System Coupling supports static and transient coupled field co-simulations involving thermal-fluid-structural couplings between Mechanical and another coupling participant (such as Fluent). The co-simulation may be run using either System Coupling in Workbench or one of System Coupling's user interfaces (GUI or CLI). Setup of Mechanical's coupled field system is the same in all scenarios.
To set up and run a coupled field co-simulation, perform the following steps:
Set up the coupled field system in Mechanical.
Add a Coupled Field Static or Coupled Field Transient analysis system to the Project Schematic.
Set up the system in Mechanical as usual (as described in Coupled Field Static analysis or Coupled Field Transient analysis), with the following qualifications:
Structural and/or thermal variables must be defined.
Make sure the initial temperature is set correctly. (This is defined by the Initial Temperature and Initial Temperature Value fields under Coupled Field Transient/Initial Physics Options.)
A System Coupling Region must be used to create the coupling interface and to send both structural and thermal Degrees of Freedom (DOFs) to the co-simulation.
Finish setting up CFD participant and System Coupling according to where you want to complete the setup and run the co-simulation, as follows:
To complete the setup and solve the co-simulation in Workbench, follow the steps outlined in Setting Up a Coupled Analysis in Workbench and Running a Coupled Analysis in Workbench.
To complete the setup outside Workbench and solve the co-simulation in one of System Coupling's user interfaces, follow the steps outlined in Preparing for a Coupled Analysis, Creating a Coupled Analysis, and Running a Coupled Analysis.
To complete a full or partial setup in Workbench, export the setup, and solve the co-simulation in one of System Coupling's user interfaces, follow the steps outlined in Exporting a System Coupling Setup and Running an Exported System Coupling Setup.