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COMSOL 5.1 Update 3

Released September 7, 2015

This update corrects a few bugs and stability issues in Version 5.1 of COMSOL Multiphysics, COMSOL Server, and COMSOL Client. It also makes it possible to run COMSOL 5.1 on Windows® 10.

If you are already running Windows 10 or have updated to Windows 10, you must apply the COMSOL 5.1 Hotfix for Windows® 10 in addition to applying this update. If you make a complete installation of COMSOL 5.1 using the latest download (includes the contents of Update 3), the Hotfix is not needed. This applies both if you already have installed Windows 10 or plan to update later on.

The update is cumulative; that is, it applies to Version 5.1, Version 5.1 Update 1, and Version 5.1 Update 2, and it includes all updates from the previous Update 1 and Update 2.

Contents:

  • Updating COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Updating COMSOL Server
  • Updating COMSOL Client
  • Update Details (available in a separate tab)

Updating COMSOL Multiphysics

1

Check your version

Make sure that you run COMSOL version 5.1.0.136 or later. Start COMSOL, and check the version in the Messages window. 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 any of the additional product listed below, please also download the corresponding update
Product Update(s)
LiveLink™ for Excel® Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llexcel_win.exe (1.2 MB)
LiveLink™ for MATLAB® Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_mli_win.exe (0.7 MB)
Linux - comsol_5.1.0.234_mli_linux.tar.gz (0.1 MB)
Mac OS X - comsol_5.1.0.234_mli_mac.dmg (0.1 MB)
Optimization Module Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_opt_win.exe (0.7 MB)
Linux - comsol_5.1.0.234_opt_linux.tar.gz (0.2 MB)
Mac OS X - comsol_5.1.0.234_opt_mac.dmg (0.1 MB)
LiveLink for AutoCAD Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llac_win.exe (0.8 MB)
LiveLink for PTC Cre Parametric Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llcreop_win.exe (5.9 MB)
LiveLink for Inventor Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llinv_win.exe (1.1 MB)
LiveLink for PTC Pro/ENGINEER Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llproe_win.exe (4.5 MB)
LiveLink for Revit Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llrevit_win.exe (1.2 MB)
LiveLink for Solid Edge Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llse_win.exe (0.8 MB)
LiveLink for SolidWorks Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llsw_win.exe (1.1 MB)
3

Install

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

Windows

Run the downloaded .exe-file to extract the update to the COMSOL 5.1 installation directory, for example C:\Program Files\COMSOL\COMSOL51\Multiphysics.

Linux

Copy the downloaded .tar.gz-file to the COMSOL 5.1 installation directory:

cp comsol_5.1.0.234_linux.tar.gz [installdir]

where [installdir] is the root of the installation, for example /usr/local/comsol51/multiphysics. Unpack it by the commands:

cd [installdir]
tar xvzf comsol_5.1.0.234_linux.tar.gz

Macintosh

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 COMSOL51/Multiphysics.

Unmount the disk image

4

Check your installation

  1. Start COMSOL Multiphysics.
  2. On the Help menu, click About COMSOL Multiphysics.
  3. Check that the version number is 5.1.0.234. (If not, the installation did not succeed.)

Updating COMSOL Server

1

Check your version

Make sure that you run COMSOL version 5.1.0.136 or later. 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 any of the additional product listed below, please also download the corresponding update
Product Update(s)
LiveLink™ for Excel® Windows - comsol_5.1.0.234_llexcel_win.exe (1.2 MB)
LiveLink for MATLAB Windows Server - comsol_5.1.0.234_mli_win_server.exe (0.7 MB)
Linux Server - comsol_5.1.0.234_mli_linux_server.tar.gz (0.1 MB)
Mac OS X Server - comsol_5.1.0.234_mli_mac_server.dmg (0.1 MB)
3

Install

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

Windows

Run the downloaded .exe-file to extract the update to the COMSOL 5.1 installation directory, for example C:\Program Files\COMSOL\COMSOL51\Server.

Linux

Copy the downloaded .tar.gz-file to the COMSOL 5.1 installation directory:

cp comsol_5.1.0.234_linux_server.tar.gz [installdir]

where [installdir] is the root of the installation, for example /usr/local/comsol51/server. Unpack it by the commands:

cd [installdir]
tar xvzf comsol_5.1.0.234_linux_server.tar.gz

Macintosh

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 COMSOL51/Server.

Unmount the disk image

4

Check your installation

Open [installdir]/uninstall/fl.var in a text editor and ensure that it says:
ver.build=234
ver.major=0
ver.name=COMSOL 5.1

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 5.1.0.234, just uninstall COMSOL Client and then download the new version from ws-bos.comsol.com/client-download/5.1.0.234 and reinstall.

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

Update Details for Update 3

RF Module

  • Removed redundant postprocessing variables that appeared when a port-related simulation generated S-parameters.

Wave Optics Module

  • Solver suggestions for the Microwave Plasma interface have been corrected.
  • An initial value can now be set for the Lagrange multiplier that enforces a fixed deposited power.

Update Details for Update 2 (included in Update 3)

COMSOL Multiphysics

  • It is now possible to open the Part Libraries window also when the ribbon is minimized
  • It is now possible to perform time-dependent adaptive mesh refinement in 1D.
  • Fixed a problem with plotting material properties for materials under a material Switch node.
  • Non-ASCII characters now appear correctly in the Progress window.
  • The option to zoom to extents now works correctly in image export.
  • Corrected an issue when using the Previous Solution node to store the previous solution in transient studies when using the BDF solver.
  • Fixes a problem with experiments sometimes being ignored during least-squares optimization.
  • Entering range expressions for the continuation parameters in a frequency study now works as expected.
  • Fallback features in contact pairs no longer override the Friction node.
  • Stability improvements.

Application Builder and COMSOL Server

  • Improves the performance with many users logged in.
  • Fixed a problem with too few allowed applications if a user account is simultaneously used on more than one computer.
  • Fixed a problem with using the split() method with strings that contain backslashes.
  • Fixed a problem with changing text color in tables for applications using the web client.
  • Clicking Cancel to stop the launching of a running application now works as expected.
  • Turning on and off the grid now works also when running in a web client.
  • Stability improvements.

AC/DC Module

  • Resolves an issue with lost precision due to 4 digits, fix point representation in Touchstone file export.
  • Correction and, in some cases, removal of non physical data for some materials in the Nonlinear Magnetic material library.
  • Fixed a problem in Rotating Machinery, Magnetic with Gauge fixing and antiperiodic boundary conditions (sector symmetric models).
  • Fixed an issue in the Geometry Analysis for Multi-Turn Coils with Numeric settings.
  • Resolves a problem with fixed charge Terminals in Electrostatics and Piezoelectric Devices in the Frequency Domain.
  • Stability improvements.

Acoustics Module

  • For the Ray Acoustics interface, corrected an error in the initialization of the wave vector of rays released by the Inlet node.
  • Stability improvements.

CFD Module

  • A new Inkjet application demonstrates how to model the fluid flow of an inkjet nozzle, for instance, in a printer.
  • Adjusted the equation display for the Reacting Flow in Porous Media interface.
  • Velocity fields from other physics interfaces are now selectable from a drop-down list in the standalone phase field and level set interfaces.
  • Stability improvements.

Chemical Reaction Engineering Module

  • In the Reaction Engineering and Chemistry interfaces, the input fields for molar masses and electric charge were removed for the cases when they are not needed.
  • Corrected the definition of the reverse rate constant (kr) for the last reaction when importing large number of reactions in groups from CHEMKIN datafiles.
  • Fixed an error message that was triggered under certain circumstances if you changed the diffusivity tensor and then changed number of species, in the transport of concentrated species interface.
  • Removed incorrect warning message triggered by the Plug Flow Reactor when doing certain space-dependent exports.
  • Improved the default x-axis description for the Plug Flow Reactor.
  • Corrected the COMSOL Java API command for setting reaction rates in Reaction Engineering  and Chemistry interfaces.
  • Stability improvements.

Corrosion Module and Electrodeposition Module

  • Fixed issue with sometimes inverted deposition/corrosion deformation velocity on internal boundaries in Corrosion, Primary and Electrodeposition, Primary interfaces.

ECAD Import Module

  • Fixed wrong rotation and mirroring for some symbols for ODB++ import.
  • Fixed wrong scaling of board outline in some cases of ODB++ import.

Heat Transfer Module

  • A new Equivalent Properties of Periodic Microstructures application computes the equivalent thermal properties of periodic microstructure composite materials.
  • A new Parasol and Solar Irradiation application simulates the solar irradiation on a beach with frosty beverage cans enclosed in two coolers under a parasol.
  • Added threshold in the gap definition used in Thermal Contact features. Now negative contact pressure are treated like zero contact pressure
  • Removed the unused Thin Layer Opacity section from Pair Thin Layer feature
  • Added a missing contribution to ht.Q when Heat Source feature was used with Overall heat transfer rate option.
  • Removed the subst operator from the surface emissivity definition in the standalone Surface-to-surface radiation interface.
  • Fixed error in the equation display for Fan feature when Flow direction is Outlet. Since it was only an equation display issue, this has no impact on the solution.
  • Added missing definition of ht.TextFace when Thin Layer feature is used with General option for Layer type.
  • Updated Opaque Surface to distinguish the wall temperature from the fluid temperature when wall functions are used.
  • Fixed temperature initial value issue when Thin Layer feature is used with General option for Layer type.

LiveLink™ for AutoCAD®

  • Adds support for AutoCAD 2016.
  • Stability improvements.

LiveLink™ for Excel®

  • Stability improvements.

LiveLink™ for Inventor®

  • Adds support for Inventor 2016.
  • Stability improvements.

LiveLink™ for MATLAB®

  • Plotting sometimes crashed Matlab when using Matlab 2015a. This is due to a bug in Matlab 2015a, which is circumvented with this update. The bug number on The Mathworks\'s website is 1207339.
  • Updates mphimage2geom to fix problem that in some cases could cause model object on server to be overwritten.
  • A bug prevented mphglobal from retrieving complex data from models using a parametric sweep.
  • Stability improvements.

LiveLink™ for PTC Creo Parametric™

  • Fixed a problem with synchronization of material selections.

LiveLink™ for Revit®

  • Adds support for Revit 2016.
  • Stability improvements.

LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS®

  • Fixed a problem with synchronization of selections.
  • Stability improvements.

MEMS Module

  • A new Microresistor Beam application simulates the movement of a beam by conducting a current through it to generate a temperature increase, which leads to a displacement through thermal expansion.
  • Stability improvements.

Mixer Module

  • A new Mixer application computes the efficiency of the mixing process for mixers equipped with axial or radial impellers.

Multibody Dynamics Module

  • Stability improvements.

Nonlinear Structural Materials Module

  • For the Ramberg-Osgood material model, set a manual scaling for the pseudo-plastic strain variable.
  • In the plasticity feature, removed an incorrect error message triggered by the user-defined plastic potential.

Optimization Module

  • Stability improvements.

Particle Tracing Module

  • In the Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow interface, corrected an error in the calculation of the volume force exerted on the fluid by the particles.
  • In the Charged Particle Tracing interface, the number of particles released by the Particle Beam can now be parameterized.
  • In the Charged Particle Tracing interface, the Particle Beam node can now be used to release different species of particle using the Override Properties node.
  • In the Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow interface, corrected an error in the expression for the Acoustophoretic Force.
  • Stability improvements.

Ray Optics Module

  • Stability improvements.

RF Module

  • A new Frequency Selective Surface Simulator application simulates a periodic structure for a frequency selective surface (FSS), which you can choose from five built-in unit cell types.
  • Fixed a problem when Transition boundary condition is used for Mode Analysis and Boundary Mode Analysis.
  • Stability improvements.

Semiconductor Module

  • The correct equation contributions are now generated for the Discrete Energy Level feature when using the Frequency-Domain, Perturbation study step.
  • The displacement current is now included in the total terminal current for the Ohmic and Schottky contact options of the Metal Contact boundary condition for the finite volume formulation.

Structural Mechanics Module

  • Stability improvements.

Wave Optics Module

  • Fixed a problem with eigenfrequency analysis for the transient interface when the Drude-Lorentz dispersion model is active.
  • Stability improvements.

Update Details for Update 1 (included in Update 3)

This version includes the following improvements:

  • Table windows in the COMSOL Desktop will now never appear blocked.
  • Recovery files can now be saved also when the filename contains Unicode characters.
  • General stability improvement for the COMSOL Desktop running on OS X.
  • The reverse rate constant is now correct also for the last reaction when using a CHEMKIN® file input.