By modeling periodicity in a microfluidic device with serpentine channels, you can determine the required channel length that will ensure good mixing of the chemical species ..read more

Acoustic traps are used in a range of biomedical applications for manipulating cells and particles. See how an acoustic trap can be simulated in {:comsolmph} here ..read more

The katana is a legendary sword that was first used by the samurai several centuries ago. It is perhaps most recognizable for its curved shape and its remarkably sharp single edge. In this blog post, we will go over how to build a simple model of a katana using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software and simulate a differential hardening process to explore some of its features. Table of Contents The Famous Katana The Metal Processing Module Differential Hardening The Multiphysics of Heat Treatment The Material of the Katana Geometry of the Katana Phase Transformation Modeling: Heating Coolin ..read more

Euro 2024 will feature the innovative Adidas® Fussballliebe® ball, which boasts a unique and unconventional surface structure with deep circle- and semicircle-shaped ridges and circular dimples, as well as panel seams. When I saw the first pictures of the ball, I knew that we had to model it to get an estimate of its aerodynamic properties. We decided to run a series of simulations and compare the results to the Adidas® Telstar® from the 2018 FIFA World Cup®. Let’s explore our findings… The Evolution of the New Design Euro 2024 tournament kicks of today, June 14, with the Germany versus Scotla ..read more

If there is one number to rule all of math and science, it is arguably pi. This little symbol, π, has a big history, dating back thousands of years. From ancient civilizations making crude approximations over circles to modern-day supercomputers calculating trillions of digits, pi has captured the imaginations of mathematicians and curious minds alike. In this blog post, let’s turn to a fun and popular approach to calculating pi using the features available in the COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation software. Approximations of Pi Through Time The earliest known approximations of pi are found ..read more

I watched the latest Top Gun movie, Top Gun: Maverick, a few weeks ago. It is a really awesome movie, and it is also cutting edge from an engineering standpoint. The movie starts with Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, working as a test pilot preparing to fly a new secretly developed airplane, the Darkstar, capable of flying Mach 10. Simultaneously, Rear Admiral Chester Cain, played by Ed Harris, makes his way to the test base to shut down the program — considering the Darkstar had not yet been able to fly Mach 10, which was a requirement for the project to continue — but Maverick takes action be ..read more

HVAC systems do more than provide the smooth, chilled air that flows when the temperature outside rises. Within these systems, air moves through filters to ensure high air quality. With clean air at stake, modeling and simulation can be used to gain an in-depth understanding of the physics behind the behavior of air as it moves through a filter… Modeling an Air Filter The filters within HVAC systems rely on a material (often fiberglass or cotton folds) capable of straining the air and catching particulates like dust, pollen, and bacteria. These materials impact the flow of the air, catching th ..read more

Thermoacoustic engines generate acoustic energy from a thermal input. In contrast to commonly used engines such as reciprocating engines and gas turbines, thermoacoustic engines do not use moving parts, which keeps the structure very simple. In this blog post, we will see how the working mechanisms of thermoacoustic engines can be modeled with the Thermoviscous Acoustics interface, one of the powerful interfaces in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software for modeling the linearized behavior of a fluid. How Thermoacoustic Engines Work More than 150 years ago, Professor Pieter Rijke reported an i ..read more

When the weather is nice and warm, nature attracts adrenaline-seeking hikers and happy campers alike. However, where there is vegetation, there are also mosquitoes waiting to find their next target. So what’s a camper to do? Mosquito traps can be effective, so long as mosquitoes find them more appealing than any nearby sources of blood. For fun, let’s turn to equation-based modeling to see if a camper’s trap will keep his cabin in the woods cozy and mosquito-free — or if the insects will kill the camping buzz. Mosquito Magnets: Carbon Dioxide and Lactic Acid There are various reasons why femal ..read more

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are used in a variety of pharmaceutical applications, including viral vaccines, cancer therapies, analgesics, and photodynamic therapies. In recent times, they have gained public attention for their use in mRNA vaccines, specifically. The mRNA vaccine delivery efficacy depends on the size of the LNPs and dosing: small LNPs are better at penetrating tissue and high doses are required due to low delivery yield. Researchers could run iterative experiments to meet these requirements, but a team from Veryst Engineering proposed that a simulation-guided design process woul ..read more