Multiphysics Environment Research Articles

Improved thermophysical characteristics of a new class of ionic liquid + diethylene glycol/Al2O3 + CuO based ionanofluid as a coolant media for hybrid PV/T system

The purpose of this experimental research is to develop a new class of nanofluid as a replacement of conventional water based nanofluid for medium temperature range as PV/T coolant application. For the first time, hybridized Al 2 O 3 +CuO nanoparticles were dispersed into the binary mixture of ionic liquid (IL) and diethylene glycol (DEG) without the addition of any stabilizing agents or surfactants. The formulated Ionanofluid posed excellent dispersion stability together with better thermal stability compared to water-based nanofluid, as evidenced from thermogravimetric analysis. The experimental thermal conductivity assessment showed a maximum of 41.8% enhancement together with a 31% penalty in pressure drop at 0.15 wt.% concentration. A hybrid PVT system is constructed to numerically examine the effect of Ionanofluid as an active cooling medium under the COMSOL Multiphysics environment. Ionanofluids as coolants in a PVT panel showed a maximum of 69% thermal efficiency at 0.15 wt.% Al 2 O 3 +CuO, higher than 63% (0.10 wt.% Al 2 O 3 +CuO), 58% (0.05 wt.% Al 2 O 3 +CuO), and 56% (pure IL+DEG). The PV panel temperature was reduced from 65 to 40 °C when IL+DEG was replaced with 0.15 wt% Al 2 O 3 +CuO. At the same concentrations, an electrical efficiency of nearly 12.7% was observed, representing a 29.91% improvement over IL+DEG at a flow rate of 4LPM. The formulated Ionanofluid performed thermally better than water but somewhat lower than water-based nanofluids like MWCNT/Water. Nevertheless, Ionanofluid's electrical efficiency was better than MWCNT/Water. Ionanofluid can be a viable alternative to water-based nanofluids for medium-temperature-based coolant applications.

Toward a Fully Integrated Multiphysics Simulation Framework for Fusion Blanket Design

Fusion is an attractive clean-energy solution, thanks to its various advantages, such as reduced radioactivity, little high-level nuclear waste, ample fuel supplies, and increased safety. However, the harsh operating environment introduced by a complex fusion plasma system makes design and integration of fusion blankets incredibly challenging and time-consuming. This work focuses on developing a fully integrated multiphysics simulation framework based on an advanced open-source platform—the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE)—to alleviate the difficulties in fusion blanket design and integration. MOOSE is a massively parallel finite element/volume multiphysics simulation platform that has been widely adopted within the nuclear fission community. Even though fission and fusion are fundamentally different, they involve similar multiphysics phenomena. A fully integrated open-source multiphysics simulation framework tailored for the fusion blanket design will be implemented by leveraging the well-established multiphysics capabilities in MOOSE. Once successfully developed, this fully integrated framework will rapidly evaluate a blanket design concept and offer insights for subsequent iterations. As the first step, we will mainly aim to integrate neutronics analysis, system thermal hydraulics simulation, and full 3-D heat transfer calculations. The efficacy of the integrated framework will be verified using an innovative solid ceramic blanket design. While the project’s final goal is to enable a fully integrated multiphysics simulation platform for various fusion blanket concepts, this work, as a preliminary step, will mainly focus on a solid ceramic breeder helium-cooled blanket.

Numerical simulation and analysis of the temporal concentration of timolol after topical administration in the human eye

The temporal distribution of drugs in the eye tissues after the topical dosing is required to study the efficacy of the drugs. Glaucoma is one of the primary causes of vision impairment around the world and timolol is used in the treatment of glaucoma in general. This paper contributes to developing a model to represent the more accurate biophysics of the human eye through the finite element method compared to other state-of-the-art simulation models. A 2D human-eye model is used to simulate the temporal distribution of timolol after topical dosing within the COMSOL Multiphysics environment. The biophysics of the human eye including temperature regulation, fluid flow in the anterior segment, convection, diffusion, reaction kinetics of timolol, and metabolic consumption are incorporated in the proposed simulation model. The temporal concentration of timolol is analyzed for seven ocular tissues (cornea, iris, sclera, aqueous humor, lens, ciliary body, and trabecular meshwork) in this work. The peak concentration of timolol takes place within 2500 s in the ocular tissues considered in the simulation and the peak in the anterior chamber is observed at 1150 s. The comparison based on the normalized concentration of timolol in the anterior chamber demonstrates that the results of the proposed ocular model comply close with the practical findings. The mean difference with the experimental results is lower in this study compared to the recent numerical works on timolol. The proposed model can be used for analyzing the physiological behavior of human eyes under different types of drug delivery with varying initial concentrations.

(Invited) Synchrotron X-Ray Nano-Tomography and Multimodal Studies of Li-Ion Batteries

As batteries revolutionize all technological areas – from miniaturized electronic devices to electric vehicles and to large-scale energy storage, understanding the complex morphological, chemical and structural evolution and their interplays has been at the forefront of the research. Synchrotron X-ray characterization techniques provide insights into the electrochemical reactions and multiscale, multiphysics environments to address the fundamental mechanisms in these systems. The presentation will highlight the application of synchrotron X-ray analysis in two Li-ion battery systems, including both aqueous and non-aqueous systems. X-ray nano-tomography via transmission X-ray microscopy and spectroscopic imaging, complemented by other diffraction, spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, will be discussed. We will present how synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography and quantitative 3D morphological analysis were instrumental in revealing the dimensionality effect of conductive carbon fillers in LiNi 1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC111) cathode [1]. Additionally, we will discuss how a multimodal characterization approach offered insights when probing kinetics of water-in-salt aqueous batteries with thick, porous LiV3O8-LiMn2O4 electrodes [2, 3]. Through the morphological and chemical analyses, the work aims to facilitate the design of future advanced energy storage materials, as well as provide a novel characterization framework for studying a wider range of electrochemical systems.

A Homogeneous Flow Model for nitrogen cooling in the aluminum-alloy extrusion process

Extrusion of aluminum alloys has become extensively employed as a process to manufacture a variety of products. However, heat generated by the high deformation energy and the high friction forces imposed during the process may cause defects in the extrudate, as well as reduce tool life. So, effective die cooling is key in achieving high product quality and production rate. Nitrogen has recently been identified as a promising coolant; however, current modeling does not take the presence of two phases into account, only including either the liquid or the gas phase within cooling channels, which often results in poorly designed cooling systems. The present research was aimed at exploring the homogenous-flow approach as a simple, yet representative method to account for the liquid and the gas phase, as they both occur during the cooling subprocess. Ten AA6060 billets were extruded in an industrial production line, varying nitrogen flow rate and monitoring temperature trend at various locations of interest. A Finite Element model was then developed in a multiphysics environment, into which the simulation of both the extrusion process and the nitrogen flow were integrated, with the latter being represented as a homogeneous flow. Validation was performed against the experimental dataset through steady-state and transient analysis. This work proved the homogeneous-flow approach remarkably successful in capturing the involved physics and assessing the provided cooling effect quantitatively.

Multi-objective optimization of a phase change material-based shell-and-tube heat exchanger for cold thermal energy storage: experiments and numerical modeling

• PCM-based cold thermal energy storage is numerically and experimentally analysed. • The experimental outcomes show room for optimization in the PCM discharging phase. • Charging/discharging time and heat transfer area/melting difference are optimized. • Multi-objective genetic algorithm allows to exploit up to 72% PCM latent heat. • This optimal solution implies a 69% increase in minimum heat transfer area. In recent years, significantly increasing demand for air conditioning systems has led to higher power consumption during on-peak hours. If optimized, latent heat thermal storage for chiller systems – thanks to its high storage density and compact structure – can reduce installed cooling capacity and allow the chiller to operate more continuously. Starting from the existing design, this work presents a multi-objective optimization framework to improve the storage performance of a phase change material (PCM)-based shell-and-tube heat exchanger. To address this issue – based on experimental data – a 2D axial-symmetric transient numerical model is first developed. To investigate the overall performance of the system – depending on geometrical features and chiller operating conditions – a parametric analysis is performed. Then, by coupling the numerical model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics environment with MATLAB, the system performance is optimized through the genetic algorithm (GA), i.e., minimizing PCM charging/discharging time, by varying the chiller operating conditions. The optimal solution is achieved under a water mass flow rate of 0.095 kg/s, implying a reduction in the inlet temperature of 1.25 °C with respect to the reference case. Results are further validated through experimental tests and discussed looking at the PCM melting and solidification processes for better exploitation of this storage technique. As the main outcome of the model optimization on user’s demand, the maximum amount of PCM that can be fully exploited is equal to 40 % of the initial one. Therefore, based on this value, a further optimization step by GA is performed to define the minimum heat transfer area, resulting in a shell diameter reduction of 12 cm to exploit 72 % of the PCM potential.

Interplay of Fracture and Martensite Transformation in Microstructures: A Coupled Problem.

We are witnessing a tremendous transition towards a society powered by net-zero carbon emission energy, with a corresponding escalating reliance on functional materials (FM). In recent years, the application of FM in multiphysics environments has brought new challenges to the mechanics and materials research communities. The underlying mechanism in FM, which governs several fundamental characteristics, is known as martensitic phase transformation (MPT). When it comes to the application of FM in the multiphysics context, a thorough understanding of the interplay between MPT and fracture plays a crucial role in FM design and application. In the present work, a coupled problem of crack nucleation and propagation and multivariant stress-induced MPT in elastic materials is presented using a finite element method based on Khachaturyan’s microelasticity theory. The problem is established based on a phase-field (PF) approach, which includes the Ginzburg–Landau equations with advanced thermodynamic potential and the variational formulation of Griffith’s theory. Therefore, the model consists of a coupled system of the Ginzburg–Landau equations and the static elasticity equation, and it characterizes evolution of distributions of austenite and two martensitic variants as well as crack growth in terms of corresponding order parameters. The numerical results show that crack growth does not begin until MPT has grown almost completely through the microstructure. Subsequent to the initial formation of the martensite variants, the initial crack propagates in such a way that its path mainly depends on the feature of martensite variant formations, the orientation and direction upon which the martensite plates are aligned, and the stress concentration between martensite plates. In addition, crack propagation behavior and martensite variant evaluations for different lattice orientation angles are presented and discussed in-detail.

Wave Propagation in Smart Sandwich Plates with Functionally Graded Nanocomposite Porous Core and Piezoelectric Layers in Multi-Physics Environment

This research provides a mathematical model and solution for investigating wave propagation in graphene platelets (GPLs)-reinforced functionally graded (FG) metal foam plates integrated with piezoelectric actuator and sensor layers resting on an orthotropic visco-Pasternak medium in magneto-electro-thermo environment. The FG porous nanocomposite core and the actuator piezoelectric layer are exposed to steady magnetic and electric fields, respectively. The electric potential between two piezoelectric layers is governed by a proportional-derivative controller. The Halpin–Tsai micromechanics model and the Kelvin–Voigt model are adopted to express the effective elastic modulus of the FG porous nanocomposite core and material viscoelasticity of the core and piezoelectric layers, respectively. The governing equations of smart FG porous nanocomposite plates under thermal environment are derived grounded on the refined third-order shear deformation theory. Upon the validated theoretical model, the wave velocities and frequencies in plates are obtained by solving governing equations analytically. Finally, the effects of material viscoelasticity, porosity distribution and coefficient, GPL distribution and weight fraction, the plate and GPL geometries and external environment on wave propagation characteristics are demonstrated comprehensively. This work provides guidance on tunable control of wave propagation in smart sandwich plates affected by complex external environments.

Model-Based Performance Analysis of Membrane Reactor with Ethanol Steam Reforming over a Monolith.

Membrane reactors (MR) with an appropriate catalyst are considered to be an innovative and intensified technology for converting a fuel into the hydrogen-rich gas with the simultaneous recovery of high-quality hydrogen. Characteristics of an asymmetric membrane disk module consisting of a gas-tight nanocomposite functional coating (Ni + Cu/Nd5.5WO11.25-δ mixed proton-electron conducting nanocomposite) deposited on a gas-permeable functionally graded substrate has previously been extensively studied at lab-scale using MRs, containing the catalyst in a packed bed and in the form of a monolith. The catalytic monolith consisted of a FeCrAl substrate with a washcoat and an Ni + Ru/Pr0.35Ce0.35Zr0.35O2 active component. It has been shown that the driving potential for hydrogen permeation across the same membrane in a monolithic catalyst –assisted MR is greater compared to the packed bed catalyst. This paper presents results of the study where a one-dimensional isothermal model was used to interrelate catalytic and permeation phenomena in a MR with ethanol steam reforming over the monolith, operating at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range of 700–900 °C. The developed mathematical reaction–transport model for the constituent layers of the catalyst-asymmetric membrane assembly together with a Sieverts’ equation for the functional dense layer, taking also into account the effect of boundary layers, was implemented in a COMSOL Multiphysics environment. Good agreement with the experimental data of the lab-scale MR with reasonable parameters values is provided. In numerical experiments, concentration profiles along the reactor axis were obtained, showing the effect of the emerging concentration gradient in the boundary layer adjacent to the membrane. Studies have shown that a MR with a catalytic monolith along with appropriate organization of a stagnant feed flow between the monolith and the membrane surface may enhance production and flux of hydrogen, as well as the efficiency characteristics of the reactor compared to a reactor with packed beds.

CARBON NANOFIBER - REINFORCED MULTIFUNCTIONAL SHEET INTEGRATED WITH PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL: AN OVERVIEW OF STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS METHODS

Most of the phenomena in life, such as heat transfer, wave propagation, thermoelectricity, sheet materials, multifunctional material properties, etc., can be expressed through mathematical equations or partial differential equations (PDEs). However, with complex differential equations, it is difficult or impossible to find solutions, especially differential equations for complex problems such as solid-liquid interactions, mechanical-thermal-electrical environments, and functional material plate environments in the multiphysics environment, etc. Since then, many numerical methods have been researched and developed to find approximate solutions to partial differential equations. Today, the finite element method (FEM) is the most widely used and effective among the commonly used numerical methods. However, with the continuous emergence of new complex problems in science and technology, especially problems in the multiphysics environment in sheet-material structures, the finite element method has revealed new challenges. There are certain limitations related to the element technique and the weak form discretization of the problem of sheet structure with many different degrees of freedom, significantly affecting the accuracy and efficiency of calculations. Therefore, it is always important to propose improvements to the traditional finite element method and the optimal method algorithm to meet the increasing requirements in the behavior analysis of sheet materials. This research direction is always topical and has received the attention of scientists around the world for many decades.

CARBON NANOFIBER - REINFORCED MULTIFUNCTIONAL SHEET INTEGRATED WITH PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL: AN OVERVIEW OF STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS METHODS

Most of the phenomena in life, such as heat transfer, wave propagation, thermoelectricity, sheet materials, multifunctional material properties, etc., can be expressed through mathematical equations or partial differential equations (PDEs). However, with complex differential equations, it is difficult or impossible to find solutions, especially differential equations for complex problems such as solid-liquid interactions, mechanical-thermal-electrical environments, and functional material plate environments in the multiphysics environment, etc. Since then, many numerical methods have been researched and developed to find approximate solutions to partial differential equations. Today, the finite element method (FEM) is the most widely used and effective among the commonly used numerical methods. However, with the continuous emergence of new complex problems in science and technology, especially problems in the multiphysics environment in sheet-material structures, the finite element method has revealed new challenges. There are certain limitations related to the element technique and the weak form discretization of the problem of sheet structure with many different degrees of freedom, significantly affecting the accuracy and efficiency of calculations. Therefore, it is always important to propose improvements to the traditional finite element method and the optimal method algorithm to meet the increasing requirements in the behavior analysis of sheet materials. This research direction is always topical and has received the attention of scientists around the world for many decades.

Design and modelling of reconfigurable surface plasmon resonance refractive index sensor employing graphene and Sb2S3 for detection of dengue virus

This research addresses the design and analysis of a highly sensitive reconfigurable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for the detection of dengue virus. The SPR sensor is designed with successive layers of SF11 prism, Ag, graphene, antimony trisulphide (Sb2S3), and sensing medium. The sensing medium is infiltrated with various normal and dengue infected blood components like plasma, platelets, and hemoglobin. The angular reflectivity is investigated by employing the well-established transfer matrix method. Geometrical parameters like thickness of the Ag layer and number of graphene layer are sensibly optimized to attain high performance. The proposed structure is modelled in COMSOL Multiphysics environment to investigate the electric field intensity near the Sb2S3 and sensing medium interface. It is perceived that by switching the phase of Sb2S3 from amorphous to crystalline, the sensitivity is increased from 124.61°/RIU to 180.76°/RIU, 96.66°/RIU to 225.75°/RIU, and 127.42°/RIU to 216.57°/RIU for plasma, platelet and hemoglobin cell respectively.

Powering the WSN Node for Monitoring Rail Car Parameters, Using a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

Monitoring of railroad wagons is important for logistical processes, but above all for safety. One of the key parameters to be monitored is the temperature of the axle box and the bearings in the bogie. The problem with monitoring these parameters is the harsh environment and lack of power supply. In our research, we present a power supply system for a WSN node monitoring the bogie parameters. Knowing the operating conditions, we built a power supply system using a piezoelectric energy harvester. The harvester consists of three piezoelectric elements placed on a double arm pendulum beam. The circuit was modeled in the Comsol Multiphysics environment and then built and tested in laboratory conditions. After confirming energy efficiency, the system was tested on a freight car bogie during an 8 h trip. At typical car vibration frequencies (4–10 Hz), the system is able to generate 73 uW. Combined with an energy buffer of 1000 mAh (3.7 V), it can power a WSN node (based on the nRF5340 chip) for 13 years of operation.

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of multi-physical coupled environment during electromagnetic propulsion

Electromagnetic propulsion technology is a new propulsion technology which uses electromagnetic force to push objects into high or ultra-high speed. However, during propulsion, the armature and launch load are affected by harsh multi-physics environment. The coupled effect was often ignored or over idealized in previous numerical simulations, which leads to large errors between simulation and experiment. In this paper, a three-dimensional multi-physics coupling environment simulation model is established. The distribution of electromagnetic field, structure field and temperature field in armature from static to high speed are effectively calculated. Moreover, the coupled effect between physical fields and the influence of key parameters on the simulation results are revealed. In conclusion, this model can reproduce the physical field distribution of armature and rail during electromagnetic propulsion. The time-varying resistance and inductance and the velocity skin effect (VSE) are the key parameters affecting armature movement. This method reveals a feasible path for the simplification of multi-physical model and the mitigation of extreme environment.

Design of a Labriform-Steering Underwater Robot Using a Multiphysics Simulation Environment

Bio-inspired solutions devised for Autonomous Underwater Robots are currently investigated by researchers as a source of propulsive improvement. To address this ambitious objective, the authors have designed a carangiform swimming robot, which represents a compromise in terms of efficiency and maximum velocity. The requirements of stabilizing a course and performing turns were not met in their previous works. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to improve the vehicle maneuvering capabilities by means of a novel transmission system capable of transforming the constant angular velocity of a single rotary actuator into the pitching–yawing rotation of fish pectoral fins. Here, the biomimetic thrusters exploit the drag-based momentum transfer mechanism of labriform swimmers to generate the necessary steering torque. Aside from inertia and encumbrance reduction, the main improvement of this solution is the inherent synchronization of the system granted by the mechanism’s kinematics. The system was sized by using the experimental results collected by biologists and then integrated in a multiphysics simulation environment to predict the resulting maneuvering performance.

USE OF MODIFIED ADSORBENTS TO REMOVE PESTICIDES FROM WASTEWATER

The migration of highly concentrated pesticide solutions in the soil has been experimentally studied. A mathematical model of the diffusion process in the soil environment has been developed. Based on the mathematical model, a system of equations for calculating the duration and intensity of the process depending on environmental parameters was obtained. The dependence of the process velocity on the direction of the diffusion front is determined, and the diffusion coefficients, kinetic coefficients of the diffusion process and the diffusion front velocity were calculated. Environmental aspects of pesticide migration were analysed. The diffusion coefficient of glyphosate in the model soil environment is established. Under the experimental conditions, the diffusion coefficient value was D = 1.755×10-12 m2/s. The study results of the process of migration of the component up the soil profile indicate the mechanism of molecular diffusion of glyphosate in the soil environment. The results of experimental research and the solution of the mathematical model were used to model the migration process in the Comsol Multiphysics environment. Analysis of theoretical and experimental results showed that the developed model could be used to calculate the dynamics of the spread of the pesticide front in the soil with sufficient accuracy.

BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCKS SIMULATIONS IN VENTRICULAR MODEL WITH REALISTIC GEOMETRY AND CONDUCTION SYSTEM

The goal of the study was to design a model of cardiac ventricles with realistic geometry that enables simulation of the ventricular activation with normal conduction system functions, as well as with bundle branch blocks. In ventricles, electrical activation propagates from the His bundle to the left and right bundle branches and continues to the fascicles and branching fibers of the Purkinje system. The role of these parts of the conduction system is to lead the activation rapidly and synchronously to the left and right ventricle. The velocity of propagation in the conduction system is several times higher than in the surrounding ventricular myocardium. If the conduction system works normally, QRS duration representing the total activation time of the ventricles lies in the physiological range of about 80 to 120 ms but it is more than 120 ms in the case of bundle branch blocks. In our study, the realistic geometry of the ventricles was constructed on the base of a patient CT scan, defining epicardial and endocardial surfaces. The first part of the conduction system (fast-conducting bundle branches, fascicles in the left ventricle and initial parts of the Purkinje fibers) was modeled as polyline pathways isolated from the surrounding ventricular tissue. The remaining part of the Purkinje system was modeled as an endocardial layer with higher conduction velocity. The propagation of the electrical activation in the ventricular model was modeled using reaction-diffusion (RD) equations, except for the first part of the conduction system, where the activation times were evaluated algebraically with respect to predefined velocity of propagation and estimated distance between the His bundle and particular entry point to the layer with higher conduction velocity. Propagation of activation in cardiac ventricles was numerically solved in Comsol Multiphysics environment. Several configurations of the first part of the conduction system with different number of polyline pathways and entry points were proposed and tested to achieve realistic activation propagation. For the model with 9 starting points, realistic total activation time (TAT) of the whole ventricles of about 108 ms was obtained for the model with normal conduction system, and realistic TAT of 126 ms and 149 ms were obtained for the right and left bundle branch block (RBBB, LBBB), respectively. Very similar TAT was found also for the model with 7 starting points, but unrealistically long TAT was obtained in LBBB simulation for the model with only 5 starting points.

Implementing air-based thermally activated building systems in retrofitted tertiary buildings – Towards the proof of concept

Here we document the design method of an air-based thermally activated building system (TABS) suited for the retrofitting of tertiary buildings, for cooling purposes mainly. The first phase of this work provides a general design and checks its consistency with the specifications of tertiary buildings by means of basic energy balances. Second, a numerical model of both the TABS and the room is developed under a finite element method multi-physics environment to better estimate the transient heat transfer for the proposed retrofitting solution. This results in the specifications for building at 1:1 scale prototype whose construction is documented.

Evaluating the electromagnetic forces on the electric arc furnaces’ power cables under various operation conditions

Studies of the electrical, thermal, and mechanical stresses on power cables have received much attention in recent years. However, there is a research gap in studying the electromagnetic forces of the power cables of electric arc furnaces (EAFs). The challenges of studying the EAF's power cable are highlighted because of the special cyclic operations, inrush currents, current harmonics, and short circuit faults of the EAF. The electromagnetic forces are influenced by the magnitude current and behavior of the current passing through the cable. The main purpose of this paper is to respond to a research gap about studying the electromagnetic forces of EAF's power cables under different normal and abnormal conditions. The proposed study is implemented in the COMSOL Multiphysics environment. Test results of applying the proposed method to an actual test system highlight the advantages of the proposed study. Simulation results imply that current harmonics, particularly the 7th harmonic order, intensify the electromagnetic forces. Test results emphasize the impacts of short circuit currents on the induced electromagnetic force. Furthermore, test results show that although cable clips limit the cable movement, internal von Mises cable stress increase due to the deployment of cable clips.

COMSOL Implementation of the H-$\phi$-Formulation With Thin Cuts for Modeling Superconductors With Transport Currents

Despite the acclaimed success of the magnetic field (H) formulation for modeling the electromagnetic behavior of superconductors with the finite-element method, the use of vector-dependent variables in nonconducting domains leads to unnecessarily long computation times. In order to solve this issue, we have recently shown how to use a magnetic scalar potential together with the H-formulation in the COMSOL Multiphysics environment to efficiently and accurately solve for the magnetic field surrounding superconducting domains. However, from the definition of the magnetic scalar potential, the nonconducting domains must be made simply connected in order to obey Ampere's law. In this article, we use thin cuts to apply a discontinuity in Φ and make the nonconducting domains simply connected. This approach is shown to be easily implementable in the COMSOL Multiphysics finite-element program, already widely used by the applied superconductivity community. We simulate three different models in two dimensions and three dimensions using superconducting filaments and tapes, and show that the results are in very good agreement with the H-A and H-formulations. Finally, we compare the computation times between the formulations, showing that the H-Φ-formulation can be up to seven times faster than the standard H-formulation in certain applications of interest.