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Representation of a PDE in COMSOL

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Need help with representing the following equation in the general form:

∂u1/∂t+∇.D.∇(u1+u2)=f

6 Replies Last Post 2011年11月8日 GMT-5 17:24

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Posted: 1 decade ago 2011年11月1日 GMT-4 23:56
I think you will have to use the weak form.

You can look at the weak forms of the equations in a species transport problem, the equations are similar. You will have a good idea of how to develop you're equation.
I think you will have to use the weak form. You can look at the weak forms of the equations in a species transport problem, the equations are similar. You will have a good idea of how to develop you're equation.

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Posted: 1 decade ago 2011年11月2日 GMT-4 11:08
I don't really use general form modelling it should look like

∂u1/∂t + ∇• Γ = f'

with Γ = D∇u1 and f' = f - ∇• D∇u2 as long as there is not some sort of functional dependency of type u2[u1]. Also, weak form modelling can be easily applied to this equation and may offer some advantages if you are interested in moving domains. Weak form (for Neumann boundary conditions) looks like

∫(ψ ∂u1/∂t) dx - ∫(∇ψ • ∇u1) dx = ∫ψf' dx

Hope this helps,
Alex
I don't really use general form modelling it should look like ∂u1/∂t + ∇• Γ = f' with Γ = D∇u1 and f' = f - ∇• D∇u2 as long as there is not some sort of functional dependency of type u2[u1]. Also, weak form modelling can be easily applied to this equation and may offer some advantages if you are interested in moving domains. Weak form (for Neumann boundary conditions) looks like ∫(ψ ∂u1/∂t) dx - ∫(∇ψ • ∇u1) dx = ∫ψf' dx Hope this helps, Alex

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Posted: 1 decade ago 2011年11月2日 GMT-4 14:20
Thanks for your response...I will try with the weak form...
Thanks for your response...I will try with the weak form...

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Posted: 1 decade ago 2011年11月2日 GMT-4 15:49
Thanks for your reply. I am trying to represent my system of equations in the general/coefficient form first. How do I represent ∇u1 or ∇^2 u1 in COMSOL either in the conservative flux or the source term?
Thanks for your reply. I am trying to represent my system of equations in the general/coefficient form first. How do I represent ∇u1 or ∇^2 u1 in COMSOL either in the conservative flux or the source term?

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Posted: 1 decade ago 2011年11月2日 GMT-4 19:52
Differential operations are represented by

∂u1/∂x → diff(u1,x) or simply u1x

which works for all coordinates as well as time. The first expression is the actual formulation, by default COMSOL defines the second one as the first for but only for variables within the model, so it will not work for any self defined functions. Scalar products need to be written as sums of these expressions.

Depending on u2, higher order operators can be a little bit tricky. If you have an analytic form of u2, you should be fine, however, if u2 is a solution of an FEM-simulation you may notice that the operation

∂²u2/∂x² → diff(diff(u2,x),x)

is 0 everywhere which is a consequence from the underlying H1-discretization. If that should be the case, it usually helps to define an additional application mode and set u3 via something like u2x = u3 and employ

∂²u2/∂x² = ∂u3/∂x→ diff(u3,x)

in the original set of equations. However, I am still working with COMSOL 3.5, so it is possible that there have been some changes in the syntax. Just try it, otherwise, you will have to check the doku.

Alex
Differential operations are represented by ∂u1/∂x → diff(u1,x) or simply u1x which works for all coordinates as well as time. The first expression is the actual formulation, by default COMSOL defines the second one as the first for but only for variables within the model, so it will not work for any self defined functions. Scalar products need to be written as sums of these expressions. Depending on u2, higher order operators can be a little bit tricky. If you have an analytic form of u2, you should be fine, however, if u2 is a solution of an FEM-simulation you may notice that the operation ∂²u2/∂x² → diff(diff(u2,x),x) is 0 everywhere which is a consequence from the underlying H1-discretization. If that should be the case, it usually helps to define an additional application mode and set u3 via something like u2x = u3 and employ ∂²u2/∂x² = ∂u3/∂x→ diff(u3,x) in the original set of equations. However, I am still working with COMSOL 3.5, so it is possible that there have been some changes in the syntax. Just try it, otherwise, you will have to check the doku. Alex

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Posted: 1 decade ago 2011年11月8日 GMT-5 17:24
Thanks Alex. In version 4.1 i figured out the 2nd derivative is represented as u1xx.
Thanks Alex. In version 4.1 i figured out the 2nd derivative is represented as u1xx.

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