General Workflow for Co-Simulation with Abaqus

To set up a co-simulation with Abaqus:

  1. Develop a standalone Simcenter STAR-CCM+ fluid simulation with the following considerations:
    • For mechanical co-simulation involving surface displacements, apply provisional fixed wall boundary conditions to the FSI boundary of interest. Alternatively, use a morphing motion model with a prescribed displacement or grid velocity that mimics the actual displacement.
    • For thermal co-simulation analyses, apply provisional temperature boundary conditions to the wall boundary of interest.
  2. Develop a standalone Abaqus structural model with the following considerations:
    • Identify the fluid-structure interfaces using surface definitions as required.
    • Verify the model using provisional pressure and/or heat flux loads at the fluid-structure interface. Apply pressure/heat flux load magnitudes that are reasonable and similar to the expected fluid loads. You can specify the assumed pressure/heat flux loads using surface-based loading options (*DSLOAD, *DSFLUX, and *SFILM).
  3. Run each stand-alone simulation to convergence before attempting co-simulation. If either stand-alone model is improperly defined or has numerical problems, you are unlikely to obtain a solution for a co-simulation.
  4. Remove the provisional loads from each standalone model.
  5. Modify the Abaqus input file for co-simulation. See Specifying Co-Simulation Settings in Abaqus.
  6. Prepare the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ model for co-simulation. See Specifying Co-Simulation Settings in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
  7. Launch and execute the co-simulation from Simcenter STAR-CCM+. See Running the Co-Simulation.