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Interacting with CAE Software
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can interact with a wide range of other computer-aided engineering (CAE) software. This interaction includes import/export of mesh and solution data as well as coupling capabilities for multiphysics simulations.
File Import and Export
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import mesh and solution data from other CAE packages using files. You can also export such data from Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for use in external software.

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Interacting with CAE Software
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can interact with a wide range of other computer-aided engineering (CAE) software. This interaction includes import/export of mesh and solution data as well as coupling capabilities for multiphysics simulations.
- File Import and Export
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import mesh and solution data from other CAE packages using files. You can also export such data from Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for use in external software.
  - CGNS File Import and Export
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows for import or export of data through CGNS files. CGNS (CFD General Notation System) is a standard data format that can can contain both mesh and solution data.
  - Simcenter Data File Export (.scd5)
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can export mesh and solution data as a Simcenter Data File (.scd5), which is a standard file format based on HDF5 (Hierarchical Data Format, Version 5). This type of file export enables file-based coupling with Simcenter 3D.
  - gPROMS File Export
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to export solution data to gPROMS, a process modeling platform for the simulation of complex systems. In general, the gPROMS model consists of a multizonal network model that performs process calculations. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the flow solution.
  - Importing STAR-CD Data
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import mesh and solution data from STAR-CD, in order to post-process the STAR-CD solution data using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ visualization tools. This import option does not support Lagrangian solution data.
  - Importing CAE Models
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import CAE models that have been prepared in other CAE products. You can use imported CAE models for coupling Simcenter STAR-CCM+ with external CAE codes using the file-based coupling technique.
- File-Based Coupling (through Imported CAE Model)
  File-based coupling is a method used to couple Simcenter STAR-CCM+ with another CAE code via external files stored in the computer memory.
- Rotor Blade Aeroelasticity
  Rotor Blade Aeroelasticity (RBA) simulations model the aerodynamic performance of elastic rotor blades using displacement and twist data from external files. You can create these data files in multi-body dynamics software such as RCAS, CAMRAD-II, DYMORE, and FLIGHTLAB. Typical RBA applications include urban air vehicle rotors, wind turbines, and helicopter rotors.
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Co-Simulation
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to couple two running simulations together in a co-simulation analysis. The Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ co-simulation capability targets analyses involving conjugate heat transfer (CHT), fluid-structure interaction (FSI), and exchange of any scalar or vector fields across the coupled boundaries or regions.
- Simcenter Nastran Co-Simulation
  For fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analyses, you can couple Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and Simcenter Nastran in a co-simulation analysis.
- Simcenter Amesim Co-Simulation
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows for two-way co-simulation with Simcenter Amesim, which is used for modeling dynamic systems.
- FMU Co-Simulation
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) models for co-simulation. An FMU is a time-dependent model, typically representing a dynamic network, that is written according to the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard. The FMI standard is a software-independent standard that provides an interface for coupling simulation software.
- Abaqus Co-Simulation
  The co-simulation technique can be used to solve complex fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems by coupling Abaqus and Simcenter STAR-CCM+. Mechanical and/or thermal fields can be exchanged across the fluid-structure interface.
- GT-SUITE Co-Simulation
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows for two-way co-simulation with GT-SUITE, a multiphysics simulation tool from Gamma Technologies. GT-SUITE provides a modeling framework for the design and analysis of engineering systems, such as engines, vehicles, and thermal-hydraulic networks.
- Reacting Channel Coupling
  The Reacting Channel Coupling feature provides the ability for exchange of data between three-dimensional Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and the one-dimensional Plug Flow Reactor which uses the CVODE solver. You can use the Reacting Channel co-simulation model in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to solve reacting flow simulations in tubular heat exchangers with channels that are long and thin.
- Generic Launcher
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a generic launcher for external applications that allows you to launch any application or file at a specified time interval during a simulation.
- Co-Simulation API
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows you to write partner code that exchanges data with a running Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulation. As the partner code can be part of any other application that supports linking to a flat C library, the co-simulation API extends the range of co-simulation scenarios possible with Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Data Mappers
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, data mappers allow you to interpolate field data available either on a source mesh or on a source table to a target mesh representation, so that the mapped fields can be used for applying boundary or volume conditions on the target mesh.
- Coordinate Cell Clustering
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to group mesh cells into clusters, based on their position with respect to a specified coordinate system, and provides a field index for querying values based on cluster. You can create threshold reports based on these clusters of cells.

File Import and Export

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import mesh and solution data from other CAE packages using files. You can also export such data from Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for use in external software.

Importing Files with Mesh and Solution Data

You can use imported data in a standalone Simcenter STAR-CCM+ analysis, or for coupling Simcenter STAR-CCM+ with other software using file-based coupling.

The following sections describe file import in the context of coupling Simcenter STAR-CCM+ with external software:

Importing CAE Models (provides an interface for file-based coupling)
Importing STAR-CD Data
Importing Data from a CGNS File

For import of geometry, surface mesh, or volume mesh, see:

Exporting Mesh and Solution Data to Files

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to export mesh and solution data to formats that can be used in other CAE software packages. The following sections describe file export in the context of coupling Simcenter STAR-CCM+ with external software:

For export of geometry, surface mesh, or volume mesh, see: