settings in 6.0
model.component("comp1").physics("es").feature("sfcd1").
set("rhoqs", "1e-9");

When a physics interface is created from the API in 6.0, it will also add default pair
features that did not exist in 5.6. As long as the final model uses all created pairs, the
behavior will be the same in 6.0; otherwise, it may be necessary to disconnect the
default pair feature with an extra command. Below is an example for the Electric
Currents interface, but the actual set operation is identical for all interfaces.

model.component("comp1").physics("ec").feature("dcont1").
set("pairDisconnect", true);

COMSOL 5.6 API Changes

MESH PART UNITS

The unit of the mesh part created by createMeshPart is now set to the unit of the
source geometry. In earlier versions, it was created without a unit.

THE ADAPT FUNCTION — THE EXPRTYPE PROPERTY

For the adapt API function, the default for the exprtype property has changed: It is
error if added in a component and a solution exists; otherwise, it is size. In previous
versions, the default was always error.

This concludes the release notes for COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.2.

THE COMSOL API FOR USE WITH JAVA® | 179

180 | CHAPTER 1: RELEASE NOTES
I n d e x
A AC/DC Module new functionality in 83
new and updated models in 50 Electrochemistry Module
new functionality in 45 new functionality in 84
AC/DC Module New and Updated Mod- Electrodeposition Module
els in Version 6.2 50 new models in 87
AC/DC Module New Functionality in
F Fatigue Module
Version 6.2 45
new functionality in 88
Acoustics Module
new models in 88
new functionality in 54
Fuel Cell & Electrolyzer Module
Application Builder, new functionality in
new functionality in 86, 89
16
new models in 91
B backward compatibility, general consid-
G general new functionality 10
erations 40
Geomechanics Module
Battery Design Module
new functionality in 92
new and updated models in 65
geometry and mesh, new functionality
new functionality in 63
for 22
C CAD Import Module
H Heat Transfer Module
new functionality in 67
backward compatibility 99, 101–102,
CFD Module
111, 132
new functionality in 70
new functionality in 95
new models in 71
updated models in 99
Chemical Reaction Engineering Module
new functionality in 74 L LiveLink™ for Excel®

Composite Materials Module new functionality in 173

new functionality in 79 LiveLink™ for MATLAB®

new models in 80 backward compatibility 175

COMSOL API changes 177 new functionality in 174

COMSOL Multiphysics, new functionali- LiveLink™ for Simulink®

ty in 18 new functionality in 176

Corrosion Module LiveLink™ products for CAD

new and updated models in 82 new functionality in 67

new functionality in 81 M Material Library

D Design Module new and updated material data in 171

new functionality in 67 new material data in 171

MEMS Module
E ECAD Import Module

INDEX| 181
 new functionality in 104 ty in 35
new models in 107 RF Module
Metal Processing Module new functionality in 135
new functionality in 109 Rotordynamics Module
new models in 115 new functionality in 141
Microfluidics Module
S Structural Mechanics Module
new functionality in 110
new functionality in 146
updated applications in 111
new models in 156
Mixer Module
studies and solvers, new functionality in
new functionality in 112
30
Model Manager Server, new functionality
Subsurface Flow Module
in 14
new and updated models in 163
Model Manager, new functionality in 10
new functionality in 160
Multibody Dynamics Module
U Uncertainty Quantification Module
new functionality in 113
new functionality in 164
N Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
W Wave Optics Module New and Updated
new functionality in 116
Models in Version 6.2 139, 168
new models in 119
Wave Optics Module New Functionality
O operators, functions, and definitions,
in Version 6.2 165
new and updated 26
Optimization Module
backward compatibility 123
new functionality in 122

P Particle Tracing Module

new functionality in 124
Plasma Module
backward compatibility 126
new applications in 125
new functionality in 125
Porous Media Flow Module
new functionality in 127
Porous Media Module
new applications in 130

R Ray Optics Module

new functionality in 133
new models in 134
results and visualization, new functionali-

182 | I N D E X