Numerical Simulations: COMSOL Multiphysics

Susana O. Catarino
Microelectromechanical Systems Research Unit (CMEMS-UMinho), School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, Guimarães, Portugal 

COMSOL Multiphysics has been widely used in the last 15 years as a tool for inter and multiphysics numerical simulation, both in academic and corporate environments. In particular, regarding the i9Masks project, COMSOL Multiphysics has the potential to model and simulate different physical phenomena, from the mechanical response of the masks’ materials and their breathability, to the propagation of air and virus particles through the masks.

Therefore, this seminar intends to provide students an overview of numerical simulations based on finite element methods and their implementation in COMSOL, by approaching the discretization problems, meshing, direct and iterative solvers and convergence criteria. Besides the theory overview, the seminar also presents an introduction to the graphical user interface of the software and the available modules, as well as the implementation of a few models, in the areas of structural mechanics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microfluidics and particle propagation and tracing applications. These models allow the students to interact with the software, and provide them starting tools to understand and simulate the innovative masks expected during the execution of the i9Masks project.