Multidomain Design and Optimization based on COMSOL Multiphysics: Applications for Mechatronic Devices Ara Bissal, Octavian Craciun, Veronica

Transcription

1 Multidomain Design and Optimization based on COMSOL Multiphysics: Applications for Mechatronic Devices Ara Bissal, Octavian Craciun, Veronica Biagini, & Jesper Magnusson

2 Table of contents Introduction Methodology Use of COMSOL Multiphysics Experimental Verification Test case Results Conclusions Future work Month DD, Year Slide 2

3 Introduction Due to recent advances in computers Finite Element Method (FEM) based simulations are becoming a standard prior to designing and prototyping. Although FEM is very accurate it has several limitations. COMSOL Multiphysics is an excellent tool that can be used to carry out Multiphysics simulations. However, due to the limitation of the FEM, it is a challenge to guarantee convergent for large parametric studies especial in the presence of nonlinear and or time dependent studies. Consequently, a novel smart parallelizable algorithm is developed that overcomes these presented challenges. Month DD, Year Slide 3

4 Methodology Parent matlab file starts checks number of available processors on machine Creates a token file containing all parameters to simulate Starts children equal to the number of available processors Starts simulating the job Process for child number 1 Requests a token If token file is locked If token file is not locked Gets a unique key identifier Each child consists of a Matlab instance with a Comsol server livelink running on one processor Once all children are initiated and ready for parallel computation, the parent dies to free up memory Gets a token Waits Locks token file to prevent access to its siblings If not If yes Checks if its siblings also got a key Month DD, Year Slide 4

5 Methdology The process is repeated by all children until the token list is exhausted The algorithm is smart since it identifies fails simulations cases and takes evasive action It is able to tighten the relative and absolute tolerances in stages until it solves If after 3 stages it fails, it abandons and marks this particular configuration and requests a new token Month DD, Year Slide 5

6 Use of COMSOL Multiphysics Used Comsol modules: Magnetics Solid mechanics Moving mesh Electric circuit Global ODEs and DAEs Heat transfer in solids Weak form PDE Month DD, Year Slide 6

7 Use of COMSOL Multiphysics Month DD, Year Slide 7

8 Experimental Verification High speed camera fps Motion tracking Good match between simulations and measurements! Month DD, Year Slide 8

9 Test case The axi-symmetric model of the TC shown to the right Chosen variables are: Capacitance Charging voltage Number of turns 20,520 simulations Parallelized on 4 CPUS Solving time: 7 weeks. If computed serially, this would take more than half a year. Month DD, Year Slide 9

10 Results A 5D plot showing all combination sets resulting in a velocity between 10 and 12 m/s Dimension 1 on x-axis: Capacitance Dimension 2 on y-axis: Voltage Dimension 3 on z-axis: Turn number Dimension 4, color: Velocity Dimension 5, bubble size: Efficiency Month DD, Year Slide 10

11 Results Month DD, Year Slide 11

12 Results A 5D plot showing all combination sets resulting in a velocity between 10 and 12 m/s Dimension 1 on x-axis: Capacitance Dimension 2 on y-axis: Voltage Dimension 3 on z-axis: Turn number Dimension 4, color: Velocity Dimension 5, bubble size: Energy Month DD, Year Slide 12

13 Conclusions & Future work Smart and parallelizable algorithm Increase in speed almost proportional to the number of parallel instances This algorithm is still at its infancy A dedicated multi-objective optimization algorithm will also be incorporated Coupling such a tool with COMSOL Multiphysics opens up a new frontier enabling fast and automated prototyping This significantly speeds up the chain from ideas to products Month DD, Year Slide 13

14 Questions?