Specifying Co-Simulation Settings

Prepare the simulation for co-simulation with Abaqus.

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, the properties of the co-simulation are defined within a co-simulation link. This includes details of the location of the Abaqus input file, the boundary defining the fluid-structure interface, and the fields that are exchanged at each coupling step.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically adds a co-simulation link, External Links > Link 1, when you activate an Abaqus Co-Simulation model.

If you skipped the section of the tutorial involving the preparation of the Abaqus input file, you can find a copy of the manifold-mod.inp file in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ installation. Before proceeding:
  • Navigate to the couplingWithCaeCodes folder of the downloaded tutorial files and copy the manifold-mod.inp file into your /thermalCoSimTutorial/abaqus/ directory.

To specify the fluid wall as the coupled boundary:

  1. Expand the Regions > Fluid > Boundaries > Fluid-Wall node.
  2. Edit the Physics Conditions > External Code Coupling Specification node and set External Code Coupling Specification to Link 1: Zone 1.
To specify the details for launching Abaqus:
  1. Expand the External Links > Link 1 > Conditions node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Setting
    Abaqus Release Release 2023 (default)
    Load Partner Library Option Option Specify Library File
  2. Edit the Link 1 > Values node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Setting
    Abaqus Execution Input File Specify the path and name of the Abaqus input file manifold-mod.inp.

    For example, if your working directory is /thermalCoSimTutorial/starccm+ and your input file is contained in the folder /thermalCoSimTutorial/abaqus, you can type ../abaqus/manifold-mod.inp.

    Executable Name Specify the path and name of the command that you use to launch Abaqus, for example, /[Abaqus INSTALL_DIR]/Commands/abaqus.

    The path to the Abaqus executable depends on your Abaqus installation.

    Abaqus Library Abaqus Library Specify the path and file name of the Abaqus co-simulation library file.

    On Linux, the required library file is libABQSMACseModules.so; on Windows, ABQSMACseModules.dll. The location of the library file depends on your Abaqus installation.

    Partner Job Name Partner Job Name co-simulation_manifold
    Transfer Interval Transfer Interval 250 s
    Ensure the Partner Job Name is different from the simulation file name.
In this simulation, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ exports boundary heat flux data and imports temperature. To specify the fields exchanged with Abaqus:
  1. Expand the Link 1 > Zones > Zone 1 > Conditions node.
  2. Right-click the Zone 1 > Conditions > Exported Fields node and select Add Thermal Field > Heat Flux.
  3. Right-click the Imported Fields node and select Add Thermal Field > Temperature.
  4. Select the Imported Fields > Temperature node and set Field Treatment to Managed.
    With this setting, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically sets the Thermal Specification for the Fluid-Wall boundary to Temperature and applies the imported temperature data to the boundary.
  5. Right-click the External Links > Link 1 node and select Update.
  6. Save the simulation.