COMSOL Multiphysics, formerly called FEMLAB, is a finite element analysis (FEA) modeling, solver, and simulation software package for various physics and engineering applications, especially coupled phenomena, or multiphysics. COMSOL Multiphysics offers an extensive interface to MATLAB and its toolboxes for a large variety of programming, preprocessing, and postprocessing possibilities. The packages are cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix). In addition to conventional physics-based user-interfaces, COMSOL Multiphysics also allows users to enter coupled systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) directly or by using the so-called weak form.
– Adapted from Wikipedia.
Watch an introduction video to COMSOL Multiphysics on the developer’s site, here.
Usage
Please note that the G-databar provides access to COMSOL Multiphysics for academic use only! To obtain a license from the DTU license server, your local username must be the same as your DTU user ID. View more information here.
To install COMSOL Multiphysics on your laptop, you need to be connected to the DTU network, either directly or via the DTU VPN. After installation, COMSOL Multiphysics can only be used while connected to the DTU network for access to the license server.
The updated installation instructions can always be found at https://downloads.cc.dtu.dk
Connecting to Gbar
You need to use Thinlinc in order to connect to the Linux servers. Information on Thinlinc can be read here.
How to start COMSOL
COMSOL can be started from the G-bar menu or by typing
$ comsol
in a terminal. In order to see which options you can use, execute
$ comsol -help
Activate multiprocessor support by typing
$ comsol -np 4
There are several different versions of comsol, intalled as modules. To see a list of the most recent version use the command
$ module avail comsol
and then, after loading a specific version, the command comsol will point to that specific version.
And then
How to use COMSOL with Matlab
From the menu, you can start COMSOL and a Matlab GUI (Matlab session talking to a COMSOL server), or open a terminal (linuxsh) and execute the following:
$ comsolmatlab
Important note: Make sure that you start from an application node, not on a login node.
Please note: The script comsolmatlab does a lot of necessary steps, to make things work. This takes time (up to 45-60 seconds), so please be patient! And please don’t close any of the progress windows that can pop up.
The most recent versions are also available via the module system.
Several different COMSOL modules are available but remember that there is a limited number of licenses for each module.
Specific license details can be found under http://www.mbar.dtu.dk/COMSOL/comsol-site-license.html.
For older versions that are not available as modules
How to start COMSOL version N.x
We provide several versions of COMSOL Multiphysics, and those can be either started from the G-Bar menu or by typing
$ comsolNx
in a terminal, e.g. comsol44 for version 4.4. In order to see which options you can use, execute
$ comsol44 -help
Activate multiprocessor support by typing
$ comsol44 -np 4
To start another COMSOL version than the default with Matlab (except version 3.5 – see below), you can use the following command in a terminal, e.g. for version 4.4:
$ CSCMD=comsol44 comsolmatlab How to use COMSOL 3.5a with Matlab
Either from the G-Bar menu or by typing
$ comsol35 matlab multiphysics
in a terminal.
Support
If you need help with modelling and you are participating in a course then first ask your instructor or supervisor.
If your problem is unresolved you can send an email to COMSOL’s support department using this email address: support@comsol.dk.
Please include your name, department/course name, and the license number of the COMSOL Multiphysics license (found under Help->About COMSOL Multiphysics). If you need help with a specific model then be sure to attach the model to your email.