Integrated material and process simulation and emulation platform

Among the many software for material and process simulation, COMSOL Multiphysics, with its advantages in multi-physics coupling and flexible external application programming interface (API), has demonstrated extraordinary problem-solving capabilities in multi-physics field solutions. Professor Huang Zhiheng of Sun Yat-sen University has been committed to the research of integrated material/process simulation and simulation. Recently, Professor Huang has successfully applied the material thermodynamics calculation software MTDATA and the scientific computing software MATLAB to the multi-physics coupling calculation of COMSOL Multiphysics, solving a series of material dynamics problems. On this basis, he has built an integrated material and process simulation platform with COMSOL Multiphysics as the core.

1. COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB Interface

COMSOL Multiphysics provides a perfect interface with MATLAB - LiveLink for MATLAB. In this overall environment, users can save and run files just like in MATLAB, making it convenient for users to freely integrate model-based partial differential equations, simulation operations, and result analysis using other modeling methods.

Running COMSOL with MALTAB mode not only allows COMSOL Multiphysics to call the MALTAB kernel and all the toolboxes it contains, but also allows you to operate the physical model using the command line, as shown in Figure 1.

2. COMSOL Multiphysics and MTDATA Interface

Due to the seamless link between COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB, any model (.mph file) created by COMSOL Multiphysics can be saved as a MATLAB m file and run in the MATLAB environment. Therefore, the interface between MATLAB and MTDATA can be applied to COMSOL Multiphysics. It should be noted that the COMSOL Multiphysics model only needs to be loaded once when calling the functions and subroutines in the MTDATA DLL. If the MTDATA DLL has been loaded into memory, a link error will be prompted when it is loaded again.

The linking mechanism between COMSOL Multiphysics, MTDATA and MATLAB is shown in Figure 2.

Typical applications of integrated material and process simulation platform #e#3. Typical applications of integrated material and process simulation platform

Taking the Cu-Sn two-element four-phase (Sn, Cu6Sn5, Cu3Sn and Cu) system as an example, the finite element geometry model and mesh division are first created in COMSOL Multiphysics, as shown in Figure 3.

The diffusion equation is defined and solved using the general form of the PDE model in COMSOL Multiphysics. The chemical potential and molar volume are calculated using the interface between MATLAB and MTDATA to solve the kinetic process diagram. The simulation results of the copper dissolution kinetic process during the solder dip process are shown in Figure 4.

The influence of solder composition and size effect on the dissolution of copper solder joints is shown in Figure 5.

The material crystal growth process simulated by COMSOL Multiphysics is shown in Figure 6. The interface microstructure simulation results are shown in Figure 7.

The simulation results of the phase-field crystal model are shown in Figure 8.

4. COMSOL Multiphysics’ Flexible API

COMSOL Multiphysics is an industry-leading scientific simulation software that mainly uses partial differential equations to model and simulate systems. Its special feature is its multi-physics field coupling processing capabilities. Researchers engaged in professional scientific research can also develop additional modules with professional user interfaces and equation settings. Currently, there are modules such as chemical engineering, earth sciences, electromagnetic fields, heat conduction, micro-electromechanical systems, and structural mechanics. The software can be used on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Solaris, and HP-UX systems. Other optional software packages include CAD input modules and COMSOL Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory.