Analyzing the Deformation of a Biomedical Stent with Simulation
Caty Fairclough February 13, 2018
To treat atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease in which a buildup of plaque causes an artery to narrow, doctors can insert a tiny wire mesh tube called a stent into the obstructed artery. Expanding the stent opens up the artery and helps restore blood flow. To successfully perform this operation and minimize potential health hazards, stent designs must be thoroughly studied and optimized. To do so, we can perform a nonlinear structural mechanics analysis with the COMSOL Multiphysics® software.
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Guest Björn Fallqvist January 11, 2018
Today, guest blogger Björn Fallqvist of Lightness by Design, a COMSOL Certified Consultant, discusses using simulation to provide insight into the mechanical behavior of cells. Biological cells are essential for life as we know it. They not only store and replicate hereditary information in the form of DNA but also are instrumental in biological processes. In most, if not all, of these processes, the mechanical behavior of cells is a main factor in ensuring normal physiological functions.
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Phillip Oberdorfer December 15, 2017
The physics behind filling a water balloon seem simple at first glance, but involve a rather complex interplay of fluid flow and a nonlinear hyperelastic material. Fortunately, it is easy to set up and solve this type of model in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. Let’s see how…
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Bridget Paulus November 6, 2017
Optimizing fuel for nuclear reactors can increase the amount of power they generate, improve their safety, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, studying nuclear fuel can be complex, as it involves interactions between multiple physical phenomena. In his keynote talk from the COMSOL Conference 2017 Boston, Andrew Prudil of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) discussed using multiphysics models to gain insight into nuclear fuel. If you missed his presentation, find a video recording and summary below.
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Bridget Cunningham June 12, 2017
In the last seven years, the output of the manufacturing industry has increased by a total of around 10–20%. This growth is partly thanks to technologies and processes that save on time and costs, such as 3D printing and, as is described here, powder compaction. To model this process, we can use the new porous plasticity models in the latest version of the COMSOL Multiphysics® software.
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Ed Gonzalez October 11, 2016
Many polymers and biological tissues exhibit viscoelastic deformation, which has a time-dependent response even if the loading is constant in time. Linear viscoelasticity, where the stress depends linearly on the strain and strain rate, is a common approximation. We usually assume that the viscous part of the deformation is incompressible, so the volumetric deformation is purely elastic. As of COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.2a, you can model large-strain viscoelasticity besides linear viscoelasticity. See how to use this material model in a biomedical […]
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Brianne Costa July 11, 2016
For gas pipeline maintenance standards, the adage “rules are meant to be broken” may not apply, but “rules are meant to be updated” certainly does. Specifically, the generous distance requirements between pipeline squeeze-off locations and pipe fittings cause potentially unnecessary digging. This prompted Operations Technology Development (OTD), a partnership of natural gas distribution companies, to initiate a project with Gas Technology Institute (GTI), where researchers used simulation to investigate the standard distance requirements for streamlined and safe pipeline maintenance.
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Amlan Barua March 9, 2016
Pressure vessels are designed to confine liquids or gases. These containers are used in nuclear plants, throughout the chemical and petroleum industries, and even as water heaters in homes. In principle, the vessels’ internal pressure is much higher (or sometimes lower) than the ambient pressure, so the vessels must be carefully designed, as failure can result in severe damage. Today, we’ll show you how to use the Application Builder in COMSOL Multiphysics to create an efficient and accurate design workflow.
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Bridget Cunningham October 12, 2015
Arteries are designed to carry blood containing oxygen and nutrients from the heart to other areas of the body. Studying this biological soft tissue from a mechanical standpoint requires a reliable model that can fully describe the arteries’ anisotropic nonlinear response. Our tutorial of arterial wall mechanics illustrates such a design.
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Henrik Sönnerlind September 14, 2015
When performing structural mechanics analyses, you will inevitably encounter the concept of geometric nonlinearity. In this blog post, we discuss what is meant by geometric nonlinearity and when you should take this effect into consideration.
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Brianne Costa May 13, 2015
Piezoelectric valves are opened and closed by stacked piezoelectric actuators that are positioned above a seal. By applying a voltage to the stacked piezoelectric actuator, it can be made to expand or contract and the resulting deformation is used to open and close the valve. In this blog post, we feature a tutorial model of a stacked piezoelectric actuator in a pneumatic valve, new with COMSOL Multiphysics version 5.1.
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