学习中心

Importing Topological Data, Meshes, and Images

---

COMSOL Multiphysics^®has functionality and capabilities for importing topological data, meshes, and images to your model. Below, in subsequent sections, you will find information on how to do so. We also direct you to resources that provide further details and examples on how to perform these tasks.

Importing Meshes

Both image processing software programsMimicsandScanIPcan export volumetric meshes on COMSOL's own mesh format created from 3D scans, which can be directly imported into a Mesh sequence. An alternative is to import NASTRAN^®files. NASTRAN^®is a mesh format supported by many software programs. With import of this format, there is support for both 2D and 3D meshes, as well as for import of materials and selections based on materials. The import is typically done in a Mesh sequence. For more information about the COMSOL Multiphysics^®mesh format, you can go to theCOMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual>COMSOL Modeling Environment>The COMSOL Desktop>About the COMSOL Model File Formatssection in the COMSOL Documentation. If you have a session of the software open, you can search for and open this documentation section using theHelpwindow.

TheHelp window, with navigation to theAbout the COMSOL Model File Formats section displayed.

Because the images are converted directly into a mesh and not into a geometry object, as in the methods discussed below, it is advisable for you to fine tune the geometry/mesh within the partnering software before importing it into COMSOL Multiphysics^®. Other aspects of mesh import and creating geometries from imported meshes are discussed in the following resources:

• Improved Functionality and Tips for Importing STL and NASTRAN^®Files
• STL Import Tutorial Series
• Editing and Repairing Imported Meshes in COMSOL Multiphysics^®

These resources also cover NASTRAN^®, STL, PLY, and 3MF import.

Importing Topological Data

Topological data, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, Digital Elevation Models (DEM) data, and images can be imported to the COMSOL^®software through the use ofInterpolation,Elevation, and/orImagefunctions in addition to theParametric Surfacegeometry operation. A walkthrough of this process, wherein we create an irregularly shaped geometry based on elevation data, is covered inthis blog post.

TheInterpolation, Elevation (DEM), andImage functions, available under theDefinitions ribbon tab.

Importing Images

You can import images to COMSOL Multiphysics^®through a variety of ways to generate an image-based geometry. One option is using anInterpolationfunction. Interpolating material data, for example, based on information in images, is discussedhere.

You can also utilize theImage to Curveadd-in, which enables you to import an image that is used to create the modeling domain for your analysis. The procedure is described in detail inthis blog post.

TheImage to Curve feature, available through theAdd-ins button (after being enabled in theAdd-in Libraries window).

Additional blog posts that discuss other scenarios for modeling irregular shapes and the functionality and strategies employed can be foundhere.