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http://www.femlab.com


What is FEMLAB?

FEMLAB is a powerful, interactive environment for modeling and solving scientific and engineering problems based on partial differential equations [1,2]. With it you can easily extend conventional models that address one branch of physics to state-of-the art multiphysics models that simultaneously involve multiple branches of science and engineering. Accessing this power, however, does not require that you have in-depth knowledge of mathematics or numerical analysis. Indeed, you can build many useful models simply by defining the relevant physical quantities rather than defining the equations directly. FEMLAB then internally compiles a set of PDEs representing the problem. FEMLAB also allows you to create equation-based models. Besides providing these multiple modeling approaches, FEMLAB offers multiple ways to harness this power: either through a flexible self-contained graphical user interface or from the MATLAB prompt.

The underlying mathematical structure with which FEMLAB operates is a system of partial differential equations. In FEMLAB you can represent PDEs in three ways: coefficient form (suitable for linear or nearly linear problems), general form (intended for nonlinear problems), and weak form (that works as a high-level finite element modeling language). Furthermore, it is possible to set up models as stationary or time-dependent, linear or nonlinear, scalar or multicomponent. The package also performs eigenfrequency or eigenmode analyses.

When solving the PDEs that describe a model, FEMLAB applies the finite element method (FEM). FEMLAB runs that method in conjunction with adaptive meshing and error control as well as with a variety of numerical solvers.

  • An animated tutorial can be found on FEMLAB webpage:
    http://www.femlab.com/showroom/tutorials/

  • A built-in documentation is also available. Just click on Startā Programsā Femlabā Documentation. This documentation includes user guide and reference manual as well as other Femlab documentation.

  • A support and FAQ page can be found here:
    http://www.femlab.com/support/