Co-Simulation Interface and Exchanged Fields

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ co-simulation allows for data exchange across the coupled boundaries, or regions, of two running Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulations.

Co-Simulation Interface

In a Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ co-simulation, the partner simulations exchange fields across a shared interface that you specify by defining co-simulation zones in each partner simulation. A co-simulation zone specifies a set of model parts (boundaries or regions) that couple with the model parts that are specified within the corresponding co-simulation zone in the partner simulation. A co-simulation zone also specifies which fields are exchanged between the coupled model parts.



You can define multiple co-simulation zones that specify different conditions on different sets of coupled model parts. Each zone is identified with an index and connects to the zone with the same index that is defined in the partner simulation. The number of co-simulation zones defined in a simulation must match the number of zones in the partner simulation.

Exchanged Fields

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to specify the fields that are exchanged between the simulations using either predefined fields, or auxiliary fields. Predefined fields are intended for the most common co-simulation analyses, which involve mechanical and thermal coupling between a fluid and a solid. Auxiliary fields allow for exchange of any fields between two simulations.
  • When using predefined fields, the simulations can exchange the following data at the coupled boundaries:
    • Predefined Thermal Fields: the solid simulation exports Temperature and the fluid simulation can export the Heat Transfer Coefficient and Reference Temperature.
    • Predefined Mechanical Fields: the fluid simulation can export Pressure and Wall Shear Stress and the solid simulation exports Displacement.

    You can only exchange predefined fields between boundaries (surface-to-surface coupling).

    When using predefined fields, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ offers two approaches for setting the boundary conditions using the data imported from the partner simulation:
    • Managed approach: Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically manages the boundary conditions at the coupled boundaries, based on the fields that are imported from the partner simulation.
    • Unmanaged approach: you set the boundary conditions manually. This approach gives you full control on the exchanged fields specification, as it allows you to manipulate the imported fields before they are applied to the coupled boundaries.
  • When using auxiliary fields, the simulations can exchange any field functions defined on the coupled parts (either boundaries or regions). You set boundary or region conditions manually, as Simcenter STAR-CCM+ does not automatically apply the imported fields on the coupled parts. You can exchange auxiliary fields between coupled boundaries (surface-to-surface coupling) or coupled regions (volume-to-volume coupling).

You can use predefined thermal and mechanical fields, and auxiliary fields, together in the same simulation.