Simcenter 3D Multiphysics workflow: coupled thermal-structural analysis with an external CFD solver

Step	Summary	Detailed help topic
1.	Perform initial setup	Select the Use Custom Plugin check box and specify the complete path to the following plugin in the Customer Defaults dialog box: [software_installation]\nxcae_extras\tmg\mp\application\mpcfdcoupl.dllWarning: The external CFD solvers must have the appropriate CFD solver coupling API implemented. This implementation is very time-consuming and requires considerable resources.	Define external CFD solvers
2.	Create a FEM and mesh the model	Create a FEM using the Simcenter 3D Multiphysics FEM template. Set Solver to Simcenter 3D Multiphysics and Analysis Type to one of the following:Coupled Thermal-StructuralCoupled Thermal-FlowCoupled Thermal-Flow-StructuralMesh the model. A coupled analysis uses the same mesh for both the structural and thermal model.For each mesh collector, choose the appropriate material and physical properties for your analysis.	Create a new FEM fileMeshingPhysical properties and element attributesMaterials
3.	Create a simulation and a solution	Create a simulation using the Simcenter 3D Multiphysics Sim template. Create a new solution with Solver set to Simcenter 3D Multiphysics and Analysis Type set to the same analysis type as in FEM.	Create a new Simulation file
4.	Adjust thermal, flow, structural, and coupled solution parameters	In the Solution dialog box, on the Solution Control page, create necessary modeling objects for your solution: A Thermal Solution Parameters modeling object, where you can adjust the thermal and radiation parameters. A Flow Solution Parameters modeling object, where you can adjust the flow solution parameters.A Nonlinear Control Parameters modeling object. These parameters correspond to the NLCNTL bulk data entry for the structural solver.The appropriate Coupled Solution Parameters modeling object, where you specify how the solver should calculate the next time step, whether the coupling should be sequential or iterative, specify the types of data to pass between the thermal, flow, and structural solvers, and at what times that data should be passed.	Setting thermal solver parametersSetting flow solver parametersUnderstanding radiation parametersNonlinear Control Parameters dialog box (Simcenter Nastran SOL 401/Simcenter 3D Multiphysics)Define coupled solution parametersControlling time steps in a coupled solution
5.	Specify the initial and stress-free reference temperatures and other initial conditions	In the Solution dialog box, on the Initial Conditions page, specify the initial conditions for the thermal and flow solvers.In a coupled analysis, the thermal/flow solver provides the load temperatures, but you must specify the stress-free reference temperature for the structural solution. To specify this reference temperature, create an Initial/Stress Free Temperature type of Temperature Set and optionally create Temperature loads.	Thermal initial conditions3D flow initial conditionsModeling thermal strain in a Nastran analysis
6.	Define external CFD solvers	Specify each external CFD solver in a separate External Solver modeling object. Assign these modeling objects to your solution in the Solution dialog box. The order of the modeling objects in the Solution dialog box dictates the order in which the software runs these external solvers.	Define external CFD solvers
7.	Define solution steps	You can create the following types of solution steps:A Preload type of structural solution step to define a bolt preload or to include Temperature loads. You must place this step before all static solution steps in which you plan to include the bolt preload.One or more coupled solution steps to define thermal-flow-structural exchange of data. This type of step can also include geometry and material plasticity or creep nonlinearity.A Normal Modes type of solution step, which can use the stiffness condition (such as stress stiffening, follower stiffness, and spin softening) from the previous static solution step.	Defining multiphysics solution stepsBolt pre-loads with Simcenter Nastran and Simcenter 3D Multiphysics
8.	Request the types of results to output	The Structural Output Request, Thermal Output Request, Flow Output Request, and Thermal-Flow Output Request modeling objects specify the types of results to recover from the solution, for example, displacements, stresses, and temperatures.You can specify output requests both for the solution and for individual solution steps.	Requesting structural output for Simcenter 3D MultiphysicsRequesting thermal, flow, and thermal-flow output for Simcenter 3D Multiphysics
9.	Define transfer of CFD data to the thermal solver	Add Thermal Convecting Zone loads to define the transfer of CFD data from the external solver to the walls specified in the convecting zones. Add Thermal Stream loads to define the transfer of CFD data from the external solver to the stream inlets.	Define transfer of CFD data to the thermal solver
10.	Define boundary conditions for external solvers	Add External Solver Boundary Condition simulation objects to transfer thermal data to the boundary conditions of the external solver.	Define boundary conditions for external solvers
11.	Add other constraints, loads, glue, contact, and simulation objects	Add other thermal, flow, and structural constraints, loads, and simulation objects in the Simulation file.You can add constraints and simulation objects at the solution level or to individual steps. You can add loads only at the solution level. You can organize loads within load sets.	Boundary conditionsUsing fields and expressions to define boundary conditionsSimcenter 3D Multiphysics boundary conditions
12.	Solve the solution	Solve the solution to generate the analysis results. The Solution Monitor displays the solve progress for the Simcenter 3D Multiphysics coupled solution, Simcenter 3D Thermal, Simcenter 3D Flow, and Simcenter Nastran.	Solve the model
13.	Analyze results	Use post processing tools, such as contour plots and XYZ graphing, to analyze your results on the Pre/Post model.	Analyzing multiphysics results

Learn more

Simcenter 3D Multiphysics workflow: thermal-flow-structural analysis

Simcenter 3D Multiphysics workflow: structural solution using one-way coupling of temperature loads

Simcenter 3D Multiphysics workflow: mapping temperatures onto a structural model

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Coupling to external CFD solvers

SOL 401 nonlinear capabilities

Simcenter 3D Multiphysics workflow: coupled thermal-structural analysis with an external CFD solver, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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