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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.
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.

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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.
  - 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.

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.

To continue an analysis for more time-steps, the following steps can also be followed, but increase the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ stopping criteria to extend the duration of the simulation.

Before running the solver, enable the Auto Save feature in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to save the simulation at regular intervals. The autosaved files provide an exact time-step from which you can restart the solver, thus ensuring the two codes begin at the same point in the analysis. The autosave file has a name that corresponds to the current time-step, for example, casename@01000.sim is the saved simulation at time-step 1000.

To enable Auto Save:

From the menu bar, select File > Auto Save....
In the Auto Save dialog, set Trigger Type to Time Step, as the restart time-step must be specified in the GT-SUITE case.
Set Frequency and Max Autosaved Files as required.
Start the GT-SUITE solver and obtain a solution in the usual manner.

To restart the simulation in GT-SUITE, modify the case setup so that the solver restarts from a user-specified time-step:

Right-click a CFD component, and select Edit Properties...
In the Edit Object dialog, select the Advanced tab.
Set Read to CFD Time Step Number to def.
Save the GT-SUITE case file and create a .dat file, by selecting Run > Run-Simulation Utilities > Create .dat file from the menu bar.

To restart the simulation in Simcenter STAR-CCM+:

Load the autosaved file into Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- If you perform a restart from a different directory, make sure that you copy the relevant files from the previous working directory (that is, the *.cfdreload, *.sim, *.gtm, and *.gdx files).
Run the solvers in the usual manner.
The Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solver restarts from the last time-step and the GT-SUITE solver restarts from the user-specified time-step.