1 Multiphysics Modeling

Multiphysics modeling is a powerful tool for exploring a wide range of phenomena, coupling flow, structure, electro-magnetic, thermodynamic, chemical and/or acoustic effects. The past decades have been a period of rapid progress in this area. In fact, a Google search of the neologism “Multiphysics” returns more than 3,640,000 results. The possible range of applications has been widely expanded and numerical methods have become increasingly sophisticated and adapted to exploit available computational resources. Today, detailed physical-chemical models combined with robust numerical solution methods are almost a necessity for the design and optimization of multifunctional technical devices and processes.

At the ICP, we perform applied research in the field of multiphysics modeling and develop finite element, as well as finite volume simulation software.

Our extensive experience in numerical analysis, modeling and simulation allows us to successfully apply simulation-based optimization in many fields. We are familiar with a wide range of governing physical equations and find numerical solutions even when the effects are closely interrelated. We also develop single-purpose numerical tools tailored to the specific needs of our partners, and we use commercial software where it is more suitable.

Our specialties in this context include the application, extension and development of coupled models using our own finite element software SESES, the fluid dynamics software OpenFoam (open source) and commercially available products such as COMSOL.

G. Boiger M. Boldrini D. Brunner V. Buff A. Cabrera S. Ehrat

T. Hocker L. Holzer M. Hostettler A. Jeffery L. Keller V. Lienhard

P. Marmet Y. Safa D. Sharman B. Siyahhan S. Spirig A. Zubiaga