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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.
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.
Coupling to GT-SUITE
Specify the settings for launching and connecting to GT-SUITE, then initiate coupling.
Running a Co-Simulation with GT-SUITE on Parallel Hosts
If you intend to run on parallel hosts (a multiple node cluster or several machines over a network), the procedure for running the co-simulation must meet certain criteria. The following examples demonstrate coupling over parallel hosts using two machines or nodes; A is the primary host and B is the secondary host.

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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.
- 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.
  - Preparing the GT-SUITE Simulation for Co-Simulation
    Starting from a fully set up GT-SUITE simulation, you define the co-simulation interface by adding CFD objects to the model map.
  - Preparing the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Simulation for Co-Simulation
    Set up a Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulation for co-simulation with GT-SUITE.
  - Coupling to GT-SUITE
    Specify the settings for launching and connecting to GT-SUITE, then initiate coupling.
    - Running a Co-Simulation with GT-SUITE on Parallel Hosts
      If you intend to run on parallel hosts (a multiple node cluster or several machines over a network), the procedure for running the co-simulation must meet certain criteria. The following examples demonstrate coupling over parallel hosts using two machines or nodes; A is the primary host and B is the secondary host.
  - Setting Up STAR-CCM+ and GT-SUITE for a Restart Run
    On occasion, it is necessary to stop the solver prematurely, or continue running an existing analysis for more time-steps. To meet these requirements, GT-SUITE co-simulation provides facilities to perform a restart run. This section details this procedure for a case that has been stopped before completion.
  - GT-SUITE Co-Simulation Model Reference
    The GT-SUITE co-simulation model allows you to couple Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and GT-SUITE in a two-way co-simulation analysis.
- 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.

Running a Co-Simulation with GT-SUITE on Parallel Hosts

If you intend to run on parallel hosts (a multiple node cluster or several machines over a network), the procedure for running the co-simulation must meet certain criteria. The following examples demonstrate coupling over parallel hosts using two machines or nodes; A is the primary host and B is the secondary host.

Running GT-SUITE on the Primary Host

The easiest way to run a coupled simulation is to allow Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to launch the GT-SUITE server automatically on the primary host. However, the primary host must have access to the GT-SUITE installation.

To run the GT-SUITE server on the primary host, A:

Launch a parallel simulation using the procedure in Using a Remote Multi-Core Workstation, ensuring that the primary host is the first entry in the table. Alternatively, from the command line:
```
starccm+ -server -on A:x,B:y -np x+y
```
where:
- x – is the number of processes on A
- y – is the number of processes on B

Running GT-SUITE on a Secondary Host

If the primary host does not have access to a GT-SUITE installation, run the GT-SUITE server on one of the secondary hosts. This scenario requires a different coupling procedure.

To run the GT-SUITE server on the secondary host, B:

Launch a parallel simulation using the procedure in Using a Remote Multi-Core Workstation, ensuring that the primary host is the first entry in the table. Alternatively, from the command line:
```
starccm+ -server -on A:x,B:y -np x+y
```
where:
- x – is the number of processes on A
- y – is the number of processes on B