Multiphysics simulation: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Simulation of multiple aspects of physics}}

{{Computational physics}}

In [[computational model|computational modelling]], '''multiphysics simulation''' (often shortened to simply "multiphysics") is defined as the simultaneous simulation of different aspects of a physical system or systems and the interactions among them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Liu|first=Zhen|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1044733613|title=Multiphysics in Porous Materials|date=2018|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-93028-2|___location=Cham, Switzerland|oclc=1044733613}}</ref> For example, simultaneous simulation of the physical stress on an object, the temperature distribution of the object and the thermal expansion which leads to the variation of the stress and temperature distributions would be considered a multiphysics simulation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2015/03/multiphysics-brings-the-real-world-into-simulations/|title=Multiphysics brings the real world into simulations|date=2015-03-16|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Multiphysics simulation is related to multiscale simulation, which is the simultaneous simulation of a single process on either multiple time or distance scales.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Groen|first1=Derek|last2=Zasada|first2=Stefan J.|last3=Coveney|first3=Peter V.|date=March 2014|title=Survey of Multiscale and Multiphysics Applications and Communities|url=https://doi.org/10.1109/MCSE.2013.47|journal=Computing in Science & Engineering|volume=16|issue=2|pages=34–43|arxiv=1208.6444|doi=10.1109/mcse.2013.47|s2cid=6301539 |issn=1521-9615}}</ref>

As an [[Interdisciplinarity|interdisciplinary]] field, multiphysics simulation can span many science and engineering disciplines. Simulation methods frequently include [[numerical analysis]], [[partial differential equations]] and [[tensor analysis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.multiphysics.us|title=Multiphysics Learning & Networking - Home Page|website=www.multiphysics.us|access-date=2018-08-19}}</ref>

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<ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=Krzhizhanovskaya|first=Valeria V.|title=Simulation of Multiphysics Multiscale Systems: Introduction to the ICCS'2007 Workshop|date=2007|work=Computational Science – ICCS 2007|pages=755–761|publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-540-72584-8_100|isbn=9783540725831|last2=Sun|first2=Shuyu|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite arxiv|last=Groen|first=Derek|last2=Zasada|first2=Stefan J.|last3=Coveney|first3=Peter V.|date=2012-08-31|title=Survey of Multiscale and Multiphysics Applications and Communities|eprint=1208.6444|class=cs.OH}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nafems.org/downloads/FENet.../St...2005/fenet_malta_may2005_mpa.pdf|title=NAFEMS downloads engineering analysis and simulation - FEA, Finite Element Analysis, CFD, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Simulation|last=www.duodesign.co.uk|website=nafems.org|access-date=2018-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819214305/https://www.nafems.org/downloads/FENet.../St...2005/fenet_malta_may2005_mpa.pdf|archive-date=2018-08-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Thilmany|first=Jean|date=2010-02-01|title= Multiphysics: All at Once|journal= Mechanical Engineering|volume=132|issue=2|pages=39–41|doi=10.1115/1.2010-Feb-5|issn=0025-6501|doi-access=free}}</ref>

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The implementation of a multiphysics simulation follows a typical series of steps:<ref name=":0" />

* Identify the aspects of the system to be simulated, including physical processes, starting conditions, and the coupling or boundary conditions among these processprocesses.

* Create a [[discrete mathematics|discrete]] mathematical model of the system.

* [[numerical analysis|Numerically]] solve the model.

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== Mathematical models ==

{{see also|Mathematical models}}

Mathematical models used in multiphysics simulations are generally a set of coupled equations. The equations can be divided into three categories according to the nature and intended role: [[governing equations|governing equation]], [[characteristic equation (calculus)|auxiliary equations]] and [[boundary value problem|boundary/initial conditions]]. A governing equation describes a major physical mechanismsmechanism or process. Multiphysics simulations are numerically implemented with [[discretization]] methods such as the [[finite element method]], [[finite difference method]], or [[finite volume method]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bagwell|first1=Scott|last2=Ledger|first2=Paul D|last3=Gil|first3=Antonio J|last4=Mallett|first4=Mike|last5=Kruip|first5=Marcel|date=2017-12-07|title=A linearised ''hp''-finite element framework for acousto-magneto-mechanical coupling in axisymmetric MRI scanners|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nme.5559|journal=International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering|language=en|volume=112|issue=10|pages=1323–1352|doi=10.1002/nme.5559|s2cid=125715500 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Challenges of multiphysics simulation ==

Generally speaking, multiphysics simulation is much harder than that for individual aspects of the physical processes.

The main extra issue is how to integrate the multiple aspects of the processes with proper handling of the interactions among them.

Such issueissues becomesbecome quite difficult when different types of numerical methods are used for the simulations of individual physical aspects.

For example, when simulating a [[fluid-structure interaction]] problem with typical Eulerian finite volume method for flow

and Lagrangian finite element method for structure dynamics.

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* Paul Lethbridge, ''Multiphysics Analysis'', p26, The Industrial Physicist, Dec 2004/Jan 2005, [http://www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-10/iss-6/p26.html], Archived at: [https://web.archive.org/web/20041204052110/http://www.aip.org:80/tip/INPHFA/vol-10/iss-6/p26.html]

{{Computer simulation}}

[[Category:Numerical analysis]]

[[Category:Computational physics]]