DEPARTMENT OF MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

MtE-222L Mechanics of material LAB, 4th Semester

Student Name: Syed Suleman Ayub

Registration Number: 19pwmct0678

Lab No. 2:

Criteria (Taxonomy Excellent (4) Proficient (3) Basic (2) Below Basic (1) Student’s
Level) Score
Report is mostly Report is Sections/Step
To organize the lab Report is as per as per the guidelines disorganized and s are not
report and practice the guidelines. All and most follows some ordered and
the writing skills as sections/steps are sections/steps are guidelines but Report is not as
per the guidelines clearly organized ordered well but most of the per the
in a logical order. requires minor guidelines are guidelines
Improvements. missing
The report
completely
discusses the The report The report The report is
required discusses the discusses the totally
To discuss the actual experiment/lab required experiment/lab irrelevant to the
experiment/task work in own words experiment/lab work work but have experiment/lab
with some relevant irrelevant work
additional information
information
Calculations and
Calculations and data analysis were Most data and
data analyses were performed observations were
To perform performed clearly, accurately, but recorded Calculations
calculations concisely, and minor errors were adequately, but and data
and data analysis accurately, with made both in with several analyses of lab
correct units. calculations and in significant errors were missing
applying correct or omissions.
units
To present results in Graphs, if Graphs, if Graphs, if Major
the necessary, were necessary, were necessary, were components of
form of graphs drawn accurately drawn adequately drawn but lab were
and neatly and inadequately. missing
were clearly
labelled.

Comments:

Course Instructor: Engr. Wahad Ur Rahman

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR
MtE-222L Mechanics of material LAB, 4th Semester

Lab No: 02
Title: Introduction to COMSOL Multiphysics software

Objectives of this lab:

a) To Learn the basic of COMSOL Multiphysics
b) To learn how to model a real time system in COMSOL Multiphysics
c) To Learn how to simulate a real time system in COMSOL Multiphysics

Equipment/tools:
a) COMSOL Multiphysics software

Theory:
First we will discuss the objectives of this lab, that is, what will we have achieved at the end of
this lab. The objectives of this lab are discussed below.
In this lab we will try to gain as much knowledge as possible about the COMSOL Multiphysics
software and its usage. We understand the different functions that we can perform using COMSOL
Multiphysics software. We will learn how to model a real time system in COMSOL Multiphysics. We
will learn how to simulate a real time system in COMSOL Multiphysics.

Introduction:
Computer simulation has become an essential part of science and engineering. Digital analysis of
components, in particular, is important when developing new products or optimizing designs. Today a
broad spectrum of options for simulation is available; researchers use everything from basic
programming languages to various high-level packages implementing advanced methods. A computer
simulation environment is simply a translation of real-world physical laws into their virtual form. It
would be ideal, then, to have a simulation environment that included the possibility to add any physical
effect to your model. That is what COMSOL is all about.

COMSOL Multiphysics:
COMSOL Multiphysics is a comprehensive simulation software environment for a wide array of
applications, but structured and user-friendly for all to use. It’s a flexible platform that allows even
novice users to model all relevant physical aspects of their designs. Advanced users can go deeper and
use their knowledge to develop customized solutions, applicable to their unique circumstances.
The point of all simulation of course is to mimic, as closely as possible, effects that are observed in
reality. Be they in an engineering or scientific context. To do this, there is the need of multiphysics; that
is multiple scientific models that include the things that you are interested in. With this kind of all-
inclusive modeling environment, COMSOL gives you the confidence to build the model you want with
real-world precision. You are able to test out various geometrical and physical characteristics of your
model, so you can really hone in on the important design challenges. The flexible nature of the
COMSOL environment facilitates further analysis by making “what-if” cases easy to set up and run.
Engineers are designing better products faster and at less cost. Scientists are exploring new discoveries.
Physicians are researching innovative medical treatments. Educators are connecting with students, and
the list goes on. The users of COMSOL Multiphysics are producing simulations that make a big impact
in the real world.

Main Features:
1. Materials Library
2. Multiphysics in single simulation process.
3. Model Library.
4. Can import data from softwares such as AUTOCAD, Solid work, MS Excel, MATLAB and
many others
5. Online webinar.
6. Multi-plot features.
Materials Library:
The Material Library augments the Material Browser with 3870 more materials.
Each material consists of properties defined by expressions and/or functions, references to where the
properties came from, and the composition and other information about the material.

Multiphysics in single simulation process:

One direct benefit multiphysics provides is unifying simulation projects. Say you have a widget
that needs mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic simulations — yet all uncoupled. Having one
multiphysics environment for multiple single physics puts your simulations in one place. There is then
no need to switch between software or try to get uniform output.

Model Library/Built-in Models:

The Application Libraries, accessed directly in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software, contain
an ever-growing number of examples filled with valuable information on how to model certain types of
problems, use certain features, and use specific modeling techniques as shown in Fig 2.1. The
Application Libraries are collections of MPH files containing tutorial models and runnable applications
with accompanying documentation. Tutorial models show how to use the Model Builder and have
documentation that includes theoretical background and step-by-step instructions.
 Figure 2.1: Built-in library

Online webinar:
Free online presentations featuring live software demonstrations, a range of topics, and guest
industry speakers. You can search any topic that you find some difficulties in and learn online.

Multi-plot feature:
A great way to visualize 1D results is by plotting multiple quantities on one graph to compare
certain values. However, this doesn't work if the quantities you are plotting have different scales. In the
COMSOL Multiphysics® software, you can add a second y-axis to a graph to show both quantities at
once.

Application-Based Modules:
It is a suite of physics-based modules that augment the core physics interfaces of COMSOL
Multiphysics® and provide additional interfaces for electrical, mechanical, fluid flow, and chemical
applications. Any number of modules can be seamlessly combined to handle challenging multiphysics
applications. The modules of COMSOL Multiphysics are given below.

ELECTROMAGNETICS
MODULES
 AC/DC
 RF
 Wave Optics
 Ray Optics
 Plasma
 Semiconductor

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS & ACOUSTICS MODULES

 Structural Mechanics
o Nonlinear Structural Materials
o Composite Materials
o Geomechanics
o Fatigue
o Rotordynamics
 Multibody Dynamics
  MEMS
 Acoustics

FLUID FLOW &

HEAT TRANSFER MODULES
 CFD
o Mixer
 Polymer Flow
 Microfluidics
 Porous Media Flow
 Subsurface Flow
 Pipe Flow
 Molecular Flow
 Metal Processing
 Heat Transfer

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
MODULES
 Chemical Reaction Engineering
 Battery Design
 Fuel Cell & Electrolyzer
 Electrodeposition
 Corrosion
 Electrochemistry

MULTIPURPOSE
 Optimization Module
 Material Library
 Particle Tracing Module
 Liquid & Gas Properties Module

INTERFACING PRODUCTS
 LiveLink™ for MATLAB®

 LiveLink™ for Simulink®

 LiveLink™ for Excel®

 CAD Import Module

 Design Module
 ECAD Import Module
 LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS®

 LiveLink™ for Inventor®

 LiveLink™ for AutoCAD®

 LiveLink™ for Revit®

 LiveLink™ for PTC® Creo® Parametric™
 LiveLink™ for PTC® Pro/ENGINEER®

 LiveLink™ for Solid Edge®

 File Import for CATIA® V5
User Defined Equations:
The ability to define arbitrary, and user-defined, couplings between existing physics interfaces is
one of the core capabilities of COMSOL Multiphysics®. Although there are many multiphysics
couplings already built into the software, sometimes you will want to create your own.

Steps of COMSOL Multiphysics modeling and simulation:

The steps for modeling and simulation of the structure that we will make in COMSOL Multiphysics
are given below. We will follow each step and make an iron Cantilever beam. Then we will apply some
force and simulate the model. We will just have an overview of how COMSOL works and what can we
do with it.
 Setup model environment
 Select physics
 Select study
 Creating geometry
 Adding material
 Initial and boundary conditions
 Creating mesh
 Select study type
 Run simulation
 View results

Start Model Environment:

When you start multisim you will see the two options, a model guided by the Model Wizard or
start from a Blank Model as shown in the fig 2.2.

Figure 1.2: Start model environment

For our project we will select model wizard. The Model Wizard will guide you in setting up the
space dimension, physics, and study type in a few steps.

Select the space dimension:

Start by selecting the space dimension for your model component: 3D, 2D Axisymmetric, 2D,
1D Axisymmetric, or 0D, shown in fig 2.3.
 Figure 2.3: Dimensions

For our model we will select 3D.

Select Physics:
Now, add one or more physics interfaces. These are organized in a number of physics branches
in order to make them easy to locate. These branches do not directly correspond to products. When
products are added to your COMSOL Multiphysics installation, one or more branches will be populated
with additional physics interfaces.
For our model we will select shell and solid mechanics in structural mechanics and add them. We can
add multiple interfaces as shown in fig 2.4.

Figure 2.4: Select Physics:

After adding the interfaces press study.

Solid mechanics:
The Solid Mechanics interface is intended for general structural analysis of 3D, 2D, or
axisymmetric bodies. In 2D, plane stress or plane strain assumptions can be used. The Solid Mechanics
interface is based on solving Navier's equations. This results such as displacements, stresses, and strains
are computed.

Select Study:
 Select the Study type that represents the solver or set of solvers that will be used for the
computation. We will select a study related to our model. For our model we will select stationary
analysis for displacement measurement as shown in fig 2.5. Finally, click done.

Figure 2.5: Select Study

Creating Geometry:
After selecting study we will be directed to the main page where we create the model. The Home
tab contains buttons for the most common operations for making changes to a model, running
simulations, and for building and testing applications. Examples include changing model parameters for
a parameterized geometry, reviewing material properties and physics, building the mesh, running a
study, and visualizing the simulation results.
There are standard tabs for each of the main steps in the modeling process. These are ordered from left
to right according to the workflow: Definitions, Geometry, Materials, Physics, Mesh, Study, Results,
and Developer. Contextual tabs are shown only if and when they are needed, such as the 3D Plot Group
tab, which is shown when the corresponding plot group is added or when the node is selected in the
model tree.
Model tabs are used for very specific operations, when other operations in the ribbon may become
temporarily irrelevant. An example is the Work Plane modal tab. When working with work planes, other
tabs are not shown, since they do not present relevant operations. The interface of COMSOL is shown in
fig 2.6.

Figure 2.6: Interface

Now right click geometry and select block as shown in fig 2.7.
 Figure 2.7: Block selection

In the settings block you can change the size, shape, position and other features of the model. Set width,
depth and height as 500, 80 and 20 respectively as shown in fig 2.8.

Figure 2.8: Block shape and size

Now add material. The material section is on the right side. Add iron 316L (solid and polished) as
shown in fig 2.9.

Figure 2.9: Material selection

Now select the initial and boundary conditions. Right click solid mechanics in model builder and select
boundary and fixed constraint as shown in fig 2.10.
 Figure 2.10: Initial and Boundary selection

Now change load type to Total load. Set z component to any load type you want. Here we set it to 1000
as shown in fig 2.11.

Figure 2.11: define force

Now right click on Mesh in model builder and select build all as shown in fig 2.12.

Figure 2.12: Mesh Build

Now select the desired study and compute it. Right click study in model builder and select compute. It
will compute solution as shown in fig 2.13.
 Figure 2.13: simulation

Here we computed the stress in the beam. The beam is deflected.

Create Animations:
We can also create animation of different models to visualize our models. To create animations
we will need other studies, like stationary study that we used in our project. We can change time, edit
and export or import animation in COMSOL Multiphysics.

Applications of COMSOL Multiphysics:

Applications in Power Industry:
 Predict and Minimize Noise in Transformers
 Plan Underground Cable Networks Accurately and at Low Cost
 Manage the Grid More Efficiently
 Protect Wind Turbines from Lightning Strikes
 Increase the Lifespan of Offshore Wind Farms

Applications in Steel Industry:

 Used in Klotz test to measure thermal distortion
 Vortex induced vibrations

Applications in Civil Industry:

 Designing different bridge types
 Find the load bearing power of the bridges
 Analyze various Bridge Configurations and Loads
 Analyze different building materials

In-lab Task:
Non

Post- lab Task:

Writing a lab report.

References:
1. What Is COMSOL Multiphysics? | COMSOL Blog
2. Introduction to COMSOL Multiphysics