The latest stories from COMSOL users are available in COMSOL News and Multiphysics Simulation.
Keeping Cool: SRON Develops Thermal Calibration System for Deep-Space Telescope
Deep-space telescopes require ultrasensitive detectors and calibration to pick up weak far-infrared signals. The SpicA Far-InfraRed Instrument (SAFARI), an infrared camera that will fly aboard the Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA), has sensors that measure ... Read More
Using Multiphysics Simulation to Prevent Building Damage
In addition to surviving normal winters, a strong building must be able to survive the worst winters expected in a 50-year period. When moisture and contaminants enter concrete foundations, they create the risk of cracking or other structural damage once the soil or foundation freezes. ... Read More
Simulation Turns Up the Heat and Energy Efficiency at Whirlpool Corporation
Engineers working on a joint research project between Whirlpool Corporation and the European initiative GREENKITCHEN project are using simulation to improve the energy efficiency of domestic ovens. Since only ten to twelve percent of the total energy expended by an oven is actually used ... Read More
Simulation Enables the Next Generation of Power Transformers and Shunt Reactors
From power generation to its distribution to end users, power transformers and shunt reactors are used throughout the electrical grid for voltage conversion and to absorb reactive power. At Siemens Brazil in Jundiai, São Paulo, designers are using multiphysics simulation to verify that ... Read More
Optimizing Hematology Analysis: When Physical Prototypes Fail, Simulation Provides the Answers
Hematology analysis, the analysis of a blood sample to determine a variety of hematological parameters, is a major factor in diagnostic and treatment decisions for blood diseases. Accurate blood analysis requires counting and sorting different cells in a sample to measure their sizes and ... Read More
Actuation Technique for Miniature Robots Developed using Multiphysics Simulation
Robotic devices for minimally invasive surgery procedures require flexible tools and careful actuation. But most robotic surgery devices are bulky, expensive, and physically draining for surgeons to operate for long periods of time. At the French Atomic and Alternative Energies ... Read More
Meeting High-Speed Communications Energy Demands Through Simulation
The information and communication technology industry needs new energy-efficient devices that can keep up with the explosive growth in data traffic of the last few years. Bell Labs, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent, is taking the lead in an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of ... Read More
Simulation Software Brings Big Changes to Cable Industry
The design and testing of high-voltage cables for terrestrial and submarine applications is paramount to Prysmian's business model. A fundamental challenge in designing power transmission systems is optimizing the cables so that they can reliably deliver the required steady-state current ... Read More
Patterning Cells with the Flip of a Switch for Bioengineering Applications
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a method of patterning cells and particles used in medical, electronics, and energy applications. When an electric field is applied to an array of cells or dielectric particles suspended in a medium, they become polarized, causing movement that reorganizes the ... Read More
Gaining Insight into Piezoelectric Materials for Acoustic Streaming
Many sensors, such as flow sensors and those used in medical diagnostics, rely on microfluidic devices. However, mixing and pumping fluids becomes challenging because of the small size of these devices. As an alternative to traditional actuation methods, surface acoustic waves (SAWs) can ... Read More