FEATool Multiphysics (short for Finite Element Analysis Toolbox), is a fully integrated toolbox for modeling and simulation of coupled physics phenomena, partial differential equations (PDE), continuum mechanics and engineering problems.
FEATool Multiphysics aims to provide a truly easy to use and comprehensive all-in-one integrated simulation platform for all kinds of multi-physics analysis. By combining the best of intuitive usability, extensibility, and customization features, such as
- Graphical User Interface (GUI)
- Built-in geometry and CAD modeling tools
- Automatic grid and mesh generation
- Postprocessing and visualization
- Fully programmable and scriptable
makes FEATool Multiphysics a suitable simulation and modeling tool for everyone from students learning mathematical modeling, to researchers and engineers wishing to explore new ideas in a simple, fast, and convenient way.
- Easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI)
- Built-in and fully integrated geometry and CAD modeling tools, mesh generation, multiphysics solvers, post-processing and visualization
- Pre-defined equations and multi-physics modes
- One-click seamless interfaces to external physics solvers
- Full support for custom and user-defined PDEs
- Equation and expression parser (enter equations and coefficients as writing equations on paper without any programming)
- Process, export, and share results and data online with ParaView and Plotly web plots
- Save and export models in
- Binary file formats
- MATLAB® m-file script format
- GUI playback script format
- Fully programmable and scriptable with MATLAB® (including support for integration and embedding of simulation apps in custom applications and toolboxes)
The FEATool Multiphysics toolbox is a fully integrated simulation environment for use with MATLAB®. FEATool has been tested and verified to work with 64-bit Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux operating systems running MATLAB versions 7.9 (R2009b) and later. Furthermore, a system with a minimum of 4 GB RAM memory is recommended.
In order to use the FEATool Multiphysics toolbox it must first be installed on the intended computer system. The toolbox can be installed from the MATLAB® APPS and Add-On Toolbar, or downloaded directly from the Precise Simulation GitHub repository and installed manually.
Please follow the steps below for your matching system to install FEATool as a MATLAB toolbox. It is recommended to first uninstall previous versions of toolboxes before installing/upgrading to a newer version. Also note that, as all functionality is loaded into memory at startup, the toolbox may take some time to fully initialize and launch the GUI.
- First download the latest installer
Note that the default MCR runtime is 2021b which requires 2+ GB to install, alternatively the smaller 2012b runtime is also available which only requires ~400 MB.
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Save it to a directory and run the installer. This will first downlaod and/or install the MATLAB® MCR Runtime, and then the program file.
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When everything has been installed, run the program file to start FEATool. Please be patient as the MCR runtime can take time to start.
- First download the latest FEATool Multiphysics.mlappinstall toolbox installation file (if you have downloaded a zip archive instead, then extract the mlappinstall file from inside it).
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Then start MATLAB, press the APPS toolbar button, and select the Install App button.
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When prompted to choose a toolbox file to install, select the FEATool Multiphysics.mlappinstall file and press OK.
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Press the Install button if prompted to "Install to My Apps".
Once the toolbox has been installed, an app icon will be available in the APPS toolbar to start the FEATool GUI. (Note that MATLAB may not show or give any indication of the toolbox installation progress or completion.)
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First download the latest FEATool Multiphysics zip archive and extract it to a convenient folder on your system.
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Start MATLAB in this folder, or change to the folder location in the MATLAB CLI interpreter with the command
cd path_to_featool_program_folder -
Run the command
start_featool_guifrom the FEATool program folder to start the GUI.
For convenience, one can also use the addpath path_to_featool_program_folder
command to permanently add the FEATool program folder to the MATLAB
search paths (one can then start FEATool from any location).
Pre-defined automated modeling tutorials and examples for various multi-physics applications can be selected and run from the File > Model Examples and Tutorials menu option in the GUI.
Example script files and simulation models are also available in the examples folder of the FEATool program directory. Moreover, new tutorials and articles are periodically published on the FEATool Technical Articles Blog
FEATool Multiphysics and the GUI has been specifically designed to be as easy to use as possible, and making learning multiphysics simulation by experimentation possible.
The standard modeling process is divided into six different steps or modes
- Geometry - Definition of the geometry to be modeled
- Grid - Subdivision of the geometry into smaller grid cells suitable for computation
- Equation - Specification of physics, material parameters, and coefficients
- Boundary - Boundary conditions specify how the model interacts with the surrounding environment (outside of the geometry)
- Solve - Solution and simulation of the defined model problem
- Post - Visualization and postprocessing of simulation results
These modes can be accessed by clicking on the corresponding buttons in left hand side Mode toolbar. Each mode has specialized and different Tools available in the toolbar that will be activated when selected. Additional and advanced mode options are also be available in the mode menus.
Basic usage and how to set up and model coupled fluid flow and temperature in a heat exchanger is explained in the linked video tutorial (click on the image below to start the tutorial).
The full FEATool Multiphysics Documentation Suite is available online, and by selecting the corresponding option in the Help menu of the FEATool GUI.
(C) Copyright 2013-2021 by Precise Simulation Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
FEATool™ and FEATool Multiphysics™ are trademarks of Precise Simulation Limited. MATLAB® is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc. OPENFOAM® is a registered trade mark of OpenCFD Limited, producer and distributor of the OpenFOAM® software. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Precise Simulation Limited and its products are not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or supported by these trademark owners.
The license agreement for using FEATool Multiphysics™ is included with the distribution and can also be viewed by selecting About FEATool... > License Agreement from the Help menu in the application.
Carefully read the license terms and conditions before installing or using the programs or documentation. Installing or using the programs means you have accepted and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement. if you do not accept them, uninstall, remove and completely delete the programs and documentation.