3D Multiphysics Simulation Research Articles

A hybrid experimental-numerical technique for determining 3D velocity fields from planar 2D PIV data

Knowledge of 3D, three component velocity fields is central to the understanding and development of effective microfluidic devices for lab-on-chip mixing applications. In this paper we present a hybrid experimental-numerical method for the generation of 3D flow information from 2D particle image velocimetry (PIV) experimental data and finite element simulations of an alternating current electrothermal (ACET) micromixer. A numerical least-squares optimization algorithm is applied to a theory-based 3D multiphysics simulation in conjunction with 2D PIV data to generate an improved estimation of the steady state velocity field. This 3D velocity field can be used to assess mixing phenomena more accurately than would be possible through simulation alone. Our technique can also be used to estimate uncertain quantities in experimental situations by fitting the gathered field data to a simulated physical model. The optimization algorithm reduced the root-mean-squared difference between the experimental and simulated velocity fields in the target region by more than a factor of 4, resulting in an average error less than 12% of the average velocity magnitude.

A three‐dimensional multiphysics modeling of thin‐film amorphous silicon solar cells

AbstractA 3D multiphysics simulation toolbox for thin‐film amorphous silicon solar cells has been developed. The simulation is rigorous and is based on developing three modules: first to analyze light propagation using electromagnetic techniques, second to account for charge generation and transportation based on the physics of the semiconductor device, and third including electrode modeling by applying electrostatic techniques. Published results of a P‐I‐N thin‐film amorphous silicon solar cell fabricated on a thick glass and experimentally evaluated was used as a vehicle to validate our 3D multiphysics toolbox and demonstrate its capabilities. The toolbox utilizes COMSOL for solving the partial differential equations describing the three modules, and MATLAB to input data, control the solver, and provides the coupling between the three modules. The developed toolbox was used to investigate both the effect of embedding Metallic Nanoparticles (MNPs) and the impact of defects on the external quantum efficiency. The simulator, besides being rigorous, is suitable to model various types of solar cells (organic, inorganic, thick film, thin film, heterojunction, or plasmonic) as well.

Analysis and design of a high performance and low cost bio-mass sensor based on the radial contour mode disk resonator

A high performance and cost effective biosensor is designed based on a radial contour-mode disk resonator. Filling a dielectric material within the capacitive gap, we can achieve low motional resistance (Rx) in a cost-effective manner. The motional resistance of the new device is characterized analytically and validated using 3D-multiphysics simulation. Compared with other biosensors, the introduced biosensor may detect the smaller mass changes with mass sensitivity of −74.68μm2/ng (−1617Hz/ng).