In many FSI simulations, the coupling between the solution fields is predominantly unidirectional; a given field may strongly affect, but not be affected by other fields. In CFX, there are a variety of strategies to efficiently execute such simulations. These strategies are identified in the following examples.
One of the most useful examples of unidirectional FSI within CFX involves prescribed mesh deformation of fluid or solid domains. This is possible using the CEL to specify the motion of sub-domains or domain boundaries, or by reading a sequence of pre-defined meshes.
In many FSI simulations, the capabilities of additional solvers are required to compliment those of CFX. In these circumstances, CFX provides tools to facilitate the import and export of solution data in a variety of formats.
The recommended method for importing boundary condition data from the Mechanical application into CFX is via boundary profile data. For information about the creation and use of profile data files, refer to Unidirectional Load-Transfer for CFD Applications in the Coupled-Field Analysis Guide and Use Profile Data in the CFX-Pre User's Guide.
You can perform one-way FSI operations manually (by exporting CDB files from the Mechanical APDL application, importing the surface in CFD-Post, and exporting the SFE commands).
To create a Mechanical load file using CFD-Post to transfer FSI data:
Load the fluids results file, from which you want to transfer results, into CFD-Post
Select File > Import > Import Mechanical CDB Surface. The Import Mechanical CDB Surface dialog box appears.
In the Import Mechanical CDB Surface dialog box, either:
Select the CDB file that specifies the surface mesh of the solid object to which to transfer data. Also select the Associated Boundary for the surface to map onto, and make other selections as appropriate.
Select the XML document that provides all transfer information. Click , and the surface data is loaded.
Select File > Export > Export Mechanical Load File. The Export Mechanical Load File dialog box appears.
In the Export Mechanical Load File dialog box, select a filename to which to save the data. For the Location parameter value, select the imported Ansys mesh object. Under File Format select Ansys Load Commands (FSE or D). (Alternatively, you can select WB Simulation Input (XML) to get XML output.) Also select the appropriate data to export: Normal Stress Vector, Tangential Stress Vector, Stress Vector, Heat Transfer Coefficient, Heat Flux, or Temperature. Click , and the data file is created.
The one-way FSI data transfer described above is performed automatically when using the FSI: Fluid Flow (CFX) > Static Structural custom system in Ansys Workbench. For details, see the FSI: Fluid Flow (Ansys CFX) > Static Structural in the Workbench User's Guide section in the Ansys documentation.
Solution data can be exported from CFX in a variety of general formats during or after execution of the CFX-Solver. For information about the export of data in CGNS format during the execution of the solver, refer to Export Tab in the CFX-Pre User's Guide. For information about the extraction and export of CGNS, MSC Patran, FIELDVIEW, EnSight and custom data from CFX results files, refer to Generic Export Options in the CFX-Solver Manager User's Guide.