Real-world physics don't happen in isolation. We solve complex interactions between heat, stress, and electromagnetics simultaneously.
Instead of testing just heat or just vibration, Multiphysics tests how they affect each other in a single, high-fidelity computer model.
Discharging electricity (Electromagnetics) → creates heat (Thermodynamics) → causing casing expansion (Structural Mechanics).
Wind pushes the blade (Fluid Dynamics) → blade bends (Structural Mechanics) → bent shape changes the airflow (Fluid Dynamics).
This is the most computationally expensive simulation type, requiring Coupled Solvers and massive parallel processing.
HPC clusters run multiple solvers at once, exchanging gigabytes of data every millisecond to keep physics equations synchronized.
Essential for safety-critical parts like brakes. Solving non-linear equations for Heat + Friction + Stress simultaneously.
| Application | Vendor | Usage in Automotive Multiphysics |
|---|---|---|
| COMSOL Multiphysics | COMSOL | Industry leader for general-purpose multiphysics. Used for battery electrochemistry, MEMS sensors, and heating/cooling interactions. |
| Ansys System Coupling | Ansys | Connects Fluent (Fluids), Mechanical (Structure), and Maxwell (Electromagnetics) to simulate electric motors and thermal management. |
| SIMULIA Co-Simulation | Dassault Systèmes | Couples Abaqus (Structure) with XFlow or PowerFLOW (Fluids) for tire hydroplaning and fuel tank sloshing simulations. |
| MSC Nastran | Hexagon (MSC) | Heavily used for NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness)—coupling acoustics with structural vibration for cabin quietness. |