What method does COMSOL use to interpolate post processing data?

[mjb7]

I'm computing the potentials in a volume conductor. I can get the potentials at any arbitrary location using the File->Export->Post Processing Data. Anybody know what method (and its order) COMSOL uses to interpolate the potentials at the arbitrary locations?

 

[Nick Bruno]

try post processing, subdomain integration, and click the help button. it will probably answer your questions, but I am not sure. I've never used the export tool except for meshes

 

[Mech_Engineer]

It will depend on what order element is being used for the finite element model. First-order (no mid-side nodes) will be a linear interpolation, while single mid-side nodes will allow for a quadratic interpolation across each element.

 

[Nick Bruno]

i suggest using the highest order you can... quartic i think? Tax ur computer like crazy and see comsols full potential. I ran my quad core at 100% all night once and got nowhere. I was sad because i probably cut like a year off my computers life haha.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

i suggest using the highest order you can... quartic i think? Tax ur computer like crazy and see comsols full potential. I ran my quad core at 100% all night once and got nowhere. I was sad because i probably cut like a year off my computers life haha.

That is of course a waste. There is a trade-off between the order element being used and the number of elements in the model; usually, it's better to use more lower-order elements than fewer higher-order elements, but it will vary from case to case. I seriously doubt quartic elements are necessary in any problem. Ever.

 

[Nick Bruno]

lol sorry if u didnt pic up on my sarcasm