Mapping Types

System Coupling performs two types of mapping, each with its own objectives: profile-preserving and conservative.

Profile-Preserving Mapping

  • The goal of profile-preserving mapping is to minimize the difference between the profile, or distribution of data, on the source and target mesh locations.

  • Profile-preserving mapping is used to transfer intensive variables from interface source to target regions.

  • Profile preservation is enforced to the extent possible, based on the least-resolved topology from the source/target region combination.

  • Not all target locations receive data originating from the interface source. For target locations that are not mapped (that is, do not overlap with source locations), target data are generated based on the values of other mapped nodes or centroids. For details, see Generating Data for Target Locations.

  • Supports the following quantity types associated with intensive variables:

    Scalar quantities:

    • Temperature

    • Heat Transfer Coefficient

    • Convection Reference Temperature

    • Electrical Conductivity

    Vector quantities:

    • Incremental Displacement

    • Mode Shape

Conservative Mapping

  • The goal of conservative mapping is to minimize the difference between the sum of the data (locally and globally) on the source and target mesh locations.

  • Conservative mapping is used to transfer extensive variables from interface source to target regions.

  • Not all target locations receive data originating from the interface source. Specifically, target locations that do not overlap with source locations are assigned a value of zero.

  • Supports the following quantity types associated with extensive variables:

    Scalar quantities:

    • Heat Rate

    Vector quantities:

    • Force

In all cases, data from the source-side of the interface is used to calculate data on the target-side of the interface at either element or node locations. If algorithms require data on locations not provided or consumed by either side of the interface, then it is reconstructed by a supplemental algorithm, as described in Data Reconstruction Algorithms. Diagnostics are provided for all mapping types to aid in assessing the quality and accuracy of target data.