COMSOL® SOFTWARE VERSION 5.2a UPDATE 3

Released November 23, 2016

COMSOL® software version 5.2a update 3 contains performance and stability improvements to COMSOL Multiphysics®, COMSOL Server™, and COMSOL Client. All of these improvements are listed in the Update Details tab below.

This software update is cumulative in that it applies to version 5.2a (5.2.1.152), version 5.2a update 1 (5.2.1.199), or version 5.2a update 2 (5.2.1.229). If you have version 5.2a installed, update 3 also includes the performance and stability improvements from update 1 and update 2. If you have a version older than version 5.2a and a valid license, then perform a full installation of version 5.2a from the Product Download page.

A file in the MPH format that has been saved using version 5.2a or any of the version 5.2a updates can be opened and run using the original 5.2a version or with version 5.2a update1, update 2, or update 3.

COMSOL® Software Version 5.2a Update 2

COMSOL® software version 5.2a update 2 contained a small set of new features, which are included in the COMSOL® software version 5.2a update 3. As of update 2, the new Rotordynamics Module is available as an optional add-on to the Structural Mechanics Module. Get a comprehensive overview of all new features in COMSOL® version 5.2a on the Release Highlights page. The Update Details tab below lists the major new features as well as performance and stability improvements in COMSOL® software version 5.2a update 2.

COMSOL® Software Version 5.2a Update 1

COMSOL® software version 5.2a update 1 contained performance and stability improvements to COMSOL Multiphysics®, COMSOL Server™, and COMSOL Client. These improvements are listed in the Update Details tab below.

How to Apply the Software Update

Updating COMSOL Multiphysics®

The easiest way to apply an update to a valid COMSOL Multiphysics® installation is to go to the File menu, select Help, and then select Check for Product Updates.

If you are installing the update on a machine running the Windows® operating system, you can also run the Update program either directly from the Windows® Start menu or from the COMSOL Launchers folder in the Start menu. Otherwise, follow the instructions in the Manual Installation tab below, particularly if your computer does not have an internet connection or if you want to apply the update several times on multiple computers.

In order to check that your update installation was successful, start the COMSOL Multiphysics® software, then open the Help menu and click About COMSOL Multiphysics. The new version number should be 5.2.1.262.

Updating COMSOL Server™

To update COMSOL Server™, run the Update program either directly from the Start menu or from the COMSOL Launchers folder in the Start menu. Note that COMSOL Server™ needs to be stopped before applying the update. If your computer does not have an internet connection or if you want to apply the update several times on multiple computers, follow the instructions in the Manual Installation tab below.

COMSOL Client updates need to be installed manually. To do this, please follow the instructions in the Manual Installation tab below.

To manually install the different products please follow the steps below.

Updating COMSOL Multiphysics®

1

Check your version

  1. Start COMSOL Multiphysics.
  2. On the Help menu, click About COMSOL Multiphysics.
  3. Check that the version number is 5.2a (Build 152 or higher).
  4. Be sure to close all COMSOL sessions before installing the update.
2

Download Update

In some browsers, such as Internet Explorer®, you get a dialog box where you can click Run directly after download. Before clicking Run, make sure again that you have closed all COMSOL sessions. In other browsers, such as Chrome™, you have to select the downloaded file and run it; see step 3 below.

Additional product-specific updates

If you have a license for the MEMS Module, the Acoustics Module, or the Structural Mechanics Module, you should also download the additional update for these products:

If you have a license for any of the additional product listed below, please also download the corresponding update

Product Update(s)
LiveLink™ for Excel® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llexcel_win.exe (1.2 MB)
LiveLink™ for MATLAB® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_mli_win.exe (0.9 MB)
Linux - comsol_5.2.1.262_mli_linux.tar.gz (0.2 MB)
Mac OS X - comsol_5.2.1.262_mli_mac.dmg (0.3 MB)
LiveLink™ for AutoCAD® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llac_win.exe (0.9 MB)
LiveLink™ for PTC® Creo® Parametric™ Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llcreop_win.exe (4.8 MB)
LiveLink™ for Inventor® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llinv_win.exe (1.1 MB)
LiveLink™ for Revit® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llrevit_win.exe (4.2 MB)
LiveLink™ for Solid Edge® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llse_win.exe (0.8 MB)
LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® Windows - comsol_5.2.1.262_llsw_win.exe (1.0 MB)
3

Install

Before you proceed with the installation, make sure to exit any running COMSOL process.

Windows® Operating Systems

Run the downloaded .exe-file to extract the update to the COMSOL 5.2a installation directory, for example C:\Program Files\COMSOL\COMSOL52a\Multiphysics.

Complete the extraction of the downloaded files, then, if your license included the LiveLink™ for AutoCAD®, follow these additional steps:

  1. In the COMSOL 5.2a installation directory browse to the folder ext\LiveLink\AutoCAD, for example C:\Program Files\COMSOL\COMSOL52a\Multiphysics\ext\LiveLink\AutoCAD

  2. Copy the folder LiveLinkforCOMSOL.bundle

  3. Browse to the folder ApplicationPlugins under the Autodesk installation directory, for example C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins In this location there should already be a LiveLinkforCOMSOL.bundle folder. You will replace this in the next step.

  4. Paste the LiveLinkforCOMSOL.bundle folder into the ApplicationPlugins folder. If the Confirm Folder Replace dialog box comes up ,click Yes to replace the contents with the updated files.

Linux® Operating Systems

Copy the downloaded .tar.gz-file to the COMSOL 5.2a installation directory:

cp comsol_5.2.1.262_linux.tar.gz [installdir]

where [installdir] is the root of the installation, for example /usr/local/comsol52a/multiphysics. Unpack it by the commands:

cd [installdir]
tar xvzf comsol_5.2.1.262_linux.tar.gz

Macintosh Operating Systems

Double-click the downloaded .dmg file to mount the disk image. In the Finder, open the mounted disk and double-click the COMSOL installer icon. Select your COMSOL installation folder, usually called COMSOL52a/Multiphysics.

4

Check your installation

  1. Start COMSOL Multiphysics.
  2. On the Help menu, click About COMSOL Multiphysics.
  3. Check that the version number is 5.2a (Build 262). (If not, the installation did not succeed.)

Updating COMSOL Server™

1

Check your version

Make sure that you run COMSOL version 5.2.1.152 or 5.2.1.199. Open [installdir]/uninstall/fl.ver in a text editor to check your version. Be sure to close all COMSOL sessions before installing the update.

If you have installed COMSOL Server as a service, make sure to stop this service. You can stop the COMSOL service using the following procedure:

  • Select the Services dialog box found on the Start Menu: Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools > Services.
  • Right-click the COMSOL service and select Stop.
2

Download Update

In some browsers, such as Internet Explorer®, you get a dialog box where you can click Run directly after download. Before clicking Run, make sure again that you have closed all COMSOL sessions. In other browsers, such as Chrome™, you have to select the downloaded file and run it; see step 3 below.

Additional product-specific updates

If you have a license for the MEMS Module, the Acoustics Module, or the Structural Mechanics Module, you should also download the additional update for these products:

3

Install

Before you proceed with the installation, make sure to exit any running COMSOL process.

Windows® Operating Systems

Run the downloaded .exe-file to extract the update to the COMSOL 5.2a installation directory, for example C:\Program Files\COMSOL\COMSOL52a\Server.

Linux® Operating Systems

Copy the downloaded .tar.gz-file to the COMSOL 5.2a installation directory:

cp comsol_5.2.1.262_linux_server.tar.gz [installdir]

where [installdir] is the root of the installation, for example /usr/local/comsol52a/server. Unpack it by the commands:

cd [installdir]
tar xvzf comsol_5.2.1.262_linux_server.tar.gz

Macintosh Operating Systems

Double-click the downloaded .dmg file to mount the disk image. In the Finder, open the mounted disk and double-click the COMSOL installer icon. Select your COMSOL installation folder, usually called COMSOL52a/Server.
4

Check your installation

Open [installdir]/uninstall/fl.ver in a text editor and ensure that it says:
ver.build=262
ver.major=1
ver.name=COMSOL 5.2

5

Starting COMSOL® as a service (Windows® only)

If you have installed COMSOL Server as a Windows® service, make sure to start this service after installation. You can start the COMSOL service using the following procedure:

  • Select the Services dialog box found on the Start Menu: Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools > Services.
  • Right-click the COMSOL service and select Start.

Updating COMSOL Client

To update COMSOL Client to version 5.2.1.262, just uninstall COMSOL Client and then download the new version from www.comsol.com/client-download/5.2.1.262 and reinstall.

Your installation of COMSOL Client must have the same version number as the COMSOL Server you connect to.

Stability Improvements in COMSOL® Version 5.2a Update 3

All COMSOL® software products undergo stability improvements that are introduced as updates. The following list contains the most important improvements in COMSOL® version 5.2a update 3, which were not part of a previous update.

CFD Module

  • An issue has been corrected that previously would prevent models containing the Multiphase Flow, Level-Set multiphysics feature created in version 5.2 from opening in version 5.2a.
  • In the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) interface, incorrect references to the variable G0 have been corrected to refer to G0_fluid instead. This eliminates problems with unknown variable errors when solving some FSI problems.
  • In the Settings window for the Two-Phase Flow, Level Set and Two-Phase Flow, Phase Field multiphysics coupling features, previously inaccessible expressions for the surface tension coefficient are now available.
  • When the Non-Newtonian Carreau model is selected to define the dynamic viscosity of the second fluid in the Two-Phase Flow, Level Set multiphysics coupling features, a previously missing variable for the Carreau model parameter has been added.

Heat Transfer Module

  • A previously missing variable in the Line Heat Source subfeature under the Thin Rod node has been added. Models with such Line Heat Source subfeatures can now be solved without errors.
  • An unknown variable issue in the Pressure Work subfeature has been corrected. The problem occurred when this subfeature was used from a Fluid node.
  • The definition of gamma, the ratio of specific heats, in the phase transition zone has been corrected to account for the changes of heat capacity and density in each phase.

LiveLink™ for MATLAB®

  • A problem has been fixed that would cause the wrapper function mphglobal to return the complex conjugate of the resulting complex numbers.

Particle Tracing Module

  • It is now possible to have multiple Nuclear Stopping subfeatures with the same Screening function.
  • Handling of dielectrophoretic, magnetophoretic, and acoustophoretic forces is improved when a Frequency Domain study step is selected under "Values of variables not solved for" in the "Values of Dependent Variables" section of the Time Dependent study step settings.
  • An error that would occur when a Particle or Ray data set preceded the Solution data set in the Model Builder has now been fixed.
  • The handling of non-SI geometry units for the Release from Point feature has been improved.

Ray Optics Module

  • Handling has been improved when using the Illuminated Surface feature in combination with a moving mesh.
  • There is now more robust handling of boundary conditions on a moving mesh.
  • An error has been fixed that would occur when using "Specular reflection" as the "Otherwise" wall condition for the Wall feature.
  • Stability has improved for ray release features when the "Allow propagation outside selected domains" check box is cleared.
  • Reference edges for optical devices like the Linear Polarizer can now be selected even if they are surrounded by the exterior void domain outside the geometry.
  • An error has been fixed that occurred when a Particle or Ray data set preceded the Solution data set in the Model Builder.
  • Ray tracing in unmeshed domains for models with imported meshes is now supported.

Structural Mechanics Module

  • Values changed from default for the domain thickness were not accounted for when calculating the effect of pore pressure in the External Stress feature in 2D models. This is now fixed and the results are now independent of the thickness for 2D plane stress models, as expected.
  • It is now possible to use a Pinned node in the Truss interface when a Truss interface and a Solid Mechanics interface are used in the same component.
  • For the Beam interface in 2D, the Prescribed Velocity and Prescribed Acceleration features no longer incorrectly use twice the value entered by the user.
  • The Viscoelasticity subfeature configured to use the Kelvin-Voigt model now works properly when the parent material feature is a linear orthotropic or linear anisotropic material.

COMSOL Server™

  • This update contains a few stability improvements.

Performance Improvements in COMSOL® Version 5.2a Update 2

Update 2 provides significantly faster handling of large models, including the creation of swept meshes. Update 2 provides significantly faster handling of large models, including the creation of swept meshes.
Update 2 provides significantly faster handling of large models, including the creation of swept meshes.

COMSOL versions 5.2a, 5.2a update 1, 5.2a update 2, and 5.2a update 3 provide significant performance improvements compared to version 5.1 and earlier versions. These performance improvements are most notable with respect to the handling of models with several thousand domains, boundaries, edges, and points. The following table shows the most important of these performance improvements and the estimated speedup for the handling of large models.

Functionality Speedup
Selections of domains, boundaries, edges, and points 10x
Virtual geometry operations (collapse faces) 10x
Swept meshing 10x
OpenGL rendering 10x
CAD import 5x
Load/save of .mph files 2-10x

New Product in COMSOL® Version 5.2a Update 2: The Rotordynamics Module

The pressure distribution in the lubricant of the bearings (rainbow color plot), von Mises stresses (blue color plot), and displacement of the bearings (orbit plot) resulting from a rotordynamics analysis. The pressure distribution in the lubricant of the bearings (rainbow color plot), von Mises stresses (blue color plot), and displacement of the bearings (orbit plot) resulting from a rotordynamics analysis.
The pressure distribution in the lubricant of the bearings (rainbow color plot), von Mises stresses (blue color plot), and displacement of the bearings (orbit plot) resulting from a rotordynamics analysis.

You can use the Rotordynamics Module, which is an optional expansion to the Structural Mechanics Module, to analyze the effects of lateral and torsional vibrations of rotating machinery in order to study rotor vibrations and contain their levels within acceptable design limits. The different design parameters you can evaluate with this module include critical speeds, whirl, natural frequencies, stability thresholds, and the stationary and transient responses of a rotor due to mass unbalances. You can also see how rotational behavior may lead to stresses in the rotor itself, as well as additional loads on and vibration transmissions to other parts of the rotating machine's assembly.

With the Rotordynamics Module, you can take into account the effects of various stationary and moving rotor components, including disks, bearings, and foundations. You can also easily postprocess your results directly within the software environment, presenting them as Campbell diagrams, modal orbits, harmonic orbits, waterfall plots, and whirl plots.

New Functionality in COMSOL® Version 5.2a Update 2

A waterfall plot showing the displacement of one of the bearings. The plot shows the frequency (x-axis, along the front of the plot), angular speed (y-axis, along the side of the plot), and amplitude (z-axis, in the vertical direction of the plot) in 3D. The color plot also shows the amplitude of the displacement.

A waterfall plot showing the displacement of one of the bearings. The plot shows the frequency (x-axis, along the front of the plot), angular speed (y-axis, along the side of the plot), and amplitude (z-axis, in the vertical direction of the plot) in 3D. The color plot also shows the amplitude of the displacement.

A waterfall plot showing the displacement of one of the bearings. The plot shows the frequency (x-axis, along the front of the plot), angular speed (y-axis, along the side of the plot), and amplitude (z-axis, in the vertical direction of the plot) in 3D. The color plot also shows the amplitude of the displacement.

Whirl plots are used in the analyses of rotating machine rotors that are simulated using beam elements. The path traveled by the components, such as bearings and disks, can also be included in such plots. Whirl plots are used in the analyses of rotating machine rotors that are simulated using beam elements. The path traveled by the components, such as bearings and disks, can also be included in such plots.
Whirl plots are used in the analyses of rotating machine rotors that are simulated using beam elements. The path traveled by the components, such as bearings and disks, can also be included in such plots.

Support for macOS Sierra

Continuing its commitment to the Mac user community, update 2 now includes support for macOS Sierra (version 10.12).

Waterfall Plot

Use the new Waterfall plot to create a diagram of how an expression depends on two parameters in a parametric sweep. For example, in the Rotordynamics Module, this type of plot can be used to show the displacement at a point of a rotor versus displacement at different rotor speeds and natural frequencies.

Whirl Plot

Use the Whirl plot to create a plot of the modal shapes of a beam rotor that is rotated about the rotor axis at discrete rotation intervals. This plot type requires the Rotordynamics Module.

Cluster and Batch Computing Preferences

The Cluster Computing, Cluster Sweep, Batch, and Batch Sweep study steps have a new option to control low-level settings from the Preferences window. This functionality is available in new Cluster Computing settings and Remote Computing settings, where you can choose between User controlled and Preferences controlled.

Stop Time for Batch Jobs

When running a batch job from the operating system command line, you can now automatically stop a job after a given amount of time. This functionality is available by a new command-line option, stoptime, which allows you to specify a stop time value in seconds.

Mass Transport in Fractures

In the Chemical Reaction Engineering Module, a new Fracture feature is available that can be used to solve for mass transport in fractures. The new functionality has been added to the Transport of Diluted Species and Transport of Diluted Species in Porous Media interfaces.

New Time to Frequency FFT Study for Heat Transfer

A new study type, Time to Frequency FFT, is now available for all heat transfer interfaces. This study type is used to transform a time domain solution into a frequency domain solution by means of a fast Fourier transform (FFT).

Solar Irradiance for Ambient Settings

A new Infinite distance option is available for Solar Irradiance, as used in the Ambient Settings for an External Radiation Source.

Stability Improvements in COMSOL® Version 5.2a Update 2

All COMSOL® software products undergo stability improvements, which are introduced as updates. The following list contains the most important improvements in COMSOL® version 5.2a update 2 that were not part of a previous update.

COMSOL Multiphysics®

  • The Inverse FFT solver has been improved to be more memory conservative.
  • Interpolation function import is faster, more memory efficient, and robust if the data is stored in structured grid format. The import functionality automatically detects if the data is structured or unstructured. If the data is detected to be unstructured, a previously available Delaunay triangulation-based algorithm is used. This functionality is available for interpolation functions stored in the spreadsheet format.
  • The time explicit solvers used for the discontinuous Galerkin method now provide better error handling when a singular mass matrix is detected.
  • The command-line options -data and -configuration now work correctly when running COMSOL Multiphysics® in the Linux® operating system.
  • For floating network licenses (FNLs), the license management tool has been upgraded to ensure that all software licenses are released when the COMSOL Multiphysics process closes.

AC/DC Module

  • For models with boundaries that are adjacent to multiple Ampère's Law features, lumped ports now work correctly.

Acoustics Module

  • For frequency sweeps, the ISO preferred frequencies entry method that is available in the Range dialog box now only appears for models that either use the Acoustics Module or if you select the Advanced Study Options in the Model Builder toolbar.
  • In the Ray Acoustics interface, it is now possible to specify initial ray directions with respect to a moving fluid or to the global coordinate system.
  • The mean molar mass option for entering material data in the linearized Euler interface now works correctly. For the Convected Wave Equation, Time Explicit interface, the Absorbing Layers feature now supports user-defined geometry types.
  • The Ray Acoustics interface now has improved performance compared to earlier releases.
  • Handling of non-SI geometry units in the Ray Acoustics interface is now more robust.

CAD Import Module

  • Import of AutoCAD®, CATIA® V5, Inventor®, and SOLIDWORKS® files now work in client-server mode for cases when COMSOL Client is running in a Windows® environment although COMSOL Server™ may be running in a Linux® or macOS environment.
  • Exporting an assembly to the Parasolid® file format now works correctly.

CFD Module

  • The Interior Fan feature in 2D now has an added out-of-plane thickness contribution.
  • The numerical stabilization of models using the Brinkman equations has been improved when a nonisothermal flow coupling or gravity is active.
  • The stabilization definition has been corrected when gravity is defined with multiphase flow couplings.
  • An overwriting issue has been fixed that occurred for the gravity force variable in cases where a domain feature was added subsequently after a Gravity node.
  • The velocity field from the Thin-Film Flow, Shell interface can now be selected under Model Inputs in other physics interfaces and features, such as the Thin Film feature in the Heat Transfer in Fluids interface.

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module

  • The Maxwell-Stefan diffusion model now supports initial mass fractions set to zero.

Heat Transfer Module

  • The definition of wall functions has been corrected for the interface between a turbulent fluid and a solid domain in the case when no Temperature boundary condition was present in the model.
  • The vapor resistance factor material property has been renamed to mu_vrf.
  • For models that include radiation, when radiation groups are used and a surface does not belong to any group, an error message is shown. To make it easier to find which boundaries do not belong to any group, the error message now lists all such boundaries.

LiveLink™ for Excel®

  • In cases when only one cell containing a parameter is active, the parameters are now correctly updated when clicking Update All.
  • The Connect to Server dialog box now remembers the server name and port number.

LiveLink™ for MATLAB®

  • The mphplot wrapper function now supports Whirl and Waterfall plots.
  • When using mphplot, the plot can now be hosted inside a uipanel as well as a figure window. Use the property 'parent' to set where the plot should be hosted.
  • A bug has been fixed that prevented the use of relative path names, for example, when specifying files for interpolation files.

Molecular Flow Module

  • The variable fmf.Qtot now gives the correct value during results processing.

Particle Tracing Module

  • Error messages for feature attributes for the Particle Beam feature are now more descriptive.
  • A separate variable for phase is now available when using time-harmonic electric or magnetic forces.
  • A missing description has been added to the Fluid Flow > Particle Tracing branch of the Model Wizard.
  • Particle tracing now has improved performance compared to earlier releases.

Plasma Module

  • The reverse reaction rate is now correctly computed for reactions when specifying equilibrium constants.
  • Clear and Clear & Load buttons are now available in the tables used in the Plasma interface.

Ray Optics Module

  • The option to include "All" Zernike polynomials in the Optical Aberration plot now includes the tilt and piston terms.
  • The Release from Edge and Release from Point features can now release rays outside the geometry, like all of the other ray release features.
  • Ray power no longer becomes Not-a-Number (NaN) when rays are quickly reflected many times by surfaces with high absorption coefficients.
  • The Geometrical Optics interface now has improved performance compared to earlier releases.
  • Handling of non-SI geometry units in the Geometrical Optics interface is now more robust.

RF Module

  • For the Electromagnetic Waves, Time Explicit interface, the Absorbing Layers feature now supports user-defined geometry types.

Structural Mechanics Module

  • When using a spring foundation at a point or boundary for a Shell interface, the damping feature has been corrected. This problem occurred when a local coordinate system was used. When a Magnetostriction feature was combined with a Lorenz Force Contribution feature, a problem occurred that is now fixed.

Wave Optics Module

  • For the Electromagnetic Waves, Time Explicit interface, the Absorbing Layers feature now supports user-defined geometry types.

Stability Improvements in COMSOL® Version 5.2a Update 1

All COMSOL® software products undergo stability improvements, which are introduced as updates. The following list contains the most important improvements in COMSOL® version 5.2a update 1.

COMSOL Multiphysics®

  • COMSOL Multiphysics® previously sometimes failed to start on some computers running the Windows® 10 operating system, with errors in the log file referring to "The pipe is being closed". This problem has been fixed.
  • Application-specific download errors will no longer cause an Application Library update session involving several applications to abort prematurely.
  • The launch time for the standalone COMSOL Documentation application has been significantly reduced.
  • For certain 3D geometric configurations, there was sometimes an unmotivated refinement of the mesh. This has now been fixed.
  • For floating network licenses (FNLs), it is now possible to set up a cluster job in the COMSOL Desktop® on a Mac computer. Just as in previous versions, the actual cluster computations have to take place on a supported Windows® or Linux® cluster.
  • A problem that previously would cause an incorrect mesh in 2D under some circumstances has now been fixed. Typical symptoms when this occurred were gaps in the mesh visualization or failures to create a boundary layer mesh.
  • The tetrahedral meshing algorithm is now even more robust.
  • Tetrahedral meshing performance has been improved.

Application Builder

  • Derived values containing multiple expressions now correctly display the description and unit of the first expression when added from the New Form wizard or the Editor Tools window in the Application Builder.
  • Ctrl+/ has been added as an alternative shortcut for autocompletion in the Method Editor. It is aimed primarily at users in Asia and was added because Ctrl+Space is often used to change Input Method Editors (IME) in Asian versions of the Windows® operating system. Technically, the keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+OEM2. Where this key is located depends on the region of the keyboard; for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean keyboards, it maps to "/".

AC/DC Module

  • The Average Torque variable is now defined as a global variable rather than a domain variable.

Acoustics Module

  • Scale factors for arrows are now applied correctly during animations of ray trajectory plots for ray acoustics.

CFD Module

  • The Equation Display for the Euler-Euler Model interface has been corrected.

Heat Transfer Module

  • The downside temperature has been corrected for k-epsilon and k-omega turbulent flow models on thin layer boundaries with thermally thick approximations without wall functions.
  • The implementation of a Temperature boundary condition at fluid/solid interfaces for k-epsilon and k-omega turbulent flow models for some configurations has been corrected.
  • Local thermal nonequilibrium associated with fluid flow in porous media is now compatible with nonisothermal flow.
  • Vapor resistance factor in heat and moisture (HAM) modeling has been renamed from mu to mu_vrf.

LiveLink™ for AutoCAD®

  • The LiveLink™ add-in can now be loaded in AutoCAD® 2017 Service Pack 1.

LiveLink™ for Excel®

  • Clicking Open after disconnecting from a remote server will no longer fail to connect to a local server.

LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™

  • Assembly subcomponents that contain only suppressed subcomponents will no longer cause the synchronization to fail.

LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS®

  • It is now possible to select global variables for synchronization by clicking the Equations folder while the COMSOL Parameter Selection window is open in the SOLIDWORKS® software.

MEMS Module

  • The sign convention used for the d and e coupling matrices for Quartz RH 1978 has been fixed.

Microfluidics Module

  • The default solver for the Slip Flow interface is now direct (PARDISO).

Particle Tracing Module

  • Particle velocities at inlets can now be initialized pseudorandomly or deterministically.
  • The Poincaré Map and Phase Portrait plots now appear in the plot group context menus.
  • Scale factors for arrows are now applied correctly during animations of trajectory plots.

Plasma Module

  • The Electron Heat Source multiphysics coupling now provides the correct equation contributions when the dependent variables in the Plasma interface are renamed.
  • Opening a model containing any of the equilibrium discharge interfaces along with a Boundary Heat Source multiphysics coupling no longer results in an error.

Ray Optics Module

  • An error in the expression for phase retardation by thin dielectric films has been fixed.
  • Scale factors for arrows are now applied correctly during animations of ray trajectory plots.

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