System Coupling Tutorials 182

ANSYS System Coupling Tutorials
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Table of Contents
Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction using Fluent ................................................. 1
Overview of the Problem to Solve ........................................................................................................... 2
Performing Basic Project Setup ............................................................................................................... 3
Creating the Project .......................................................................................................................... 3
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run .................................................................................... 4
Adding Analysis Systems to the Project ............................................................................................. 5
Adding a New Material for the Project ............................................................................................... 6
Adding Geometry to the Project ....................................................................................................... 8
Defining the Physics in the Mechanical Application ................................................................................. 9
Generating the Mesh for the Structural System .................................................................................. 9
Assigning the Material to the Geometry .......................................................................................... 10
Setting the Basic Analysis Values ..................................................................................................... 11
Inserting Loads ............................................................................................................................... 11
Defining the Fixed Support ....................................................................................................... 11
Defining the Fluid-Solid Interface .............................................................................................. 12
Defining the Pressure Load ....................................................................................................... 12
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System ............................................. 14
Completing the Setup for the Structural System .............................................................................. 14
Setting up your Fluid Analysis ............................................................................................................... 15
Generating the Mesh for the Fluid System ....................................................................................... 15
Defining the Physics in the ANSYS Fluent Application ...................................................................... 18
Adding the Solution Setup Settings .......................................................................................... 18
Defining the Dynamic Mesh ...................................................................................................... 19
Adding the Solution Settings .................................................................................................... 21
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Fluent System ............................................ 22
Defining and Running the Coupling in the System Coupling Application ............................................... 22
Creating the Data Transfers ............................................................................................................. 23
Preparing System Coupling for Restarts ........................................................................................... 24
Solving and Restarting the Coupled Analysis ................................................................................... 25
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System .................................. 26
Viewing Results in CFD-Post .................................................................................................................. 27
Animating Results .......................................................................................................................... 27
Setting Up the Animation ......................................................................................................... 27
Creating the Animation ............................................................................................................ 29
Plotting Results on the Solid ........................................................................................................... 30
Performing Postprocessing in Mechanical ....................................................................................... 31
Setting Up and Executing a Coupled Analysis Restart from Workbench .................................................. 32
Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line ........................................................ 33
Preparing the Required Input Files .................................................................................................. 33
Running the Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 34
Restarting the Analysis Execution .................................................................................................... 36
Preparing the Required Input Files ............................................................................................ 36
Restarting the Analysis ............................................................................................................. 37
Loading the Results into CFD-Post ............................................................................................. 38
Heat Transfer from a Heating Coil ............................................................................................................ 39
Overview of the Problem to Solve ......................................................................................................... 39
Part 1: Transferring Data from the Steady-State Thermal Analysis to the Fluid Flow Analysis .................... 40
Creating the Project ........................................................................................................................ 41
Adding Analysis and Component Systems ....................................................................................... 42
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. iii
Adding New Materials to the Project ............................................................................................... 43

Adding Geometry to the Project ..................................................................................................... 44
Preparing the Steady-State Thermal Source Data ............................................................................. 44
Assigning the Material to the Geometry .................................................................................... 44
Generating the Mesh ................................................................................................................ 45
Defining the Physics for the Structural Analysis .......................................................................... 45
Executing the Structural Analysis .............................................................................................. 47
Postprocessing the Structural Analysis Results ........................................................................... 47
Using External Data to Access the Steady-State Thermal Source Data ............................................... 49
Preparing the Fluid Flow Analysis .................................................................................................... 50
Importing the Mesh for the Fluid Flow Analysis ......................................................................... 50
Defining the Physics for the Fluid Flow Analysis ......................................................................... 51
Preparing and Executing the Coupled Thermal Analysis ................................................................... 53
Reviewing Results in CFD-Post ........................................................................................................ 54
Part 2: Transferring Data from the Fluid Flow Analysis to the Steady-State Thermal Analysis .................... 57
Exporting the Data ......................................................................................................................... 57
Adding Additional Analysis and Component Systems ...................................................................... 58
Using External Data to Access the Fluid Flow Source Data ............................................................... 59
Preparing the Steady-State Thermal Analysis ................................................................................... 59
Preparing and Executing the Coupled Thermal Analysis ................................................................... 60
Reviewing Results in the Mechanical Application ............................................................................. 61
Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction using CFX ................................................... 65
Overview of the Problem to Solve ......................................................................................................... 66
Performing Basic Project Setup ............................................................................................................. 67
Creating the Project ........................................................................................................................ 67
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run .................................................................................. 69
Adding Analysis Systems to the Project ........................................................................................... 69
Adding a New Material for the Project ............................................................................................. 71
Adding Geometry to the Project ..................................................................................................... 73
Defining the Physics in the Mechanical Application ............................................................................... 73
Generating the Mesh for the Structural System ................................................................................ 74
Assigning the Material to the Geometry .......................................................................................... 75
Inserting Loads ............................................................................................................................... 76
Defining the Fixed Support ....................................................................................................... 76
Defining the Fluid-Solid Interface .............................................................................................. 77
Defining the Pressure Load ....................................................................................................... 77
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System ............................................. 78
Completing the Setup for the Structural System .............................................................................. 79
Setting up your Fluid Analysis ............................................................................................................... 79
Generating the Mesh for the Fluid System ....................................................................................... 80
Defining the Physics Using CFX-Pre ................................................................................................. 83
Setting the Analysis Type .......................................................................................................... 83
Creating the Fluid ..................................................................................................................... 83
Creating the Domain ................................................................................................................ 84
Creating the Boundaries ........................................................................................................... 85
Fluid Solid External Boundary ............................................................................................. 85
Symmetry Boundaries ........................................................................................................ 86
Setting Initial Values ................................................................................................................. 87
Setting Solver Control ............................................................................................................... 87
Setting Output Control ............................................................................................................. 88
Setting Execution Control ......................................................................................................... 89
iv of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Defining and Running the Coupling in the System Coupling Application ............................................... 89
Creating the Data Transfers ............................................................................................................. 90
Preparing System Coupling for Restarts ........................................................................................... 91
Solving and Restarting the Coupled Analysis ................................................................................... 92
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System .................................. 94
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the CFX System ...................................................... 94
Viewing Results in CFD-Post .................................................................................................................. 94
Animating Results .......................................................................................................................... 95
Setting Up the Animation ......................................................................................................... 95
Creating the Animation ............................................................................................................ 97
Plotting Results on the Solid ........................................................................................................... 98
Performing Postprocessing in Mechanical ....................................................................................... 99
Setting Up and Executing a Coupled Analysis Restart from Workbench .................................................. 99
Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line ...................................................... 101
Preparing the Required Input Files ................................................................................................ 102
Running the Analysis .................................................................................................................... 102
Restart Analysis Execution ............................................................................................................. 104
Preparing the Required Input Files .......................................................................................... 104
Restarting the Analysis ............................................................................................................ 104
Loading the Results into CFD-Post ........................................................................................... 105
Index ........................................................................................................................................................ 107
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. v
vi of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction using
Fluent
In this tutorial, you will learn how to solve a Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) case. You will model
structural deformation in a fluid using System Coupling to coordinate the ANSYS Mechanical and ANSYS
Fluent solvers.
Component Feature Details

ANSYS Workbench Analysis Systems Transient Structural
Fluid Flow (Fluent)
Component Systems System Coupling
Engineering Data Defining new materials
DesignModeler Geometry Import
Mechanical Meshing
Defining the physics
Named Selections
Coupled analysis restart
Coupled analysis batch
execution from command
line
Meshing Meshing
ANSYS Fluent Defining the physics
line
System Coupling Defining the coupling
line
CFD-Post Plots Vector
Animation
This tutorial includes:

Overview of the Problem to Solve
Performing Basic Project Setup
Defining the Physics in the Mechanical Application
Setting up your Fluid Analysis
Defining and Running the Coupling in the System Coupling Application
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 1
Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction using Fluent
Viewing Results in CFD-Post

Setting Up and Executing a Coupled Analysis Restart from Workbench
Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line
Note
In the main flow of the tutorial, you use the user interface to completely solve the simulation.
However, at a series of points during the tutorial, you have optional instructions that produce
files that will enable you to solve the simulation from the command line. The steps related
to this are:
1. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run (p. 4)

2. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System (p. 14)
3. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Fluent System (p. 22)
4. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System (p. 26)
5. Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line (p. 33)
If you do not want to solve the simulation from the command line, you may ignore those
steps.

This tutorial uses an example of an oscillating plate within a fluid-filled cavity to demonstrate how to
set up and run a simulation involving a two-way coupled analysis in ANSYS Workbench.
A thin plate is anchored to the bottom of a closed cavity filled with fluid (air), shown in Figure 1: Dimen-
sions of the oscillating plate case (p. 2). There is no friction between the plate and the side of the
cavity. An initial pressure of 100 Pa is applied to one side of the thin plate for 0.5 s to distort it. Once
this pressure is released, the plate oscillates back and forth to regain its equilibrium, and the surrounding
air damps this oscillation. You will simulate the plate and surrounding air for a few oscillations to be
able to observe the motion of the plate as it is damped.
Figure 1: Dimensions of the oscillating plate case
To simulate this case, you will set up a two-way Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis. You will
model the motion of the oscillating plate using the Mechanical applications Transient Structural
2 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
analysis system. You will model the motion of the fluid in the closed cavity using the Fluent applications
Fluid Flow (Fluent) analysis system. The two analyses are solved at the same time with the System
Coupling system coordinating the solution process as well as the data transfers between the two ana-
lysis systems.
The two-way coupling involves two data transfers:
Force data from the motion of the air is received by the Transient Structural analysis system as it solves
the structural behavior over time.
Displacement data from the motion of the plate is received by the Fluid Flow (Fluent) analysis system as
it solves the fluid behavior over time.
The oscillation of the plate is dependent on time, and so you need to choose appropriate time values
for the coupled transient analysis:
Time duration is the total time observed in the analysis. In this analysis, you will set the time duration to be
10 s, which is enough time to observe the plate oscillating a few times. With this time duration, you will not
model the full damping back to the plates equilibrium. When setting up a transient analysis, make sure that
you choose a time duration that will allow you to observe the behavior of interest in your system.
Time step is the size of the time increments that you are solving within your transient analysis. In this analysis,
you will set the time step to be 0.1 s, which is fine enough to observe the oscillations to a reasonable degree.
When setting up a transient analysis, make sure you choose a time step that works for the physics you are
solving. Too large a time step will miss behavior of the system, and too small a time step will be computa-
tionally expensive.

Basic project setup consists of the following steps:
Creating the Project
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run
Adding Analysis Systems to the Project
Adding a New Material for the Project
Adding Geometry to the Project

Create the project by setting up the directories needed and importing the project files:
1. Start ANSYS Workbench:
To launch ANSYS Workbench on Windows, click the Start menu, then select All Programs > ANSYS 18.2
> Workbench 18.2.
To launch ANSYS Workbench on Linux, open a command line interface and enter the path to runwb2.
For example:
~/ansys_inc/v182/Framework/bin/Linux64/runwb2
The Project Schematic displays with an unsaved project. By default, Workbench is configured to
show the Getting Started dialog that describes basic operations in Workbench. Click the [X] icon
to close this dialog.
2. Create a working directory:
Create a directory where you will store your project (this is your working directory). For example,
under My Documents, create a directory named SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent.
3. Save the project:
a. From the main menu, select File>Save to save changes to the project.
A Save As dialog is displayed.
b. Select the path to your working directory to store files created during this tutorial.
c. Under File name, type SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent and click Save.
The project files and their associated directory locations display under the Files view. To make
the Files view visible, select View>Files from the main menu of Workbench.
4. Download and save the tutorial input files:
This tutorial uses the geometry file, oscillating_plate.agdb, as an input. The file can be
accessed on the ANSYS Customer Portal, as follows:
a. Go to the Tutorials and Training Materials page (on the Knowledge Resources tab).
b. Filter the available tutorials, setting the Product filter to System Coupling and the Version filter to
18.2.
c. In the results list, click System Coupling Tutorial: Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure
Interaction using Fluent R18.2.
d. The files are in the zip archive oscillatingplate_r182.zip. Download this file and unzip it
to the directory of your choice.
e. Copy the supplied geometry file to the user_files subdirectory in the SystemCouplingOscil-
latingPlateFluent_files directory.
By working with a copy of the geometry input file in your working directory, you prevent ac-
cidental damage to the original file.

This tutorial runs from within Workbench. However, you also have the option of taking files created
from applications running in Workbench and performing a second system coupling run from a command
line. If you want to try this alternative, follow the instructions below to prepare the locations where this
second system coupling run will be performed. As you work through the tutorial in Workbench, you
will be prompted to add source files from the applications running in Workbench to the directories you
create here.
To prepare a directory structure for executing the analysis from a command line:
1. Create a high-level directory named SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine. This

directory should be a sibling to SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent.
2. In the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine directory, create subdirectories

within which the Mechanical APDL, Fluent, and System Coupling service executables will be run. Name
these subdirectories: Structural_CmdLine, FluidFlow_CmdLine, and Coupling_CmdLine.

In this tutorial, you are doing a two-way FSI analysis by coupling two analysis systems: a Transient
Structural system and a Fluid Flow (Fluent) system. You will use the System Coupling system to
couple the other two systems and to coordinate the solution execution.
To add these three systems to your Workbench project:
1. Add the Transient Structural system:
a. From the Analysis Systems toolbox located on the left side of the Workbench window, select the
Transient Structural template. Double-click the template, or drag it onto the Project Schematic to
create a standalone system.
A Transient Structural system is added to the Project Schematic, with its name selected and
ready for renaming.
b. Type in the new name, Structural, to replace the selected text. In this tutorial,Structural system
will be used to refer to the Transient Structural system.
If you missed seeing the selected text, right-click the first cell in the system and select Rename
from the context menu. You will then be able to edit the name.
2. Add the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system:
a. Drag a Fluid Flow (Fluent) analysis system on top of the Structural systems Geometry cell (A3) and
drop it there.
A Fluid Flow (Fluent) system, coupled to the Structural system, is added to the Project
Schematic. This Fluid Flow (Fluent) system is connected to the Structural system through
the Geometry cell (A3 to B2), so both of these systems will share the same geometry.
b. Change the name of this system to Fluid. In this tutorial,Fluid system will be used to refer to the
Fluid Flow (Fluent) system.
3. Add the System Coupling system:
Expand the Component Systems toolbox, drag a System Coupling system and drop it to the
right of the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system.
4. Connect the Setup cells for the Structural and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Structural system's Setup cell (A5) and drop it on the System Coupling systems Setup
cell (C2).
5. Connect the Setup cells for the Fluid and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Fluid system's Setup cell (B4) and drop it on System Coupling systems Setup cell (C2).
Now all three systems are connected for a two-way FSI analysis.
From the main menu, select File>Save to save changes to the project.
The Project Schematic should appear as shown in Figure 2: System Coupling of Transient Structural
and Fluid Flow (Fluent) Systems (p. 6).
Figure 2: System Coupling of Transient Structural and Fluid Flow (Fluent) Systems
The Structural and Fluid systems have various cells. The icons on the right side of each cell provides
visual indications of a cell's state at any given time. In your current Project Schematic in Workbench
(shown in Figure 2: System Coupling of Transient Structural and Fluid Flow (Fluent) Systems (p. 6)),
most cells appear with a state of Attention Required (a blue question mark icon ), indicating that cells
need to be set up before continuing the analysis. As these cells are set up, the data transfer occurs from
top to bottom. For a description of various cell states, see "Understanding Cell States" in the "ANSYS
Workbench Interface Reference" section of the Workbench User's Guide.
Now that your project systems are in place, you can start working through your analysis. Your current
project systems enables you to perform your analysis by:

In the Project Schematic, the Structural systems Engineering Data cell (A2) displays in an Up to Date
state because default material is already available for the project. The case requires a new material with
properties that make it more flexible. You will create a new material named Plate, define its properties
to be suitable for oscillation, and set it as the default material for the analysis.
1. Open the Engineering Data workspace:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Engineering Data cell (A2) in the Structural system.
Engineering Data opens in a new tab in Workbench. The Outline and Properties views are among
the views that appear.
2. Create the "Plate" material:
In the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data view, click the empty row at the bottom of
the table to add a new material for the project. Type in the name Plate.
When you click away from that cell, Plate is created and displays with a blue Attention Required
question mark, indicating that its properties need to be defined.
3. Add Density as a material property:
From the Toolbox on the left, expand Physical Properties. Select Density and drag it onto the
cell containing Plate (A4) in the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data view. If the toolbox
is not visible by default, select View > Toolbox to make it visible.
Density is added as a plate property in the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view, as shown
in the following figure.
4. Add Isotropic Elasticity as a material property:
In the toolbox under Linear Elastic, drag Isotropic Elasticity onto Plate (A4) in the Outline of
Schematic A2: Engineering Data view.
Isotropic Elasticity is added as the plate property in the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view.
5. Specify a Density value:
In the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view, set the Value of Density (B2) to 2550 kg m^-3.
Do not type in units.
6. Specify Istotropic Elasticity property values:
In the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view, expand Isotropic Elasticity by clicking the plus
sign. Now set Youngs Modulus to 2.5e06 [Pa] and Poissons Ratio to 0.35. Do not type in
units.
The desired plate data is created and is available to the remaining cells in the Structural system.
7. Set "Plate" as the default material for the model:
In the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data view, under Material, right-click Plate (A4)
and select Default Solid Material For Model.
8. Save the material settings to the project:
From the main menu, select File > Save to save material settings to the project.
9. Return to the Project Schematic:
Close the Engineering Data tab to return to the Project Schematic.

You will add geometry to your project by importing an existing DesignModeler file. Once you add the
geometry, it will be shared between the Structural and Fluid systems because you have connected their
geometry cells in the Project Schematic. All of the geometry parts have to be unsuppressed at this
point in your project so that they are available for use later in the Structural and Fluid systems.
1. Browse to the geometry file:
From the Project Schematic, right-click the Structural systems Geometry cell (A3) and select Import
Geometry > Browse.
2. Import the geometry file into the project:
In the Open dialog, browse to your working directory, select SystemCouplingOscillating-

PlateFluent_files > user_files > oscillating_plate.agdb from your working dir-
ectory, and click Open.
3. Open DesignModeler:
In the Structural system, double-click the Geometry cell (A3) to edit the geometry using Design-
Modeler.
The DesignModeler application opens in a separate window.
4. Confirm that all bodies in the model are unsuppressed:
In DesignModelers Tree Outline on the left, expand the branch 2 Parts, 6 Bodies to see all of the
bodies that compose the geometry. The one solid body is listed, and under Part are the five fluid
bodies. Ensure that all of these bodies are already unsuppressed (they should all have small green
check marks).
5. Save geometry changes to the project:
The geometry is set up for the project. Save any changes by selecting File > Save Project from
the main menu in DesignModeler.
Select File > Close DesignModeler to return to the Project Schematic.
The updated geometry is now available for both the Structural and Fluid systems.
Later in the tutorial, when you generate the structural mesh, the fluid bodies will be suppressed. Similarly,
when you generate the fluid mesh, the solid body will be suppressed. You will suppress these bodies
from within the Mechanical and Meshing applications, so no further changes are needed in DesignModel-
er.
Note
Because the Structural systems Geometry cell (A3) shares its content directly with the Fluid
systems Geometry cell (B2), you can edit the geometry only through the Structural systems
Geometry cell (A3).

In the Mechanical application, you are setting up the structural analysis and defining the coupling inter-
face. You will not solve the structural analysis from the Mechanical application because you will use
the System Coupling system to solve both structural and fluid systems at the same time.
When setting up your own two-way coupled analysis, it is a best practice to set up and solve the
structural analysis within the Mechanical application before continuing with your coupled analysis. If
issues occur within your structural system, the isolated analysis is easier to troubleshoot than the more
complex coupled analysis.
The structural Geometry cell (A3) is up-to-date, so you start your setup by generating the structural
mesh. This section describes the step-by-step definition of the structural physics:
Generating the Mesh for the Structural System
Assigning the Material to the Geometry
Setting the Basic Analysis Values
Inserting Loads
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System
Completing the Setup for the Structural System

Generate the mesh for the Structural system directly in the Mechanical application:
1. Open Mechanical:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Structural systems Model cell (A4) to open the
Mechanical application.
The Mechanical application opens in a separate window.
2. Locate the model's two geometries:
In Mechanicals Outline on the left, expand Geometry to see the two geometries, solid and Part.
3. Suppress the fluid bodies:
For the structural analysis, you need to generate the mesh for only the solid body. To do this, you
need to first suppress the fluid bodies. Right-click the Part geometry (which contains all of the
fluid bodies), and select Suppress Body.
The fluid bodies are now suppressed and their status changes to an x mark. You now will see only
the solid body in the Graphics view. Click Zoom to Fit to view the entire model in the Graphics
view.
4. Define mesh divisions for the X axis:
Define the mesh by marking divisions on the edges of the solid. These divisions will be used as
guides for the mesh creation:
a. Click Edge .
b. Click an edge that lies parallel to the X axis.
c. In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Insert > Sizing.
d. Beside Type, select Number of Divisions from the drop-down menu.
e. Beside Number of Divisions, select 1.
5. Define mesh divisions for the Y and Z axes:
Repeat steps a to d to create 10 divisions on an edge that is parallel to the Y axis and 4 divisions
on an edge that is parallel to the Z axis. To summarize:
Table 1: Mesh Divisions for Axes
Edge Direction Number of Divisions

X axis 1
Y axis 10
Z axis 4
6. Generate the mesh:
In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Generate Mesh from the shortcut menu.
A hex mesh is generated on your solid body.

When you defined the Plate material, you set it to be the default for your solid body. In the Mechanical
application, you can verify that this material is set correctly.
1. Select the solid body geometry:
In Mechanicals Outline view, select Project > Model > Geometry > solid.
2. Confirm that "Plate" is the assigned material:
In the Details of solid, ensure that Material > Assignment is set to Plate. If not, click the ma-
terial name and use the arrow that displays to make the appropriate change.

You now need to set up information about the transient analysis time steps, which are the basic ana-
lysis values needed for the transient structural analysis.
The time duration (10 s) is chosen so that the plate oscillates a few times during the analysis. A single
substep is used per coupling iteration. The coupling step size of 0.1s (which is also the size of the iter-
ations) will be defined later in System Coupling.
These time settings are dependent on the physics that you are observing, including the material prop-
erties of the plate. When setting your own transient analysis, make sure that you choose time settings
appropriate to the physics you are solving.
1. Open the Details view for the model Analysis Settings:
In Mechanicals Outline view, select Project > Model > Transient > Analysis Settings.
The details of Analysis Settings appear in the Details of Analysis Settings below the Outline
view.
2. Specify analysis Step Controls:
In the Details of Analysis Settings, specify the following settings under Step Controls (do not
type units next to the time values):
a. Set Step End Time to 10.
b. Set Auto Time Stepping to Off.
c. Set Define by to Substeps.
d. Set the Number of Substeps to 1.
Inserting Loads
The loads applied for the structural analysis are equivalent to the boundary conditions in a fluid analysis.
In this section, you will set the following loads and interface:
a fixed support on the bottom of the plate
a fluid-solid interface where the plate interacts with the fluid
a pressure load on one side of the plate, to start the oscillation
On the surfaces of the plate that lie coincident with the symmetry planes, you will not set a load. With
no load set, the default of an unconstrained condition will be applied on these two surfaces. For this
particular case, this unconstrained condition is a reasonable approximation of the frictionless support
that would otherwise be applied.
Defining the Fixed Support

The fixed support is needed to hold the bottom of the thin plate in place. Set up the fixed support:
1. Insert a fixed support:
In Mechanicals Outline view, right-click Transient and select Insert > Fixed Support.
2. Specify the face to which the support will be applied:
Rotate the geometry using the Rotate button so that the bottom (low-y) face of the solid is
visible, then select Face and click the low-y face.
That face is highlighted to indicate the selection.
3. Apply the support to the geometric face:
In the Details of Fixed Support view, click Apply beside Geometry to set the fixed support.
If the Apply button is not visible, select Fixed Support in the Outline view and, in the Details
view, click the text next to the Geometry setting to make the Apply button reappear.
The text next to the Geometry setting changes to 1 Face.
Defining the Fluid-Solid Interface

The fluid-solid interface defines the interface between the fluid in the Fluid system and the solid in the
Structural system. Data will be exchanged across this interface during the execution of the simulation.
When setting up your structural system for a coupled analysis, you need to define this interface on regions
in the structural model that will receive force data from the Fluid system.
1. Insert a Fluid Solid Interface:
In Mechanicals Outline view, right-click Transient and select Insert > Fluid Solid Interface.
2. Specify the face to which the interface will be applied:
Using the same face-selection procedure described earlier in Defining the Fixed Support (p. 11),
select the three faces of the geometry that form the interface between the structural model and
the fluid model (low-x, high-y and high-x faces). Hold down Ctrl to be able to select multiple faces.
3. Apply the interface to the geometric face:
In the Details of Fluid Solid Interface, beside Geometry, click Apply.
The text next to the Geometry setting changes to 3 Faces.
Note
This load (fluid-solid interface) is automatically given an Interface Number of 1.
Defining the Pressure Load

The pressure load on one side of the plate provides the initial pressure of 100 Pa for the first 0.5 s of
the simulation. This pressure to the plate starts the oscillation. It is defined using tabular data.
1. Insert a Pressure:
In Mechanicals Outline view, right-click Transient and select Insert > Pressure.
2. Specify the face to which the pressure will be applied:
In the Graphics view, select the low-x face. In the Details of Pressure view beside Geometry,
click Apply.
3. Specify the pressure's Magnitude as tabular data:
a. In the Details of Pressure view, click the cell next to Magnitude, and using the arrow that displays,
select Tabular.
The Tabular Data view displays on the bottom right of the Mechanical application window.
The times of 0 s and 10 s are the beginning and end of your analysis, based on the time dur-
ation (10 s) that you specified earlier.
b. In Tabular Data, set a pressure of 100 Pa in the table row corresponding to a time of 0. Do not
type in units.
c. You now need to add two new rows to the table. Do this by typing the new time and pressure data
into the empty row at the bottom of the table. Notice that the rows are automatically re-ordered
based on the time value. Add the data from Table 2: Tabular Data for Step Pressure Load (p. 13).
Table 2: Tabular Data for Step Pressure Load
Time (s) Pressure (Pa)

0 100
0.5 100
0.51 0
10 0
You now have tabular data similar to a step function for your pressure, with 100 Pa applied
for 0.5 s. The step function is displayed in the graph to the left of the table.
4. Save the pressure load to the project:
The settings for the structural physics are now complete. Save these settings by selecting File >
Save Project from Mechanicals main menu.
5. Proceed according to whether you intend to execute a command-line run:
If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the Mechanical system, proceed to
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System (p. 14).
If you do not intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the Mechanical system, proceed
to Completing the Setup for the Structural System (p. 14).

If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the structural system:
1. From the Mechanical application, select Tools > Write Input File.
2. Specify the path and APDL Input File (SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_Cm-

dLine\structural.dat) that you will use later.
Tip
The Write Input File option is available only if you have Transient (A5) selected in the
Outline tree.
Note
Though out of the scope of this tutorial, below is information about augmenting your
structural setup, and transferring the structural setup from the Mechanical application to the
Mechanical APDL application.
In some cases, you may need to augment your structural setup in the Mechanical APDL application.
If this is the case, then:
1. Open that application and select File > Read Input From to choose the .dat file created
by Mechanical.
2. Once the .dat file has been read, make your setup modifications and write a Mechanical
APDL Database file using File>Save As Jobname.db or File >Save As.
3. You can start the Mechanical APDL solver from the created database file as explained later
in the tutorial.
Transferring the structural setup from the Mechanical application to the Mechanical APDL applic-
ation is facilitated in ANSYS Workbench. To do this:
1. Right-click the Mechanical system's Setup cell (A5) and select Transfer to New > Mechanical
APDL.
2. Once the new Mechanical APDL system is introduced, update the upstream Mechanical
system's Setup cell (A5).
3. You can read the setup into the Mechanical APDL user interface by right-clicking that system's
Analysis cell and selecting Edit in Mechanical APDL.

On the Project Schematic, the Structural systems Setup cell (A5) displays in an Update Required state.
To complete the setup in the Structural system, you need to ensure that all the data is in the correct
state in the Project Schematic.
Select File > Close Mechanical to return to the Project Schematic.
2. Update the Structural system's Setup cell:
In the Structural system, right-click the Setup cell (A5) and select Update from the shortcut menu.
The state of the Setup cell changes to Up to Date. All cells in the Structural system down to the
Setup cell should now appear in an Up to Date state.
From the main menu, select File > Save to save the project.
The setup for the Structural system is complete. Remember that you will not solve the structural analysis
from the Mechanical application because you are using the System Coupling system to solve both
Structural and Fluid systems at the same time. In the next section, you will set up the Fluid system.

You will use the Fluent application to set up your Fluid system, but first you need to generate the mesh
using the Meshing application. The fluid Geometry cell (B2) is up-to-date because it shares the geometry
with the structural analysis, so you start your Fluid systems setup with creating a mesh.
Fluid setup consists of the following steps:

Generating the Mesh for the Fluid System
Defining the Physics in the ANSYS Fluent Application

You will generate a mesh for the Fluid system using the Meshing application. For this geometry, you
will use a swept mesh across the x-y plane, creating a hex mesh with a depth of one element.
1. Open Meshing:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Fluid systems Mesh cell (B3) to open the Meshing
application.
The Meshing application opens in a separate window.
In the Meshing applications Outline view on the left, expand Geometry to see the two geometries,
solid and Part.
3. Suppress the structural body:
For the fluid analysis, you need to generate the mesh for only the fluid bodies. To do this, you
need to first suppress the structural body.
Right-click solid and select Suppress Body.
The solid body is now suppressed and its status changes to an "x" mark. You now will only see the
fluid bodies in the Graphics view.
4. Confirm the mesh physics and solver preferences:
In the Meshing applications Outline view, click Mesh.
In the Details of Mesh below, under Defaults, notice that the Physics Preference is set to CFD
and Solver Preference is set to Fluent.
5. Set the meshing method to Sweep and define its properties:
Now you need to define sweep as the meshing method, and set up all of the information that the
sweep method needs:
a. In the Meshing applications Outline view, right-click Mesh and select Insert > Method.
Automatic Method will appear under Mesh.
b. Click Body , and then select all five fluid bodies in the Graphics view. Use the Ctrl key to select
multiple bodies. Note that the fifth fluid body is very thin, and is above the plate.
c. With all five bodies selected, in the Details of Automatic Method Method, beside Geometry
click No Selection. Click the Apply button that displays.
The text next to Geometry changes to 5 Bodies.
d. Under Definition, set Method to Sweep.
Notice that in the Outline above, under Mesh, the method is now renamed to Sweep Method.
e. In the Details of Sweep Method Method, next to Src/Trg Selection, click Automatic. Using the
arrow that displays, select Manual Source.
Manual Source enables you to dictate which surfaces are used as the source for the sweep
meshing. Source is highlighted, indicating that information about which surfaces to use is
needed.
f. Select Face , then Ctrl-select all five fluid faces on one of the walls in the x-y-plane (either side of
the wall will work).
Note
The fifth face is very narrow, displayed as a pair of lines extending from the top
edge of the plate to the high-y face. To select all five faces, you can select one face
and use the Extend to Limits option, available from the Extend Selection menu
in the Meshing task bar.
g. In the Details view, beside Source, click No Selection. Click the Apply button that displays.
The text next to Source changes to 5 Faces.
h. Set Free Face Mesh Type to All Quad so that all of the mesh elements are quadrilateral.
i. Next to Sweep Num Divs, set the value to 1.
j. In the Outline above, click Mesh. In the Details of Mesh, expand Sizing and set Min Size to 0.06
and Max Face Size to 0.2. These settings control the size of the mesh elements that will be generated.
6. Update the mesh:
Now that all of the settings for your swept mesh are complete, you need to generate the mesh.
In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Update.
The swept mesh that you have defined is now generated for your fluid bodies.
7. Save the project and return to the Project Schematic:
Select File > Save Project, and then File > Close Meshing to close the Meshing application.
Defining the Physics in the ANSYS Fluent Application

In the Fluent application, you are setting up the fluid analysis and defining the coupling interface. You
will not solve the fluid analysis from the Fluent application because you are using the System Coupling
system to solve both structural and fluid systems at the same time.
When setting up your own two-way coupled analysis, it is a best practice to set up and solve the fluid
analysis before continuing with your coupled analysis. If issues occur within your fluid system, the isolated
analysis is easier to troubleshoot than the more complex coupled analysis.
This section describes the step-by-step definition of the fluid physics:

Adding the Solution Setup Settings
Defining the Dynamic Mesh
Adding the Solution Settings
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Fluent System
Adding the Solution Setup Settings

You now need to open your analysis in the Fluent application, set the Fluid analysis to be transient,
and add material to the fluid geometry.
1. Open the Fluent Launcher:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Fluid systems Setup cell (B4) to open the Fluent
application.
The Fluent Launcher opens.
2. Enable the Double Precision option:
Under Options, select Double Precision.
3. Close the Fluent Launcher:
Use the remaining default options (3D and serial), and click OK to close the Fluent Launcher.
The Fluent application opens in a new window, and the mesh file is automatically loaded.
4. Specify your Solver type:
In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Solver, select Transient.
5. Enter values for Density and Viscosity properties:
In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Materials, select Create/Edit.... In the dialog that displays,
for Density (kg/m3) type 1 and Viscosity (kg/m-s) type 0.2. Do not type units.
6. Save changes and close the dialog:
Click Change/Create to save these changes, and then click Close.
Defining the Dynamic Mesh

A dynamic mesh is needed for any coupled analysis where a system receives displacements. In this tu-
torial, the plate is oscillating back and forth, and the dynamic meshing settings determine how the
mesh of the fluid bodies react to this deformation of the moving structural body.
The mesh on the fluid-structural interface is static, so as the fluid mesh is modified to accommodate
the deformation in the transient system, the mapping on this coupling interface stays consistent.
In this step, you will set up the dynamic mesh:
1. Enable Dynamic Mesh:
a. In Fluent's Setting Up Domain tab, under Mesh Models, select Dynamic Mesh....
b. In the Task Page, select Dynamic Mesh.
The settings for Dynamic Mesh are now available.
2. Specify dynamic mesh Smoothing settings:
Under Mesh Methods, Smoothing is selected by default. Click the Settings button to specify the
settings for the smoothing used.
The Mesh Method Settings dialog displays.
a. On the Smoothing tab, set Method to Diffusion.
b. For the Diffusion Parameter, type 2. Click OK to close the dialog.
3. Open the Dynamic Mesh Zones dialog:
Under Dynamic Mesh Zones, click Create/Edit to specify which zones in your geometry will have
dynamic meshing.
The Dynamic Mesh Zones dialog displays.
4. Define the "symmetry1" zone:
Define the dynamic mesh settings needed for the surface symmetry1, which is the wall in the x-
y plane that goes through the origin. This surface will be affected by the solid bodys displacement,
and its mesh needs to be able to deform.
a. In the Dynamic Mesh Zones dialog, under the Zone Names drop-down list, select the zone sym-
metry1.
b. Set its Type as Deforming.
c. Select the Geometry Definition tab.
d. Specify the Definition as plane.
e. Specify Point on Plane as 0,0,0.
f. Specify Plane Normal as 0,0,1.
g. Click Create at bottom of dialog to create this dynamic mesh zone.
The list of Dynamic Mesh Zones on the right side of the dialog now includes symmetry1.
5. Define the "symmetry2" zone:
Define the dynamic mesh settings needed for the surface symmetry2, which is the second wall in
the x-y plane. This surface will be affected by the solid bodys displacement, and its mesh must be
able to deform.
a. Under the Zone Names drop-down list, select the zone symmetry2.
b. Set its Type as Deforming.
c. Select the Geometry Definition tab.
d. Specify the Definition as plane.
e. Specify Point on Plane as 0,0,0.4.
f. Specify Plane Normal as 0,0,1.
g. Click Create at bottom of dialog to create this dynamic mesh zone.
The list of Dynamic Mesh Zones now includes symmetry2.
6. Define the "wall_bottom" zone:
Define the dynamic mesh settings needed for the surface wall_bottom, which is the two surfaces
on the bottom of the fluid zones (the two surfaces are interrupted by the solid body in the middle
of the geometry). This surface is not affected by the solid bodys displacement, and so its mesh
should remain stationary.
a. Under the Zone Names drop-down list, select the zone wall_bottom.
b. Set its Type as Stationary, then click Create at bottom of dialog to create this dynamic mesh zone.
The list of Dynamic Mesh Zones now includes wall_bottom.
7. Define the "wall_top", "wall_side1", and "wall_side2" zones:
Repeat the previous step's instructions to create stationary dynamic mesh zones for the three surfaces
below. These three surface complete the enclosed cavity, and they are not affected by the solid
bodys displacement. Their mesh should remain stationary.
wall_top
wall_side1
wall_side2
8. Define the 'wall_deforming" zone:
Define the dynamic mesh settings needed for the surfaces in the wall_deforming zone, which are
the surfaces surrounding the solid body. These surfaces will deform throughout the simulation.
a. Under the Zone Names drop-down list, select the zone wall_deforming.
b. Set its Type as System Coupling, then click Create to create this dynamic mesh zone.
The list of Dynamic Mesh Zones now includes wall_deforming.
9. Close the Dynamic Mesh Zones dialog:
You now have seven dynamic mesh zones defined and listed on the right of the dialog. Click Close.
Adding the Solution Settings

Set the solutions settings in the Fluent application so that your fluid system is ready to be solved:
1. Specify the Solution Methods:
In Fluent's Solving tab, under Solution, select Methods.
a. In the Task Page, under Pressure-Velocity Coupling > Scheme, select Coupled.
b. Under SpatialDiscretization > Momentum, ensure Second Order Upwind is selected.
2. Specify solution Autosave settings:
a. In the Solving tab, under Activities, select Autosave....
b. In the dialog, set Save Data File Every (Time Steps) to 2.
c. Click OK.
3. Specify advanced Run Calculation settings:
In the Solving tab, under Run Calculation, click Advanced.... In the Task Page:
a. Specify Number of Time Steps to be 10. Note that the system couplings number of time steps will
override this value.
b. Specify the Max Iterations/Time Step to be 5. This value is the maximum amount of times that
Fluent can iterate within a coupling iteration.
c. Under Run Calculation, leave the default Time Step Size (s) as 1, but note that the system couplings
time step size will override this value.
4. Specify solution Initialization settings:
In the Solving tab, under Initialization, set the Method to Standard.
5. Initialize the entire flow field.
In the Solving tab, under Initialization, click Initialize.
6. Save the project.
Select File > Save to save the project.
If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the Fluent system, proceed to Op-
tional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Fluent System (p. 22).
If you do not intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the Fluent system, select File
> Close Fluent to close to return to the Project Schematic.
The setup for the Fluid system is complete. Remember that you will not solve the fluid analysis
from the Fluent application because you are using the System Coupling system to solve both
structural and fluid systems at the same time. In the next section, you will set up the System
Coupling system.
Proceed to Defining and Running the Coupling in the System Coupling Application (p. 22).
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Fluent System

If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the Fluent system, select File > Export
> Case from the main menu in the Fluent user interface, and specify the path and Case File (System-
CouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine\fluidFlow.cas) that you will use later.
Important
You should perform this step before updating the coupled solution within the Workbench
environment for the following reasons:
Editing the Fluent systems Setup cell after a solution is executed will clear all existing solution
files.
Editing the Fluent systems Solution cell after a solution is executed will load the most recent
(rather than the original) case and data files.
You may now close Fluent.

In the System Coupling system, you are setting up the coupling between your structural and fluid
analyses. You will use the System Coupling system to solve both of these analyses at the same time.
Notice that in the Structural and Fluid systems, all of the cells up to Setup have a state of Up to Date.
Setting up and running the coupled analysis consists of the following steps:
Creating the Data Transfers
Preparing System Coupling for Restarts

Solving and Restarting the Coupled Analysis
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System

Set up the transient analysis settings for your coupled analysis:
1. Open the System Coupling workspace:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the System Coupling systems Setup cell (C2).
In the dialog, click Yes to allow upstream data to be read. The System Coupling system is obtaining
data from the Structural and Fluid systems Setup cells (A5 and B4).
The System Coupling workspace opens in a new tab in your Workbench project.
2. Open the Properties view for Analysis Settings:
In Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, select System Coupling > Setup > Analysis Set-
tings.
3. Set the Analysis Settings properties:
In Properties of Analysis Settings:
a. Set Duration Controls > End Time to 10.
The end time is the same as the Structural systems time duration. The choice of 10 s gives
enough time to observe the plate oscillating a few times. System Couplings end time value
always overrides the number of time steps specified in the Fluent application.
b. Set Step Controls > Step Size to 0.1.
The coupling iteration size is same as the transient analysis time step, and the choice of 0.1
s is small enough to observe the plates oscillations to a reasonable degree. System Couplings
step size value always overrides the time steps size specified in the Fluent application.
c. Verify that the Maximum Iterations is set to 5.
For this system to converge, five coupling iterations within each coupling step is sufficient. If
your own system has trouble converging within the coupling step, you may want to increase
the number of maximum iterations or reduce the time step size.

For your two-way coupled analysis, data from the Structural and Fluid solutions must be shared
throughout the solution process. System Coupling coordinates the transfer of data between these two
systems using the data transfers that you create.
1. Expand the Participants node:
In Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, expand System Coupling > Setup > Participants
until all region components are visible.
2. Create the data transfers:
a. Ctrl-select first the Fluid Solid Interface region (from the Structural system) and then the wall_de-
forming region (from the Fluid system).
b. With both selected, right-click one of those regions and select Create Data Transfer.
Under System Coupling > Setup > Data Transfers, the following two data transfers are created:
Data Transfer: here, the surface of the Structural system around the plate transfers displacement to
the surface of the Fluid system around the plate.
Data Transfer 2: here, the surface of the Fluid system around the plate transfers force to the surface
of the Structural system around the plate.
3. Review the data transfer properties:
a. Click System Coupling > Setup>Data Transfers > Data Transfer.
b. In the Properties of Data Transfer on the bottom left, notice that the source, target and variable
transferred are already defined for each of these data transfers.
c. Perform the previous two steps for Data Transfer 2.

Ensure that System Coupling is producing restart data to be used in the event that the System Coupling
analysis must be restarted.
1. Open the Properties view for Intermediate Restart Data Output:
Under System Coupling > Setup > Execution Control, select Intermediate Restart Data Output.
The restart output frequency for the system coupling analysis is defined and controlled by these
settings.
2. Set the Intermediate Restart Data Output properties:
Set the following properties:
a. Set Output Frequency to At Step Interval.
b. Set Step Interval to 5.
Select File > Save to save your settings before solving.
Note
Recall that earlier, the Fluent auto-save frequency was set to 2 so that Fluent will output
result files (case and data files) every two time steps (that is, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc.). Fluent
will also output additional result files at 5, 10, 15, 20 etc. based on the Step Interval
frequency specified for the Intermediate Restart Data Output. In CFD-Post, both sets
of files will be available for postprocessing.

During the solution process, the System Coupling system coordinates the solving of your Structural and
Fluid systems as well as the data transfers between these two systems. The Fluid system solves using
the Structural solutions displacement data, and the Structural system solves using the Fluid solutions
force data.
1. Update the Solution:
To start solving the coupled analysis, in Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, right-click
Solution and select Update.
The solution progress begins, and progress is summarized in the System Coupling Chart and
Solution Information views, as well as the Workbench schematic progress view. This solution will
run for 100 coupling steps because you specified an end time of 10 s in System Coupling (time
duration in Mechanical), and each coupling step represents 0.1 s (step size in System Coupling,
and time step in Mechanical).
Note
Alternatively, you can start solving the coupled analysis from Workbenchs Project
Schematic, as follows:
1. Return to the Project Schematic.
2. Right-click the System Coupling systems Solution cell (C3) and select Update.
Notice that for the Structural and Fluid systems Solution cells (A6 and B5), the
Update operation is disabled because the coupled solution process must be
run through the System Coupling system.
2. Monitor the System Coupling update:
Return to the System Coupling workspace and observe the coupled solution progress using any
of the following methods:
Progress bar: Access by clicking on the Show Progress button at the bottom right corner of the
Workbench window.
Messages view: Access by clicking on the Show Messages button at the bottom right corner of the
Workbench window.
Solution Information view: As your analysis is solved, in the Solution Information view, information
from the System Coupling Log file is displayed. For details on the kinds of information included, see
the next step.
3. Review solution update information:
The System Coupling solution is complete when the Solution Information view reads System
coupling run completed successfully. You can review the following information:
Coupling step and iteration details:
Each coupling step and coupling iteration is recorded with information about convergence of
the data transfer.
Solution overview:
At the beginning of the file (scroll up in your Solution Information view), there is an overview
of the participants (the Fluid and Structural system), the data transfers, the System Coupling
settings, and a mapping summary.
The Mapping Summary has information about the percentage of nodes on your fluid-structure
interface that are mapped. This information is used to determine the quality of the mapping in
your system.
Restart data:
Restart data will be output during the solution process. An additional note will be seen in the
System Coupling log output under Solution Information, indicating the name and frequency
of the system coupling result file.
For example, the intermediate result file is written: scResult_01_000005.scr. The restart
data for Fluent will also be output at the same frequency during the coupled solution. When
the coupled solution completes, Mechanical restart files (that is, file0.r001,
file0.r002...file1.r001, file1.r002, etc.) will be visible in the Workbench project
files (that is, they are automatically transferred from the solver temporary/scratch folder). The
file naming convention is such that file0.r001 refers to a Mechanical restart file at step 5,
file0.r002 refers to a Mechanical restart file at step 10, and so on.
Select File > Save to save the project, then click the Project tab to return to the Project Schem-
atic.
If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the System Coupling system, proceed
to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System (p. 26).
to Viewing Results in CFD-Post (p. 27).

If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the System Coupling system, you
need to export the System Coupling Input (SCI) file. To do this:
1. From your Project Schematic, make sure that the System Coupling Setup cell (C2) is in an Up to Date
state.
2. If your System Coupling tab is not open, double-click System Couplings Setup cell (C2).
3. From the System Coupling tab, in the main menu, select File > Export SCI File.
4. Specify the path and SCI file (SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine\oscil-

lating_plate.sci) that you will use later.
5. Select File > Save to save the project.
6. Click the Project tab to return to the Project Schematic.

You will use CFD-Post to view the results of your coupled analysis. You have simulated the plate oscil-
lating in a closed cavity filled with air. The results you have obtained show the plate and surrounding
air for a few oscillations, and you will be able to use CFD-Post to see the motion of the plate as it is
damped.
In Workbench, you need to set up the Project Schematic so that CFD-Post can read the solution of
your Structural and Fluid systems.
To view the results in CFD-Post:
1. Connect the Structural system's Solution cell to the Fluid system's Results cell:
From the Project Schematic, drag the Structural Solution cell (A6) to the Fluid Results cell (B6).
2. Open CFD-Post:
Double-click the Fluent Results cell (B6) in the Fluid system to launch CFD-Post.
CFD-Post opens in a new window. Both sets of results are loaded into the CFD-Post session and
are ready for you to view.
Viewing results in CFD-Post includes the following steps:

Animating Results
Plotting Results on the Solid
Performing Postprocessing in Mechanical
Animating Results
An animation is a good way to view results in a transient analysis. In this animation, you will show:
the pressure and velocity of the fluid on the symmetry plane
the deformation of the plate geometry, with stress visible
Setting Up the Animation

Set up your animation:
1. Open the Timestep Selector dialog:
From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Tools > Timestep Selector to open
the Timestep Selector dialog.
The Timestep Selector dialog shows the results time history for both Fluent and MAPDL system
coupling.
2. Set the Fluid timestep value:
In the Timestep Selector dialog, on the Fluid tab, select a Time of 0.2 s for the Fluid case, then
click Apply.
Close the Timestep Selector dialog.
3. Set properties for the "symmetry1" zone:
Under Cases > Fluid at 0.2s > Part Fluid, select the symmetry1 zone under the Fluid case to
display that zone, then double-click to edit it.
a. In Details of symmetry1, on the Color tab set the Mode to Variable and set Variable to Pressure.
b. On the Render tab, clear the Lighting check box and check Show Mesh Lines.
c. Click Apply to save your changes. The pressure at 0.2 s is now visible on the one side of the fluid
geometry.
4. Set properties for the "Default Boundary" zone:
Under Cases > Structural at 0.2s > Default Domain, select the Default Boundary zone and then
double-click to edit it.
a. In the Details of Default Boundary, on the Color tab, set the Mode to Variable and set Variable
to Von Mises Stress.
b. On the Render tab, enable Show Mesh Lines.
c. Click Apply. Stress is now visible on the structural body.
5. Insert a Vector and set its properties:
From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Vector to create a vector
plot. Accept the default name and click OK.
a. In the Details view on the Geometry tab, set the Locations to symmetry1, set Sampling to Face
Center, and ensure that Variable is set to Velocity.
b. On the Symbol tab, set Symbol to Arrowhead3D.
c. Click Apply. A vector plot of the velocity is now visible on the one side of the fluid geometry.
6. Disable the animation's Default Legend View 1:
In the Outline under User Locations and Plots, clear the Default Legend View 1 check box.
7. Specify text details for the animation:
From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Text and click OK to accept
the default name.
a. In the Details of Text 1 view, for Text String, type Time = . Check the Embed Auto Annotation,
and from the Expression drop-down list select Time.
b. On the Location tab, set X Justification and Y Justification to None, and set the Position text as
0.1 in the first field, and 0.2 in the second field.
c. Click Apply.
The corresponding transient results are loaded into the animation in CFD-Post, and when you run the
animation, you can see the mesh move in both the Fluent and Mechanical regions.
Creating the Animation

1. Zoom in on the plate:
Zoom in so that you can see the oscillating plate clearly.
2. Open the Animation dialog:
At the top of the CFD-Post application, click Animation .
The Animation dialog displays.
3. Create keyframes and set their properties:
a. Select Keyframe Animation.
b. Click New to create KeyframeNo1.
c. Highlight KeyframeNo1, then change # of Frames to 48.
d. Load the last timestep (100) using the Timestep Selector (found at the top of the CFD-Post Inter-
face).
e. Back in the Animation dialog, click New to create KeyframeNo2.
The # of Frames parameter has no effect for the last keyframe, so leave it at the default value.
4. Save the animation:
In the Animation dialog:
a. Click the More Animation Options button , then select the Save Movie check box.
b. Click Browse next to Save Movie to set a path and file name for the movie file.
If the file path is not given, the file will be saved in the directory from which CFD-Post was
launched.
c. Click Save.
The movie file name (including path) will be set, but the movie will not be created yet.
5. Play the animation:
a. If frame 1 is not loaded (shown in the F: text box in the middle of the Animation dialog), click To
Beginning to load it.
Wait for CFD-Post to finish loading the objects for this frame before proceeding.
b. Click Play the animation .
The movie will be created as the animation proceeds. This process will be slow, since a timestep
must be loaded and objects must be created for each frame.
c. Save the results by selecting File > Save Project from the main menu.
d. Close the animation dialog. Your animation is now saved in the file path you specified. You can play
the video in any media player.

You will use a chart to display the deformation of the solid body. One point at the top of the plate is
used to track the displacement in the chart. This chart is a useful way to view the damping that occurs
in the plates motion due to the interaction with the fluid.
1. Create a point in the solid domain, using node number 77:
This point is at the top corner of the solid body, and will be used to track the deformation of the
plate.
a. From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Location > Point. Click OK
to accept the default name.
b. In the Details view, on the Geometry tab, set Domains to Default Domain, set Method to Node
Number, and set Node Number to 77.
c. Click Apply. On your model, cross-hairs appear on node number 77, so you can see where this point
is on your solid body.
2. Insert a chart for the data at node 77:
To view the deformation using the point you just created, insert an XY Transient Chart for the data
at this node (Point 1). In the chart you create, the x-axis is time, and the y-axis is the total mesh
displacement.
a. From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Chart; click OK to accept the
default name.
b. In the Details view, on the General tab, set Type to XY - Transient or Sequence
c. On the Data Series tab, for Name type System Coupling, and set Location to Point 1.
d. On the X Axis tab, ensure that the Expression is Time.
e. On the Y Axis tab, set the Variable to Total Mesh Displacement X.
3. Click Apply to generate the chart of mesh displacement over time.
After the chart is generated, note the damping that is visible in the plates motion. The plate does
not return to equilibrium in this chart because of the length of time chosen for the simulation of
this case. To see the full damping of the system, you would need to simulate the case for a longer
time duration.
4. Save the project and close CFD-Post:
Save the project and then select File > Close CFD-Post to return to the Project Schematic.

You can also see the structural results of your FSI analysis in the Mechanical application. Note that the
Mechanical system does not have any information about results on the fluid bodies.
1. Open Mechanical:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Results cell (A7) to open Mechanical.
The Mechanical application opens in a new window.
2. Insert an Equivalent (von Mises) Stress result:
In the Outline view, right-click Solution A6 and select Insert > Stress > Equivalent (von Mises)
results.
3. Insert a Directional Deformation result:
Right-click Solution A6 again and select Insert > Deformation > Directional results.
4. Evaluate results:
Right-click Solution A6 again and select Evaluate All Results.
The equivalent stress and directional deformation of the place are now visible on your model.
5. View the Equivalent Stress result:
Under Solution A6 click Equivalent Stress to view the stress on the structural body.
6. View the Directional Deformation result:
Under Solution A6 click Directional Deformation to view the deformation of the structural body.
Select File > Save to save the project.
All systems are now complete and the Project Schematic is up-to-date.

This section describes how to restart the coupled analysis from a restart point. Here, the solution is re-
started from 5s, halfway through the simulation.
1. Set up for a restart in Mechanical:
a. From the Project Schematic, double-click the Structural Solution cell (A6) to open Mechanical.
b. Under Project > Model > Transient, select Analysis Settings.
c. In Analysis Settings Details, set Restart Type to Manual.
d. In Analysis Settings Details, set Current Restart Point to Load Step 50, Substep 1 (that is, 5s).
e. Close Mechanical.
2. Set up for a restart in Fluent:
a. From the Project Schematic, double-click the Fluid Solution cell (B5) to open Fluent.
b. From the File menu, select Solution Files....
c. In the Solutions Files dialog that displays, click 100 time steps, 10s - Current to deselect it, and
then click 50 time steps, 5s to select this time step.
d. Click the Read button. Fluent will read in the case/data file associated with 5s.
e. Close Fluent.
3. Set up for a restart in System Coupling:
a. From the Project Schematic, double-click the System Coupling Setup cell (C2) to open the System
Coupling workspace.
b. From the Outline view, select Setup > Analysis Settings.
c. In Properties of Analysis Settings, under Initialization Controls, from the Coupling Initialization
drop-down list, select Step 50, Time 5[s].
d. Optional: Under Execution Control > Intermediate Restart Data Output, set Output Frequency
to None. If this is not done, there will be a second set of restart files output under the Workbench
project.
4. Solve the coupled analysis restart:
a. Right-click the Solution branch in Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, and select Update.
A summary of the solution progress in the System Coupling Chart (starting from 5s) and
Solution Information views (also starting from 5s), as well as the Progress view on the
Workbench Project Schematic.
b. Once your solution is complete, select File > Save to save your project.
You have now used the Workbench, Fluent, Mechanical, and System Coupling interfaces to complete
this tutorials simulation.
If you intend to complete the optional steps for running this tutorial using the command line, proceed
to Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line (p. 33).
Otherwise, you are now finished with the Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction
tutorial. When you are finished viewing your results, save your project by selecting File > Save from
the main menu, and close Workbench by selecting File > Exit.

This section describes how to execute the analysis for this tutorial from the command line. In this example,
all executables are run in batch mode (there are no user interfaces or launchers) from a standard install-
ation on a single Windows 64-bit machine.
Note
In order to be able to execute runs from the command line, all executables and dynamic
library dependencies must be properly resolved. For more information, see "Executing System
Couplings Using the Command Line" in the "Workflows for System Coupling" section of the
System Coupling User's Guide.
This process includes the following steps:

Preparing the Required Input Files
Running the Analysis
Restarting the Analysis Execution

Runs executed from the command line require input files for each of the executables used in the coupled
analysis.
1. Create the file structure for the command-line run:
If you have not been creating the input files for the command-line analysis as you worked through
the tutorial, then follow the instructions in Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run (p. 4) to
create the file structure for the command-line run.
2. Create input files for the command-line run:
the tutorial, then follow directions in the sections referenced below and create the listed input files
in the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine directory:
a. Create the file structural.dat according to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the
Structural System (p. 14).
b. Create the file fluidFlow.cas according to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the
Fluent System (p. 22).
c. Create the file oscillating_plate.sci according to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line

Run of the System Coupling System (p. 26).
3. Create the journal file necessary for running the Fluent solver in batch mode:
An additional input file is required to execute the Fluent solver in batch mode.
In the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine directory, create a journal file

named fluidFlow.jou that contains the following:
file/start-transcript "Solution 1.trn"
file set-batch-options , yes ,
file/read-case/fluidFlow.cas
s i i
(sc-solve)
wcd FLUENTRestart.cas.gz
exit
ok

To run the analysis:
1. Run the System Coupling service:
Open a command window, and from the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_Cm-

dLine\Coupling_CmdLine subdirectory, run the System Coupling service using the following
command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\aisol\workbench.bat" -cmd
ansys.services.systemcoupling.exe -inputFile
oscillating_plate.sci
Note
The path to the workbench.bat script may differ, depending upon your installation.
Now when you run the System Coupling service command, the coupling service starts and creates
the System Coupling Server File (SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine\Coup-
ling_CmdLine\scServer.scs). For details, see "Files Generated by Coupling Service" in the
"Understanding the System Coupling Service" section of the System Coupling User's Guide.
2. Review the contents of the System Coupling Server File:
Open scServer.scs and review its contents, which will be similar to the following:
12345@yourmachine
2
Solution
Structural
Solution 1
Fluid
6789@licenseservermachine
where:
12345 is the server port
yourmachine is the host's name
2 indicates that two participant connections are expected
The unique names to be used when starting the structural and fluid flow solvers are, respectively:
"Solution" and "Solution 1". The unique names from the solver(s) are encoded in the coupling service
input file and are reported here along with the names of the systems in the Workbench schematic.
Note this correlation, since the unique names are needed when starting the respective solvers. Note,
as well, that the unique names are determined by Workbench and can vary depending upon the order
in which systems were introduced into the schematic.
6789 is the licenser server port
licenseservermachine is the name of the license server machine
3. Copy the fluidFlow.cas file into the Fluid command-line subdirectory:
This step ensures that Fluent treats that subdirectory as the run directory, and generates all sub-
sequent case and data files there. By keeping the basic input files separate from the run directories,
you can easily clear or delete the run directories for retries.
4. Run the Fluent solver:
From a new command window, change to the FluidFlow_CmdLine subdirectory, then run the
Fluent solver by entering the following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\fluent\ntbin\win64\fluent.exe" 3ddp -hidden
-driver null -scport=12345 -schost=yourmachine -scname="Solution 1"
-i ..\fluidFlow.jou>FLUENT.out
5. Run the Mechanical APDL solver:
From a new command window, change to the Structural_CmdLine subdirectory, then run
the Mechanical APDL solver by entering the following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\ansys\bin\winx64\ANSYS182.exe" -b -scport 12345

-schost yourmachine -scname "Solution" -i ..\structural.dat -o ANSYS.out
Note
In steps 4 and 5 above, you may need to adjust the coupling service port and host (12345
and yourmachine, respectively) and solvers' unique names ("Solution" and "Solution 1"
for the Mechanical APDL and Fluent solvers, respectively) based upon information extracted
from the system coupling server file.
The input file name, structural.dat, will need to be replaced with the name of the
manually-created input file (e.g. mapdl.dat) if such a file was created to enable a resume
from a Mechanical APDL database file.
Restarting the Analysis Execution

For the sake of simplicity, the restart analysis uses the same solver and coupling service directories in
which the initial analysis was performed.

In the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine directory, create the following:
1. Create a restart journal file for the Fluent solver:
Name this file fluidFlowRestart.jou, and have it contain the following:

file/start-transcript "Solution 2.trn"
file set-batch-options , yes ,
rcd/fluidFlow-1-00050.cas
(sc-solve)
exit
ok
Note
The "-1-" in the file name fluidFlow-1-00050.cas represents the run number and
may be different in your system, depending upon how many runs were completed before
writing the .cas file.
2. Create a restart journal input file for the Mechanical APDL solver:
Name this file structuralRestart.dat, and have it contain the following:

/batch
/solu
/gst,on,on
antype,4,rest,50,1,continue
solve
save
finish
/exit
Restarting the Analysis

The steps for restarting the analysis similar to those for running the initial analysis,
Open a command window, change to the Coupling_CmdLine subdirectory, and run the System
Coupling service using the following command:
oscillating_plate.sci resultFile scResult_01_000050.scr
Note
When restarting the analysis using the command line, resultFile command line option
is required. If modifications were made, the inputFile is also required.
2. Review the scServer.scs file:
Open the system coupling server file (scServer.scs) and note the coupling servers port and
host. Note that the solvers unique names have not changed because they are encoded in the
coupling services input file.
3. Run the Fluent solver:
Change to the FluidFlow_CmdLine subdirectory, and run the Fluent solver by entering the
following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\fluent\ntbin\win64\fluent.exe" 3ddp
-hidden -driver null -scport=12345 -schost=yourmachine -scname="Solution 1"
-i ..\fluidFlowRestart.jou>FLUENTRestart.out
Change to the Structural_CmdLine subdirectory, and run the Mechanical APDL solver by en-
tering the following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\ansys\bin\winx64\ANSYS182.exe" -b
-scport 12345 -schost yourmachine -scname "Solution"
-i ..\structuralRestart.dat -o ANSYSRestart.out
Note
In steps 3 and 4 listed above, you may need to adjust the coupling service port and
host (12345 and yourmachine, respectively) and solvers' unique names ("Solution"
and "Solution 1" for the Mechanical APDL and Fluent solvers, respectively) based upon
information extracted from the system coupling server file.
Loading the Results into CFD-Post

To load the Results files into CFD-Post:
1. To start CFD-Post, from the Start menu, go to Start > All Programs > ANSYS 18.2 > Fluid Dynamics >
CFD-Post 18.2.
2. From CFD-Post, select File > Load Results.
3. Open the final CAS file, which will have a name similar to FluidFlow_CmdLine\fluidFlow-1-
00100.cas.
4. Again select File > Load Results.
5. In the dialog that displays, select Keep current cases loaded, and clear Open in new view.
6. Open the file Structural_CmdLine\file.rst. When postprocessing results, your structural results
are named after the name of the file they are loaded from. From this command-line run, your structural
results will display under the name "file" (because of file.rst).
7. Proceed to Viewing Results in CFD-Post (p. 27) for instructions on how to postprocess the results. When
following these instructions, remember that your command line structural results will display under the
name file, and not Structural.
Heat Transfer from a Heating Coil
In this tutorial, you will learn how to execute a sequence of one-way thermal transfers in a heat exchanger
using the System Coupling infrastructure.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to execute a sequence of one-way thermal transfers in a heat exchanger
using the System Coupling infrastructure.

ANSYS Workbench Analysis Systems Steady State Thermal
Fluid Flow (Fluent)
External Data
DesignModeler Geometry and Named Selections Import
Steady State Thermal Defining the physics
ANSYS Fluent Defining the physics
CFD-Post Case Comparison Compare film coefficients
Examine temperatures and
temperature distributions

Part 1: Transferring Data from the Steady-State Thermal Analysis to the Fluid Flow Analysis
Part 2: Transferring Data from the Fluid Flow Analysis to the Steady-State Thermal Analysis

In this tutorial, a variety of ANSYS Workbench systems are used to analyze conjugate heat transfer in a
simple heat exchanger.
The heat exchanger involves the coupling of solid and fluid models. The solid model consists of a copper
alloy heating coil and the fluid model consists of an annular region with flowing water that envelops
the coil. A constant heat generation source of 8.72 e+6 W/m3 is specified for the coil and the heat
generated is made to convect away from its surface by water flowing at a nominal speed of 0.4m/s.
The tutorial is divided into two parts.
Part 1: The convective heat transfer experienced by the heating coil is estimated and the steady-state
thermal analysis is executed for the solid model. The resulting temperature from the coil surface is then
used to execute the fluid analysis.
Part 2: The thermal analysis for the solid model is also executed. However, the convective heat transfer
obtained from the fluid analysis is used instead of the original estimate.
In a case such as the one described here, there are advantages to using one-way data transfer instead
of conjugate heat transfer or two-way analysis. One-way data transfer works well when separate groups
are performing the computational fluid dynamics analysis and the thermal finite element analysis. The
individual solutions are simpler with a one-way analysis than they would be with a two-way coupled
analysis. Another advantage of one-way data transfer is that it provides a more flexible workflow; any
thermal variable of interest can be transferred. Coordinate transformations can also be applied when
using one-way data transfer.
Part 1: Transferring Data from the Steady-State Thermal Analysis to the

Fluid Flow Analysis
This part of the analysis has the following steps:
Adding Analysis and Component Systems
Adding New Materials to the Project
Preparing the Steady-State Thermal Source Data
Using External Data to Access the Steady-State Thermal Source Data
Preparing the Fluid Flow Analysis
Preparing and Executing the Coupled Thermal Analysis
Reviewing Results in CFD-Post
Part 1: Transferring Data from the Steady-State Thermal Analysis to the Fluid Flow
Analysis
To launch ANSYS Workbench on Windows, click the Start menu, then select Start > All Programs >
ANSYS 18.2 > Workbench 18.2.
For example:
Create a working directory where you will store your project. For example, under My Documents,
create a directory named SystemCouplingHeatingCoilTutorial.
a. Select File>Save.
A Save As dialog box is displayed.
c. Under File name, type SystemCouplingHeatingCoil and click Save.
The project files and their associated directory locations appear under the Files view.
Tip
To make the Files view visible, select View>Files from the main menu of ANSYS
Workbench.
This tutorial uses the geometry file, HeatingCoil.agdb, and the Fluent mesh file, Heating-
CoilFLUENTMesh.msh, as inputs. The files can be accessed on the ANSYS Customer Portal, as
follows:
18.2.
c. In the results list, click System Coupling Tutorial: Heat Transfer from a Heating Coil R18.2.
d. The files are in the zip archive heatingcoil_r182.zip. Download this file and unzip it to the
directory of your choice.
e. Copy the supplied geometry and mesh files to the user_files subdirectory in the SystemCoup-
lingHeatingCoil_files working directory.
By working with copies of the input files in your working directory, you prevent accidental
damage to the original files.
5. Set the units for your Workbench project:
To ensure that the units for this project are set correctly, select Units from the top menu bar and
confirm that Metric (kg,m,s,C,A,N,V) is selected.
Adding Analysis and Component Systems

In ANSYS Workbench, set up an analysis system in order to transfer data from a Steady-State Thermal
system to a Fluid Flow system, as outlined in this section.
1. Add a Steady-State Thermal system:
Drag a Steady-State Thermal system from the Analysis Systems toolbox and drop it onto the
Project Schematic.
2. Add a Fluid Flow (Fluent) system:
From the Analysis Systems toolbox, drag a Fluid Flow (Fluent) system onto the Project Schem-
atic and drop it to the right of the Steady-State Thermal system.
3. Add a System Coupling system:
You will use the System Coupling infrastructure to obtain data from the Steady-State Thermal
system for use in the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system. From the Component Systems toolbox, drag a
System Coupling system and drop it to the right of the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system.
4. Connect the Setup cells for the Fluid Flow (Fluent) and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Setup cell from the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system (B4) and drop it onto the Setup cell in
the System Coupling system (C2).
5. Add an External Data system:
From the Component Systems toolbox, drag an External Data system onto the Project Schem-
atic and drop it between the Steady-State Thermal system and the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system.
Note
This changes the lettering of the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system from (B) to (C) and the
System Coupling system from (C) to (D).
6. Connect the Setup cells for the External Data and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Setup cell from the External Data system (B2) and drop it onto the Setup cell in the
System Coupling system (D2).
Analysis
The connections between the Setup cells establish the relationship between the Fluid Flow, External
Data, and System Coupling systems.
Click Save .
The Project Schematic should appear as shown in Figure 3: Project Schematic of a Fluid Solid Interface,
System Coupling Problem (p. 43).
Figure 3: Project Schematic of a Fluid Solid Interface, System Coupling Problem
The Structural and Fluid systems contain various cells. ANSYS Workbench provides visual indications of
the state of a cell at any given time via icons on the right side of each cell. In Figure 3: Project Schem-
atic of a Fluid Solid Interface, System Coupling Problem (p. 43), most cells appear with a state of Attention
Required (a blue question mark icon ), indicating that you need to set up the cells before continuing
the analysis. As these cells are set up, the data transfer occurs from top to bottom. For a description of
various cell states, see "Understanding Cell States" in the "ANSYS Workbench Interface Reference" section
of the Workbench User's Guide.
Now the project is ready for further processing. A project schematic such as this, with interconnected
systems, enables you to perform a multiphysics analysis by adding a new geometry, setting up the
physics of the individual systems (Steady-State Thermal, and Fluid Flow systems in this example), and
also viewing the results.
Adding New Materials to the Project

Create a new material and add it to the project.
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Engineering Data cell in the Steady-State Thermal
system (A2).
In the tab that opens, you will set the material properties for the coil.
2. Create the Copper Alloy material:
In the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data window, Structural Steel is the first entry in
the Material section. To add a new material, right-click the empty row at the bottom of the Mater-
ial section, just below the Structural Steel entry, and select Engineering Data Sources.
3. Add the Copper Alloy material to the project:
a. In the Data Source column of the Engineering Data Sources tab, select General Materials.
b. In the Outline of General Materials section, click the plus sign beside the Copper Alloy option to
add copper alloy material to the project.
You now have all the material properties that you need for the project. At the top of your Workbench
window, close the Engineering Data tab to return to the Project Schematic.
From the main menu, select File>Save to save material settings to the project.

Add the geometry by importing an existing DesignModeler file.
1. Browse to the geometry file:
From the Project Schematic, in the Steady-State Thermal system, right-click the Geometry cell
(A3) and select Import Geometry>Browse.
2. Import the geometry file into the project:
In the Open dialog box, browse to your working directory, select SystemCouplingHeating-
Coil_files>user_files>HeatingCoil.agdb, and click Open.
Preparing the Steady-State Thermal Source Data

Perform the following steps to prepare the physics for the steady-state thermal analysis.
Generating the Mesh
Defining the Physics for the Structural Analysis
Executing the Structural Analysis
Postprocessing the Structural Analysis Results

Assign the material to the geometry.
1. Open the Mechanical application:
On the Project Schematic, double-click the Model cell in the Steady-State Thermal system (A4).
This will open the Mechanical application.
2. Suppress the Container body:
In the Mechanical application, right-click Project>Model (A4)>Geometry>Part>Container and

select Suppress Body.
Analysis
3. Select the Coil part:
Click Project>Model (A4)>Geometry>Part>Coil.
4. Specify a material for the Coil part:
In the Details of Coil view, use the Material>Assignment drop-down box to select Copper Alloy.
Generating the Mesh

Define and generate a mesh for the structural model of the heating coil.
1. Insert a mesh Method:
In the Mechanical application Outline view, right-click Project>Model (A4)>Mesh and select In-
sert>Method.
2. Select the Coil geometry:
In the viewer window, select the entire coil geometry in the viewer window by clicking on it.
3. Specify the scope for the mesh Method:
In the Details of Automatic Method - Method view, click Scope>Geometry>Apply.
4. Define the type of mesh Method:
In the Details of Automatic Method - Method view, select Definition>Method>Sweep.
5. Define the Free Face Mesh Type:
Click the box to the right of Definition>Free Face Mesh Type. Select All Tri.
This setting creates triangular elements on the source face. These triangular elements then get
swept through the coil body during the Sweep. Quad elements are not used for this case because
the coarse mesh that is used would result in a poor quality mesh on the source face.
6. Open the mesh Details view:
Click Project>Model (A4)>Mesh to open the Details of Mesh view.
7. Enter a value for the meshing Element Size:
In the Details of Mesh view, select Sizing>Element Size and enter 0.05.
Right-click Project>Model (A4)>Mesh and select Generate Mesh.
Defining the Physics for the Structural Analysis

Define the physics for the steady-state thermal portion analysis.
1. Define the initial temperature:
a. In the Mechanical application Outline view, click Project>Model (A4)>Steady-State Thermal

(A5)>Initial Temperature.
b. In the Details of Initial Temperature view, change Definition>Initial Temperature Value to

250C.
2. Define the internal heat generation:
a. Right-click Project>Model (A4)>Steady-State Thermal (A5) and select Insert>Internal Heat

Generation.
b. Select the coil body in the viewer window.
c. In the Details of Internal Heat Generation view, click Geometry>Apply.
d. In the Details of Internal Heat Generation view, change Definition>Magnitude to 8.72e6

W/m3. This is the source for the steady-state thermal calculation.
3. Define the convection boundary condition to allow the heat to escape from the area around the
coil:
a. In the Mechanical application Outline view, right-click Project>Model (A4)>Steady-State Thermal

(A5) and select Insert>Convection.
Convection values will reflect the heat removal from the coil surface.
b. In the Details of Convection view, change Scope>Scoping Method to Named Selection.
c. In the Named Selection drop-down box, select CoilSurface.
d. Change Definition>Film Coefficient to 1000 W/m2C.
e. Change Definition>Ambient Temperature to 30C.
The convection boundary condition is applied to the outer coil surface, not to the ends. The
heat that was introduced in the previous step will be dissipated due to convection.
The heat transfer (film) coefficient value should be approximately 1000 W/m2C. This is the
estimate that you use for this part of the tutorial. In a later part of this tutorial, you will run
the CFD analysis and compare the estimated number to the calculated number for the heat
transfer coefficient value. At that time, you will replace the estimated heat transfer coefficient
value with the full set of heat transfer coefficient values that are calculated from the fluid dy-
namics side.
4. Define the fluid-solid interface:

(A5) and select Insert>Fluid Solid Interface.
b. In the Details of "Fluid- Solid Interface" view, change Scope > Scoping Method to Named Selection.
Analysis
c. In the Named Selection drop-down box, select CoilSurface.
d. In the Export Results drop-down box, select Yes. This setting will make Mechanical export the static
results to an ANSYS External Data file (the .axdt file).
The .axdt files are generated from the results on defined fluid solid interfaces. These files
will be used to transfer thermal data from ANSYS Mechanical to ANSYS Fluent when you are
using External Data and System Coupling (this is the method used in this tutorial). They are
stored in the solver files directory for the Mechanical application.
5. Add the temperature and total heat flux results for review:

(A5)>Solution (A6) and select Insert>Thermal>Temperature.
b. In the Mechanical application Outline view, right-click Project>Model (A4)>Steady-State Thermal

(A5)>Solution (A6) and select Insert>Thermal>Total Heat Flux.
Click File>Save Project.
Executing the Structural Analysis
To create the temperature and heat flux distribution solutions, click the Solve button from the
main toolbar at the top of the Mechanical application.
Postprocessing the Structural Analysis Results

When the solution is complete, review the temperature and total heat flux distribution results.
1. Review Temperature Distribution results:
To look at the temperature distribution, in the Mechanical application Outline view, click Pro-
ject>Model (A4)>Steady-State Thermal (A5)>Solution (A6)>Temperature.
Figure 4: Temperature of the Coil
2. Review Total Heat Flux Distribution results:
To look at the total heat flux distribution, in the Mechanical application Outline view, click Pro-
ject>Model (A4)>Steady-State Thermal (A5)>Solution (A6)>Total Heat Flux.
Analysis
Figure 5: Total Heat Flux Distribution on the Coil
In the Messages view, just under the viewer window, there will be an informational message that
states: "The thermal results at the Fluid Solid Interface(s) have been written to the solver files dir-
ectory." This tells you that the .axdt file has been created in the solver files directory for the
You now have an ANSYS External Data file (.axdt file) that can be imported into the External
Data system. This file contains the Temperature and Heat Flow values exported from the Fluid
Solid Interface region that you defined. You will import this file into External Data to provide
thermal boundary conditions for Fluent via the System Coupling component.
3. Save the project and close Mechanical:
Click File>Save Project and File>Close Mechanical.
Using External Data to Access the Steady-State Thermal Source Data

Access the ANSYS External Data file (.axdt file).
1. Locate the ANSYS External Data file:
In the Files window, scroll down to find the .axdt file, and note that its named fsin_1.axdt.
2. Open the External Data workspace:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Setup cell in the External Data system (B2).
3. Browse to the data file:
Under Location in the Outline of Schematic section, click the button and select Browse. Browse
to the fsin_1.axdt file in your project directory (~\SystemCouplingHeating-
Coil_files\dp0\SYS\MECH).
4. Select the external data file for import:
Select the fsin_1.axdt file and click Open.
All the information about the external data for this project has been automatically entered into
the appropriate data sections. In the External Data workspace, you can see that:
in the Properties of File section, the format type is AXDT;
the Table of File section summarizes the x, y and z coordinate data that appear in the Preview of File
section;
and in the Preview of File section, there are also temperature values in Celsius and heat rate in Watts
that have been imported from the fsin_1.axdt file. You can scan this data to verify that it seems
reasonable for this project.
Close the External Data tab to return to the Project Schematic.
6. Update the External Data system to import the external data file:
From the Project Schematic, right-click the Setup cell in the External Data system (B2) and select
Update.
Preparing the Fluid Flow Analysis

To prepare the fluid flow analysis, perform the following steps in Fluent.
Importing the Mesh for the Fluid Flow Analysis
Defining the Physics for the Fluid Flow Analysis
Importing the Mesh for the Fluid Flow Analysis

Import an existing Fluent mesh file into the fluid analysis.
1. Browse to the Fluent mesh file:
From the ANSYS Workbench Project Schematic, right-click the Mesh cell in the Fluid Flow (Fluent)
system (C3). Then click Import Mesh File>Browse and browse to the mesh file in your working
directory.
Analysis
2. Import the Fluent mesh file into the fluid analysis:
Select SystemCouplingHeatingCoil_files>user_files>HeatingCoilFLUENTMesh.msh, and

click Open.
In the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system, notice that the Geometry cell is automatically deleted and the
Mesh cell is renamed to Imported Mesh.
Defining the Physics for the Fluid Flow Analysis

Define the physics for the fluid analysis.
1. Open the Fluent application:
In the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system (C3), double-click the Setup cell to start Fluent.
2. Enable the Double Precision option:
In the Fluent Launcher, select Double Precision. Click OK.
The mesh file is automatically loaded into the Fluent session.
3. Enable the energy equation:
In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Models, check Energy to turn the energy equation on.
4. Specify Viscous Model properties:
a. In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Models, select Viscous....
b. In the dialog box, under Model, select k-epsilon (2 eqn).
c. Under Near-Wall Treatment, select Scalable Wall Functions.
d. Click OK.
5. Change the fluid material to water:
a. In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Materials, select Create/Edit....
b. In the dialog box, click the Fluent Database button.
c. In the Fluent Fluid Materials section, select water-liquid (h2o<l>).
d. Click the Copy button to add water as the material and click Close.
e. In the Create/Edit Materials panel, click Change/Create and Close.
f. In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Zones, click Cell Zones and then select Fluid.
g. In the Task Page, click on part-container, then select Edit....
h. In the Fluid dialog box, change Material Name to water-liquid. Click OK.
6. Set the boundary conditions, starting with the fluid-solid interface on the coils surface:
a. In the Setting Up Physics tab, under Zones, click Boundaries.
b. In the Task Page, select the Highlight Zone check box in order to display only the selected zone in
the viewer.
c. Under Zone, select coilsurface, and then select the Edit button.
d. In the Wall dialog box, on the Thermal tab, set the Thermal Conditions to via System Coupling.
Click OK.
This boundary is now marked as one that will participate in couplings. It will be able to accept
either temperature or heat flow data.
7. Set the inflow boundary:
a. In the Task Page, under Zone, select inflow.
b. Change the Type to velocity-inlet.
c. In the Velocity Inlet dialog box, set the Velocity Magnitude to 0.4 and click OK.
8. Set the outflow boundary:
a. In the Task Page, under Zone, select outflow.
b. Change the Type to pressure-outlet.
c. In the Pressure Outlet panel, verify that the Gauge Pressure is 0. Click OK.
9. Set up the solution controls:
a. In the Solving tab, under Solution, select Methods...
b. Set the Scheme to Coupled.
c. In the Solving tab, under Reports, select Residuals....
d. In the Residuals Monitors dialog box, under Equations, change Absolute Criteria for energy residual
from 1e-06 to 1e-05.
Click OK.
In this problem, energy residuals level off around 8e-06. This step ensures that Fluent terminates
once this level of convergence is reached during the coupled analysis.
e. In the Solving tab, under Run Calculation, set the No. of Iterations to 200.
f. In the Solving tab, under Initialization, set the Method to Standard. To the right, click Initialize.
Analysis
10. Save the changes to Workbench:
Select File>Save Project to pass the changes to Workbench.
11. Close the Fluent application:
Now that the physics are defined, select File > Close Fluent.
You will solve the Fluent system through the System Coupling system. The next step is to set up
the coupled thermal analysis.

1. Set up the data transfer in the system coupling system:
a. In the ANSYS Workbench Project Schematic, double-click the Setup cell in the System Coupling
system (D2).
b. Click Yes in the pop-up window to allow upstream data to be read.
c. In Outline of Schematic D1: System Coupling, select System Coupling>Setup>Participants

>External Data>Regions>File1.
This file is the .axdt file that was copied into External Data in the Using External Data to
Access the Steady-State Thermal Source Data (p. 49) section.
d. In Properties of Region: File1, right-click Topology>Output>File1:Temperature1 and select Create

Data Transfer.
e. In Outline of Schematic D1: System Coupling section, select System Coupling>Setup>Data

Transfers>Data Transfer.
f. In Properties of Data Transfer : Data Transfer section, in Target>Participant, select Fluid Flow
(Fluent).
g. In Target>Region, select coilsurface.
h. In Target>Variable, select temperature.
i. Select File>Save.
Note
For one-way steady thermal coupled analyses, it is good practice to use one coupling
iteration per run. This can be done by selecting Analysis Settings in the tree view
and changing Maximum Iterations to 1 in the Details view. However, in this tutorial,
default settings will be used.
2. Add Fluents solution monitor:
a. Click the Project tab in Workbench to return to the Project Schematic, keeping the System Coupling
tab open.
b. From the Project Schematic, right-click the Fluid Flow (Fluent) systems Solution cell (C4) and select
Properties. In the Properties view that displays in Workbench, ensure that Solution Monitoring is
checked. This setting will allow you to monitor Fluents solution from Workbench.
c. Right-click the Fluid Flow (Fluent) systems Solution cell (C4) and select Show Solution Monitoring.
A new tab opens with the solution monitor. When you solve your analysis using System Coupling,
use this tab to watch Fluent solve the fluid part of this analysis.
3. Solve the coupled analysis and add a new chart to monitor the solution:
a. Click the System Coupling tab in Workbench to return to the system coupling interface.
b. In Outline of Schematic D1: System Coupling, right-click System Coupling>Solution and select
Update.
This starts the coupled analysis. Fluent connects up to the coupling service and will run end-
to-end. Fluent will accept external data and will run through its full convergence. A summary
of the solution progress is in the System Coupling Chart and in the Solution tab.
c. In the System Coupling tab, right-click System Coupling>Solution>Chart Monitors and select
Create Chart to create a new system coupling chart.
d. Right-click the new Chart 2 that displays and select Add Variable>External Data>Data Trans-
fer>Value>Average.
e. Right-click the Chart 2 again and select Add Variable>Fluid Flow (Fluent)>Data Transfer>Value>Av-
erage.
This new chart shows the difference between the average nodal temperature values in Kelvin,
transferred from the source region to the target region. Notice that the source and target
values differ by approximately 11 degrees. This difference is due to mismatching of the nodes
on the source and target sides.
Close the System Coupling tab to return to the Project Schematic:
Reviewing Results in CFD-Post

Review the graphical results of the project in CFD-Post.
1. Open CFD-Post:
In the Workbench Project Schematic, double-click the Results cell in the Fluid Flow (Fluent)
system (C5) to start CFD-Post.
2. View the temperature along the ZX plane:
a. From the CFD-Post toolbar, click the Location button and select Plane.
b. Click OK to accept the default name of Plane 1.
c. In the Details of Plane 1 section, in the Geometry tab, set the Method to ZX Plane.
Analysis
d. In the Color tab, set the Mode to Variable and the Variable to Temperature.
e. Set the Range to User Specified, the Min to 300 K, and the Max to 305 K.
The full temperature range is much larger due to temperature extremes on a small fraction
of the surface. By neglecting those extreme temperatures, more colors are used over the range
of interest.
f. Click Apply.
g. For a better view, click the y axis on the Viewer triad.
Figure 6: Advection of Heated Water Out of the Heat Exchanger (p. 55) shows the thermal
boundary layer around the coil surface and illustrates how the warmed-up fluid is being ad-
vected out of the heat exchanger.
Figure 6: Advection of Heated Water Out of the Heat Exchanger
3. View the heat transfer coefficient on the coils surface:
a. Disable the plane view by deselecting the Outline>User Locations and Plots>Plane1 check box.
b. Select the Outline>Cases>FFF>part container>coilsurface check box.
c. Right-click the coil surface in the Viewer and select Color>Wall Heat Transfer Coefficient.
Earlier in the tutorial, the heat transfer (film) coefficient value was estimated at approximately
1000 W/m2C. This estimate is slightly lower than with the average calculated value on the
coil surface in Figure 7: Wall Heat Transfer Coefficient on the Coil Surface (p. 56).
Note that there is variability in the distribution of the heat transfer coefficient on the coil surface.
In the second part of this tutorial where you will replace the estimated heat transfer coefficient
value with the full set of heat transfer coefficient values that are calculated from the fluid dy-
namics side. The data calculated here will be exported from CFD-Post and brought into a
system coupling analysis of a steady state thermal system.
Figure 7: Wall Heat Transfer Coefficient on the Coil Surface
4. View the wall adjacent temperature on the coils surface:
Right-click the coil surface in the Viewer and select Color>Wall Adjacent Temperature.
In the Defining the Physics for the Structural Analysis (p. 45) section, we estimated that the ambient
temperature of the coil surface would be approximately 30C. Figure 8: Wall Adjacent Temperature
on the Coil Surface (p. 57) shows that the calculated wall adjacent temperature is close to this
value with some variation. In the second part of this tutorial, you will replace the estimated ambient
temperature with the full set of adjacent temperature values that are calculated from the fluid
dynamics side. The data calculated here will be exported from CFD-Post and brought into a system
coupling analysis of a steady state thermal system.
Part 2: Transferring Data from the Fluid Flow Analysis to the Steady-State Thermal
Analysis
Figure 8: Wall Adjacent Temperature on the Coil Surface
Part 2:Transferring Data from the Fluid Flow Analysis to the Steady-State
Thermal Analysis
This part of the analysis has the following steps:
Exporting the Data
Adding Additional Analysis and Component Systems
Using External Data to Access the Fluid Flow Source Data
Preparing the Steady-State Thermal Analysis
Reviewing Results in the Mechanical Application
Exporting the Data

Export results from the first part of the tutorial.
1. Open CFD-Post:
If you are not already in CFD-Post, in the Workbench Project Schematic, double-click the Results
cell in the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system (C5) to start CFD-Post.
2. Export the external data file:
a. Click File>Export>Export External Data File.
b. In the Export External Data File panel, confirm that the File path is pointing to
user_files/export.axdt.
c. For the Location, select coilsurface.
d. In the Select Recommended Variables box, select HTC and Wall Adjacent Temperature.
3. Save the external data file to the project and close CFD-Post:
Click Save and close CFD-Post.
Adding Additional Analysis and Component Systems

The physics for this steady-state thermal system is identical to the physics in the first part of this tutorial,
except that the data for the convection boundary condition will be obtained from the output from the
first part of this tutorial through system coupling.
1. Create a copy of the Steady-State Thermal system:
In order to create a copy of the first system, right-click the Setup cell (A5) in the Steady-State
Thermal system and select Duplicate. Duplicating from the Setup cell in this way produces a new
system with shared Engineering Data, Geometry and Model. The existing Setup cell state is
copied to the new system.
2. Add a new System Coupling system:
From the Component Systems toolbox, drag a System Coupling system and drop it to the right
of the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system.
3. Connect the Setup cells of the new Steady-State Thermal and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Setup cell from the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system (E5) and drop it onto the
Setup cell in the System Coupling system (F2).
4. Add a new External Data system:
From the Component Systems toolbox, drag an External Data system onto the Project Schematic
and drop it to the left of the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system. This External Data system
will provide data to the Steady-State Thermal system through the System Coupling system.
Note
Adding this system changes the lettering of the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system
from (E) to (F) and the System Coupling system from (F) to (G).
5. Connect the Setup cells of the new External Data and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Setup cell from the External Data system (E2) and drop it onto the Setup cell in the
System Coupling system (G2).
Analysis
Figure 9: Project Schematic of a Fluid Solid Interface, System Coupling Problem Part 2
Using External Data to Access the Fluid Flow Source Data

The fluid flow source data was generated in the fluid analysis in the first part of this tutorial. Provide
the path to this data so that it can be used in the analysis.
1. Open the External Data workspace:
In the Project Schematic, double-click the Setup cell in the second External Data system (E2).
2. Browse to the external data file exported from CFD-Post:
In the Outline of Schematic section, under the Location column, click the ellipsis button and
select Browse. Browse to the projects user_files directory and find the file named ex-
port.axdt that was exported from CFD-Post. Click Open.
Close the External Data tab to return to the Project Schematic.
4. In the Project Schematic, right-click the Setup cell in the External Data system (E2) and select Update
to import the external data file.
Preparing the Steady-State Thermal Analysis

Remove the estimated convection value from the thermal analysis.
1. Open the Mechanical application:
Double-click the Setup cell in the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system (F5).
Setup information from the first system (A5) and this duplicate system (F5) are both listed under
Model (A4, F4).
2. Remove the Convection estimate:
In the Outline view of the Mechanical application, under Project>Model (A4, F4)>Steady-State
Thermal 2 (F5), the estimate for the Convection condition is present. Ensure youre looking at the
convection under Steady-State Thermal 2 (F5). Remove this estimate by right-clicking Convection
and selecting Delete.
3. Leave the default setting for Fluid Solid Interface:
The Fluid Solid Interface condition does not need to be modified.
In the first part of this tutorial, the fluid solid interface was used so that an .axdt file was created.
Temperature values and heat rates from that fluid solid interface region were output in this file. In
the second part of this tutorial, the Fluid Solid Interface will be used to receive data from system
coupling as well as to create an .axdt file.
4. Close Mechanical:
Close the Mechanical application.
5. Update the setup:
Right-click the Setup cell in the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system (F5) and select Update.

Set up the data transfer and solve the coupled analysis.
1. Open the System Coupling Setup cell:
Double-click the Setup cell in the System Coupling system (G2). Click Yes to read the upstream
data.
2. Create data transfers:
In the Outline of Schematic G1: System Coupling window, Ctrl-select Fluid Solid Interface and
File 1. Right-click File 1 and select Create Data Transfer to automatically create a pair of data
transfers: Data Transfer and Data Transfer 2.
Data Transfer transfers the heat transfer coefficient, and Data Transfer 2 transfers the reference
temperature.
Save changes to the project.
4. Solve the System Coupling system:
Right-click the Solution section and select Update. As the system solves, system coupling draws
the data from the external data system and provides it to the Mechanical application.
Analysis
After the solution has finished, close the System Coupling tab to return to the Project Schematic.
6. Update solution results:
Right-click the Results cell in the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system (F7) and select Update.
Reviewing Results in the Mechanical Application

1. Open Mechanical:
Double-click the Results cell in the Copy of Steady-State Thermal system (F7) to open the
2. Specify a split viewer for reviewing results:
To compare the results from the first part of the tutorial with those from the second part, split the
viewer window into two parts. Click the Viewport icon in the top menu bar and select Vertical
Viewports.
3. Review the Temperature result for the original Steady-State Thermal system:
Click in the left viewport and then in the Outline view, click Steady-State Thermal (A5)>Solution
(A6)>Temperature.
4. Review the Temperature result for the copied Steady-State Thermal system:
Click in the right viewport and then in the Outline view, click Steady-State Thermal 2
(F5)>Solution (F6)>Temperature.
The left view now shows the original, uncoupled case and the right view is the coupled result.
5. Synchronize the two views:
a. Click the Manage Views icon in the top menu bar.
b. The Manage Views window displays in the lower left part of the Mechanical application window.
Click in the left viewport and click the Create a View icon, .
c. Click in the right viewport, select View 1 and click the Apply a View icon, .
d. To allow a better comparison of the two sets of results, both the scales should be changed to the
same values. Double-click the second-lowest value in the colored legend and change it to 200, and
then change the second-highest value in the colored legend to 1600. Do this in both the left and
right viewports.
Figure 10: Comparison of Coil Temperature Contours from the First and Second Parts of
the Tutorial
Analysis
As noted at the end of the first part of the tutorial, the constant heat transfer coefficient value
applied in the thermal analysis of the coil under-predicts the spatially-varying values generated by
the fluid analysis. Qualitative and quantitative differences are consequently observed between
thermal analyses of the coil in the first and second parts of the tutorial. When the larger, spatially-
varying heat transfer coefficient values are applied, the resulting temperature values decrease ap-
propriately and temperature variations occur over the coil surface. For example, the lowest temper-
atures are observed on the lower, side portions of the coil cross-section due to increased convective
cooling in those regions. Convective cooling decreases on the lower and upper portions due to
flow stagnation and recirculation, respectively. The effect of the larger, spatially-varying heat
transfer coefficient values on the heat flux solution values from the thermal analyses corroborate
these observations.
6. Compare the Total Heat Flux results for the original and copied Steady-State Thermal systems:
a. To compare the total heat flux, select the left viewport and click Steady-State Thermal (A5)>Solution
(A6)>Total Heat Flux.
b. Select the right viewport and select Steady-State Thermal 2 (F5)>Solution (F6)>Total Heat Flux.
Figure 11: Comparison of Coil Total Heat Flux Contours from the First and Second Parts
of the Tutorial
7. Save the Project and close Mechanical and Workbench:
When you are finished viewing your results, select File>Save Project from the main menu, and
then File>Close Mechanical. Select File>Exit to close your Workbench project.
As noted at the end of the first part of the tutorial, the constant heat transfer coefficient value applied
in the thermal analysis of the coil under-predicts the spatially-varying values generated by the fluid
analysis. Qualitative and quantitative differences are consequently observed between therma l analyses
of the coil in the first and second parts of the tutorial. When the larger, spatially-varying heat transfer
coefficient values are applied, the resulting temperature values decrease appropriately and temperature
variations occur over the coil surface. For example, the lowest temperatures are observed on the lower,
side portions of the coil cross-section due to increased convective cooling in those regions. Convective
cooling decreases on the lower and upper portions due to flow stagnation and recirculation, respectively.
The effect of the larger, spatially-varying heat transfer coefficient values on the heat flux solution values
from the thermal analyses corroborate these observations.
Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction using
CFX
In this tutorial, you will learn how to solve a Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) case. You will model
structural deformation in a fluid using System Coupling to coordinate the ANSYS Mechanical solver and
ANSYS CFX-Solver.

ANSYS Workbench Analysis Systems Transient Structural
Fluid Flow (CFX)
Engineering Data Defining new materials
DesignModeler Geometry Import
Mechanical Meshing
Defining the physics
Named Selections
line
Meshing Meshing
CFX-Pre Defining the physics
line
line
CFD-Post Plots Vector
Animation

Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction using CFX

Note
In the main flow of the tutorial, you use the user interface to completely solve the simulation.
However, at a series of points during the tutorial you have optional instructions that produce
files that will enable you to solve the simulation from the command line. The steps related
to this are:
1. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run (p. 69)

2. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System (p. 78)
3. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the CFX System (p. 94)
4. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System (p. 94)
5. Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line (p. 101)
If you do not want to solve the simulation from the command line, you may ignore those
steps.

This tutorial uses an example of an oscillating plate within a fluid-filled cavity to demonstrate how to
set up and run a simulation involving a two-way coupled analysis in ANSYS Workbench.
A thin plate is anchored to the bottom of a closed cavity filled with fluid (air), shown in Figure 12: Di-
mensions of the oscillating plate case (p. 66). There is no friction between the plate and the side of the
cavity. An initial pressure of 100 Pa is applied to one side of the thin plate for 0.5 s to distort it. Once
this pressure is released, the plate oscillates back and forth to regain its equilibrium, and the surrounding
air damps this oscillation. You will simulate the plate and surrounding air for a few oscillations to be
able to observe the motion of the plate as it is damped.
Figure 12: Dimensions of the oscillating plate case
To simulate this case, you will set up a two-way Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis. You will
model the motion of the oscillating plate using the Mechanical applications Transient Structural
analysis system. You will model the motion of the fluid in the closed cavity using the CFX applications
Fluid Flow (CFX) analysis system. The two analyses are solved at the same time with the System
Coupling system coordinating the solution process as well as the data transfers between the two ana-
lysis systems.
The two-way coupling involves two data transfers:
force data from the motion of the air is received by the Transient Structural analysis system as it solves
the structural behavior over time
displacement data from the motion of the plate is received by the Fluid Flow (CFX) analysis system as it
solves the fluid behavior over time
The oscillation of the plate is dependent on time, and so you need to choose appropriate time values
for the coupled transient analysis:
Time duration is the total time observed in the analysis. In this analysis, you will set the time duration to be
10 s, which is enough time to observe the plate oscillating a few times. With this time duration, you will not
model the full damping back to the plates equilibrium. When setting up a transient analysis, make sure that
you choose a time duration that will allow you to observe the behavior of interest in your system.
Time step is the size of the time increments that you are solving within your transient analysis. In this analysis,
you will set the time step to be 0.1 s, which is fine enough to observe the oscillations to a reasonable degree.
When setting up a transient analysis, make sure you choose a time step that works for the physics you are
solving. Too large a time step will miss behavior of the system, and too small a time step will be computa-
tionally expensive.

Basic project setup consists of the following steps:

Create the project by setting the license preferences, setting up the directories needed, and importing
the project files.
To launch ANSYS Workbench on Windows, click the Start menu, then select All Programs > ANSYS 18.2
> Workbench 18.2.
For example:
2. Set the license preferences:
If you have an ANSYS Multiphysics license, set the licensing preferences for a coupled analysis:
a. Select Tools > License Preferences.
b. Select Use a separate license for each application.
c. Click OK.
d. Exit and then restart Workbench in order for your license preferences to take effect.
Create a directory where you will store your project (this is your working directory). For example,
under My Documents, create a directory named SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX.
a. From the main menu, select File>Save to save changes to the project.
A Save As dialog is displayed.
c. Under File name, type SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX and click Save.
The project files and their associated directory locations display under the Files view. To make
the Files view visible, select View>Files from the main menu of Workbench.
This tutorial uses the geometry file, oscillating_plate.agdb, as an input. The file can be
accessed on the ANSYS Customer Portal, as follows:
18.2.
c. In the results list, click System Coupling Tutorial: Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure
Interaction using CFX R18.2.
d. The files are in the zip archive oscillatingplate_r182.zip. Download this file and unzip it
to the directory of your choice.
e. Copy the supplied geometry file to the user_files subdirectory in the SystemCouplingOscil-
latingPlateCFX_files directory.
By working with a copy of the geometry input file in your working directory, you prevent ac-
cidental damage to the original file.

This tutorial runs from within Workbench. However, you also have the option of taking files created
from applications running in Workbench and performing a second system coupling run from a command
line. If you want to try this alternative, follow the instructions below to prepare the locations where this
second system coupling run will be performed. As you work through the tutorial in Workbench, the
application prompts you to add source files from the applications running in Workbench to the direct-
ories you create here.
To prepare a directory structure for executing the analysis from a command line:
1. Create a high-level directory named SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine. This dir-

ectory should be a sibling to SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX.
2. In the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine directory, create subdirectories within

which the Mechanical APDL, CFX, and System Coupling service executables will be run. Name these sub-
directories: Structural_CmdLine, FluidFlow_CmdLine, and Coupling_CmdLine.

You are doing a two-way FSI analysis by coupling two analysis systems: a Transient Structural system
and a Fluid Flow (CFX) system. You will use the System Coupling system to couple the other two
systems and to coordinate the solution execution.
To add these three systems to your Workbench project:
1. Add the Transient Structural system:
a. From the Analysis Systems toolbox on the left side of the Workbench window, select the Transient
Structural template. Double-click the template, or drag it onto the Project Schematic to create a
standalone system.
A Transient Structural system is added to the Project Schematic, with its name selected and
ready for renaming.
b. Type in the new name, Structural, to replace the selected text. In this tutorial,Structural system
will be used to refer to the Transient Structural system.
If you missed seeing the selected text, right-click the first cell in the system and select Rename.
You will then be able to edit the name.
2. Add the Fluid Flow (CFX) system:
a. Drag a Fluid Flow (CFX) analysis system on top of the Structural systems Geometry cell (A3) and
drop it there.
A Fluid Flow (CFX) system, coupled to the Structural system, is added to the Project
Schematic. This Fluid Flow (CFX) system is connected to the Structural system through the
Geometry cell (A3 to B2), so both of these systems will share the same geometry.
b. Change the name of this system to Fluid. In this tutorial,Fluid system will be used to refer to the
Fluid Flow (CFX) system.
3. Add the System Coupling system:
Expand the Component Systems toolbox, drag a System Coupling system and drop it to the
right of the Fluid Flow (CFX) system.
4. Connect the Setup cells for the Structural and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Structural system's Setup cell (A5) and drop it on the System Coupling systems Setup
cell (C2).
5. Connect the Setup cells for the Fluid and System Coupling systems:
Drag the Fluid system's Setup cell (B4) and drop it on System Coupling systems Setup cell (C2).
From the main menu, select File>Save to save changes to the project.
The Project Schematic should appear as shown in Figure 13: System Coupling of Transient Structural
and Fluid Flow (CFX) Systems (p. 70).
Figure 13: System Coupling of Transient Structural and Fluid Flow (CFX) Systems
The Structural and Fluid systems have various cells. The icons on the right side of each cell provides
visual indications of a cell's state at any given time. In your current Project Schematic in Workbench
(shown in Figure 13: System Coupling of Transient Structural and Fluid Flow (CFX) Systems (p. 70)),
most cells appear with a state of Attention Required (a blue question mark icon ), indicating that cells
need to be set up before continuing the analysis. As these cells are set up, the data transfer occurs from
top to bottom. For a description of various cell states, see "Understanding Cell States" in the "ANSYS
Workbench Interface Reference" section of the Workbench User's Guide.
Now that your project systems are in place, you can start working through your analysis. Your current
project systems enable you to perform your analysis by:
adding a new material,
sharing the geometry,
setting up the physics in the Structural system,
setting up the physics in the Fluid system,
defining and running the coupling in the System Coupling system, and
viewing the results in CFD-Post.

From the Project Schematic, the Structural systems Engineering Data cell (A2) appears in an Up to
Date state because default material is already available for the project. The case requires a new material
with properties that make it more flexible. You will create a new material named Plate, define its
properties to be suitable for oscillation, and set it as the default material for the analysis.
On the Project Schematic, double-click the Engineering Data cell (A2) in the Structural system.
Engineering Data opens in a new tab in Workbench. The Outline and Properties views are among
the views that appear.
2. Create the "Plate" material:
In the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data view, click the empty row at the bottom of
the table to add a new material for the project. Type in the name Plate.
When you click away from that cell, Plate is created and displays with a blue Attention Required
question mark, indicating that its properties need to be defined.
3. Add Density as a material property:
From the Toolbox on the left, expand Physical Properties. Select Density and drag it onto the
cell containing Plate (A4) in the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data view. If the toolbox
is not visible by default, select View > Toolbox to make it visible.
Density is added as a plate property in the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view, as shown
in the following figure.
4. Add Isotropic Elasticity as a material property:
In the toolbox under Linear Elastic, drag Isotropic Elasticity onto Plate (A4) in the Outline of
Schematic A2: Engineering Data view.
Isotropic Elasticity is added as the plate property in the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view.
5. Specify a Density value:
In the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view, set the Value of Density (B2) to 2550 kg m^-3.
Do not type in units.
6. Specify Istotropic Elasticity property values:
In the Properties of Outline Row 4: Plate view, expand Isotropic Elasticity by clicking the plus
sign. Now set Youngs Modulus to 2.5e06 [Pa] and Poissons Ratio to 0.35. Do not type in
units.
The desired plate data is created and is available to the remaining cells in the Structural system.
7. Set "Plate" as the default material for the model:
In the Outline of Schematic A2: Engineering Data view, under Material, right-click Plate (A4)
and select Default Solid Material For Model.
From the main menu, select File > Save to save material settings to the project.
Close the Engineering Data tab to return to the Project Schematic.

You will add geometry to your project by importing an existing DesignModeler file. Once you add the
geometry, it will be shared between the Structural and Fluid systems because you have connected their
geometry cells in the Project Schematic. All of the geometry parts have to be unsuppressed at
this point in your project so that they are available for use later in the Structural and Fluid systems.
1. From the Project Schematic, right-click the Structural systems Geometry cell (A3) and select Import
Geometry > Browse.
2. In the Open dialog box, browse to your working directory, select SystemCouplingOscillating-
PlateCFX_files > user_files > oscillating_plate.agdb from your working directory, and
click Open.
3. In the Structural system, double-click the Geometry cell (A3) to edit the geometry using DesignModeler.
The DesignModeler application opens in a separate window.
4. In DesignModelers Tree Outline on the left, expand the branch 2 Parts, 6 Bodies to see all of the bodies
that compose the geometry. The one solid body is listed, and under Part are the five fluid bodies. Ensure
that all of these bodies are already unsuppressed (they should all have small green check marks).
5. The geometry is set up for the project. Save any changes by selecting File > Save Project from the main
menu in DesignModeler, and then select File > Close DesignModeler to return to the Project Schematic.
The updated geometry is now available for both the Structural and Fluid systems.
Later in the tutorial, when you generate the structural mesh, the fluid bodies will first be suppressed.
Similarly, when you generate the fluid mesh, the solid body will be suppressed. You will suppress these
bodies from within the Mechanical and Meshing applications, so no further changes are needed in
DesignModeler.
Note
Because the Structural systems Geometry cell (A3) shares its content directly with the Fluid
systems Geometry cell (B2), you can edit the geometry only through the Structural systems
Geometry cell (A3).

In the Mechanical application, you are setting up the structural analysis and defining the coupling inter-
face. You will not solve the structural analysis from the Mechanical application because you will use
the System Coupling system to solve both structural and fluid systems at the same time.
When setting up your own two-way coupled analysis, it is a best practice to set up and solve the
structural analysis within the Mechanical application before continuing with your coupled analysis. If
issues occur within your structural system, the isolated analysis is easier to troubleshoot than the more
complex coupled analysis.
The structural Geometry cell (A3) is up-to-date, and so you start your setup by generating the structural
mesh. This section describes the step-by-step definition of the structural physics:

Inserting Loads

Generate the mesh for the Structural system directly in the Mechanical application:
1. Open Mechanical:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Structural systems Model cell (A4) to open the
The Mechanical application opens in a separate window.
In Mechanicals Outline on the left, expand Geometry to see the two geometries, solid and Part.
3. Suppress the fluid bodies:
For the structural analysis, you need to generate the mesh for only the solid body. To do this, you
need to first suppress the fluid bodies. Right-click the Part geometry (which contains all of the
fluid bodies), and select Suppress Body.
The fluid bodies are now suppressed and their status changes to an x mark. You now will see only
the solid body in the Graphics view. Click Zoom to Fit to view the entire model in the Graphics
view.
4. Define mesh divisions for the X axis:
Define the mesh by marking divisions on the edges of the solid. These divisions will be used as
guides for the mesh creation:
a. Click Edge .
b. Click an edge that lies parallel to the X axis.
c. In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Insert > Sizing.
d. Beside Type, select Number of Divisions from the drop-down menu.
e. Beside Number of Divisions, select 1.
5. Define mesh divisions for the Y and Z axes:
Repeat steps a to d to create 10 divisions on an edge that is parallel to the Y axis and 4 divisions
on an edge that is parallel to the Z axis. To summarize:
Table 3: Mesh Divisions for Axes
Edge Direction Number of Divisions

X axis 1
Y axis 10
Z axis 4
In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Generate Mesh from the shortcut menu.
A hex mesh is generated on your solid body.

When you defined the Plate material, you set it to be the default for your solid body. In the Mechanical
application, you can verify that this material is set correctly.
1. Select the solid body geometry:
In Mechanicals Outline view, select Project > Model > Geometry > solid.
2. Confirm that "Plate" is the assigned material:
In the Details of solid, ensure that Material > Assignment is set to Plate. If not, click the ma-
terial name and use the arrow that displays to make the appropriate change.

You now need to set up information about the transient analysis time steps, which are the basic ana-
lysis values needed for the transient structural analysis.
The time duration (10 s) is chosen so that the plate oscillates a few times during the analysis. A single
substep is used per coupling iteration. The coupling step size of 0.1s (which is also the size of the iter-
ations) will be defined later in System Coupling.
These time settings are dependent on the physics that you are observing, including the material prop-
erties of the plate. When setting your own transient analysis, make sure that you choose time settings
appropriate to the physics you are solving.
1. Open the Details view for the model Analysis Settings:
In Mechanicals Outline view, select Project > Model > Transient > Analysis Settings.
The details of Analysis Settings appear in the Details of Analysis Settings below the Outline
view.
2. Specify analysis Step Controls:
In the Details of Analysis Settings, specify the following settings under Step Controls (do not
type units next to the time values):
a. Set Step End Time to 10.
b. Set Auto Time Stepping to Off.
c. Set Define by to Substeps.
d. Set the Number of Substeps to 1.
Inserting Loads
The loads applied for the structural analysis are equivalent to the boundary conditions in a fluid analysis.
In this section, you will set the following loads and interface:
a fixed support on the bottom of the plate
a fluid-solid interface where the plate interacts with the fluid
a pressure load on one side of the plate, to start the oscillation
On the surfaces of the plate that lie coincident with the symmetry planes, you will not set a load. With
no load set, the default of an unconstrained condition will be applied on these two surfaces. For this
particular case, this unconstrained condition is a reasonable approximation of the frictionless support
that would otherwise be applied.
Defining the Fixed Support

The fixed support is needed to hold the bottom of the thin plate in place. Set up the fixed support:
1. Insert a fixed support:
In Mechanicals Outline view, right-click Transient and select Insert > Fixed Support.
2. Specify the face to which the support will be applied:
Rotate the geometry using the Rotate button so that the bottom (low-y) face of the solid is
visible, then select Face and click the low-y face.
That face is highlighted to indicate the selection.
3. Apply the support to the geometric face:
In the Details of Fixed Support view, click Apply beside Geometry to set the fixed support.
If the Apply button is not visible, select Fixed Support in the Outline view and, in the Details
view, click the text next to the Geometry setting to make the Apply button reappear.
Defining the Fluid-Solid Interface

The fluid-solid interface defines the interface between the fluid in the Fluid system and the solid in the
Structural system. Data will be exchanged across this interface during the execution of the simulation.
When setting up your structural system for a coupled analysis, you need to define this interface on regions
in the structural model that will receive force data from the Fluid system.
1. Insert a Fluid Solid Interface:
In Mechanicals Outline view, right-click Transient and select Insert > Fluid Solid Interface.
2. Specify the face to which the interface will be applied:
Using the same face-selection procedure described earlier in Defining the Fixed Support (p. 76),
select the three faces of the geometry that form the interface between the structural model and
the fluid model (low-x, high-y and high-x faces). Hold down Ctrl to be able to select multiple faces.
3. Apply the interface to the geometric face:
In the Details of Fluid Solid Interface, beside Geometry, click Apply.
The text next to the Geometry setting changes to 3 Faces.
Note
This load (fluid-solid interface) is automatically given an Interface Number of 1.
Defining the Pressure Load

The pressure load on one side of the plate provides the initial pressure of 100 Pa for the first 0.5 s of
the simulation. This pressure to the plate starts the oscillation. It is defined using tabular data.
1. Insert a Pressure:
In Mechanicals Outline view, right-click Transient and select Insert > Pressure.
2. Specify the face to which the pressure will be applied:
In the Graphics view, select the low-x face. In the Details of Pressure view beside Geometry,
click Apply.
3. Specify the pressure's Magnitude as tabular data:
a. In the Details of Pressure view, click the cell next to Magnitude, and using the arrow that displays,
select Tabular.
The Tabular Data view displays on the bottom right of the Mechanical application window.
The times of 0 s and 10 s are the beginning and end of your analysis, based on the time dur-
ation (10 s) that you specified earlier.
b. In Tabular Data, set a pressure of 100 Pa in the table row corresponding to a time of 0. Do not
type in units.
c. You now need to add two new rows to the table. Do this by typing the new time and pressure data
into the empty row at the bottom of the table. Notice that the rows are automatically re-ordered
based on the time value. Add the data from Table 4: Tabular Data for Step Pressure Load (p. 78).
Table 4: Tabular Data for Step Pressure Load
Time (s) Pressure (Pa)

0 100
0.5 100
0.51 0
10 0
You now have tabular data similar to a step function for your pressure, with 100 Pa applied
for 0.5 s. The step function is displayed in the graph to the left of the table.
4. Save the pressure load to the project:
The settings for the structural physics are now complete. Save these settings by selecting File >
Save Project from Mechanicals main menu.
If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the Mechanical system, proceed to
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the Structural System (p. 78).
to Completing the Setup for the Structural System (p. 79).

If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the structural system:
1. From the Mechanical application, select Tools > Write Input File.
2. Specify the path and APDL Input File (SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine\struc-

tural.dat) that you will use later.
Tip
The Write Input File option is available only if you have Transient (A5) selected in the
Outline tree.
Note
If needed, below is information about augmenting your structural setup, and transferring
the structural setup from the Mechanical application to the Mechanical APDL application.
In some cases, you may need to augment your structural setup in the Mechanical APDL application.
If this is the case, then open that application and select File > Read Input From to choose the
.dat file created by Mechanical. Once the .dat file has been read, make your setup modifications
and write a Mechanical APDL Database file using File>Save As Jobname.db or File >Save As.
Starting the Mechanical APDL solver from the created database file is explained later in the tu-
torial.
Transferring the structural setup from the Mechanical application to the Mechanical APDL applic-
ation is facilitated in ANSYS Workbench. To do this, right-click the Mechanical system's Setup
cell (A5), and select Transfer to New > Mechanical APDL. Once the new Mechanical APDL
system is introduced, update the upstream Mechanical system's Setup cell (A5). The setup will
be read into the Mechanical APDL user interface by right-clicking that system's Analysis cell and
selecting Edit in Mechanical APDL.

On the Project Schematic, the Structural systems Setup cell (A5) displays in an Update Required state.
To complete the setup in the Structural system, you need to ensure that all the data is in the correct
state in the Project Schematic.
Select File > Close Mechanical to return to the Project Schematic.
2. Update the Structural system's Setup cell:
In the Structural system, right-click the Setup cell (A5) and select Update from the shortcut menu.
The state of the Setup cell changes to Up to Date. All cells in the Structural system down to the
Setup cell should now appear in an Up to Date state.
From the main menu, select File > Save to save the project.
The setup for the Structural system is complete. Remember that you will not solve the structural analysis
from the Mechanical application because you are using the System Coupling system to solve both
Structural and Fluid systems at the same time. In the next section, you will set up the Fluid system.

You will use CFX-Pre to set up your Fluid system, but first you need to generate the mesh using the
Meshing application. The fluid Geometry cell (B2) is up-to-date because it shares the geometry with
the structural analysis, so you start your Fluid systems setup with creating a mesh.
Fluid setup consists of the following steps:

Defining the Physics Using CFX-Pre

You will generate a mesh for the Fluid system using the Meshing application. For this geometry, you
will use a swept mesh across the x-y plane, creating a hex mesh with a depth of one element.
1. Open Meshing:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Fluid systems Mesh cell (B3) to open the Meshing
application.
The Meshing application opens in a separate window.
In the Meshing applications Outline view on the left, expand Geometry to see the two geometries,
solid and Part.
3. Suppress the structural body:
For the fluid analysis, you need to generate the mesh for only the fluid bodies. To do this, you
need to first suppress the structural body.
Right-click solid and select Suppress Body.
The solid body is now suppressed and its status changes to an "x" mark. You now will only see the
fluid bodies in the Graphics view.
4. Confirm the mesh physics and solver preferences:
In the Meshing applications Outline view, click Mesh.
In the Details of Mesh below, under Defaults, notice that the Physics Preference is set to CFD
and Solver Preference is set to CFX.
5. Set the meshing method to Sweep and define its properties:
Now you need to define sweep as the meshing method, and set up all of the information that the
sweep method needs:
a. In the Meshing applications Outline view, right-click Mesh and select Insert > Method.
Automatic Method will appear under Mesh
b. Click Body , and then select all five fluid bodies in the Graphics view. Use the Ctrl key to select
multiple bodies.
Tip
The fifth fluid body is very thin, and is above the plate.
c. With all five bodies selected, in the Details of Automatic Method Method, beside Geometry
click No Selection. Click the Apply button that displays.
The text next to Geometry changes to 5 Bodies.
d. Under Definition, set Method to Sweep.
Notice that in the Outline above, under Mesh, the method is now renamed to Sweep Method.
e. In the Details of Sweep Method Method, next to Src/Trg Selection, click Automatic. Using the
arrow that displays, select Manual Source.
Manual Source enables you to dictate which surfaces are used as the source for the sweep
meshing. Source is highlighted, indicating that information about which surfaces to use is
needed.
f. Select Face , then Ctrl-select all five fluid faces on one of the walls in the x-y-plane (either side of
the wall will work).
Tip
The fifth face is very narrow, displayed as a pair of lines extending from the top
edge ot the plate to the high-y face. To select all five faces, you can select one face
and use the Extend to Limits option, available from the Extend Selection menu
in the Meshing task bar.
g. In the Details view, beside Source, click No Selection. Click the Apply button that displays.
The text next to Source changes to 5 Faces.
h. Set Free Face Mesh Type to All Quad so that all of the mesh elements are quadrilateral.
i. Next to Sweep Num Divs, set the value to 1.
j. In the Outline above, click Mesh. In the Details of Mesh, expand Sizing and set Min Size to 0.06
and Max Face Size to 0.2. These settings control the size of the mesh elements that will be generated.
6. Update the mesh:
Now that all of the settings for your swept mesh are complete, you need to generate the mesh.
In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Update.
The swept mesh that you have defined is now generated for your fluid bodies.
Select File > Save Project, and then File > Close Meshing to close the Meshing application.
Defining the Physics Using CFX-Pre

In CFX-Pre, you are setting up the fluid analysis and defining the coupling interface. You will not solve
the fluid analysis from CFX-Solver Manager because you are using the System Coupling system to solve
both structural and fluid systems at the same time.
When setting up your own two-way coupled analysis, it is a best practice to set up and solve the fluid
analysis before continuing with your coupled analysis. If issues occur within your fluid system, the isolated
analysis is easier to troubleshoot than the more complex coupled analysis.
This section describes the step-by-step definition of the fluid physics:

Setting the Analysis Type
Creating the Fluid
Creating the Domain
Creating the Boundaries
Setting Initial Values
Setting Solver Control
Setting Output Control
Setting Execution Control
Setting the Analysis Type

Open your analysis in CFX-Pre and set the fluid analysis to be transient.
1. Open CFX-Pre:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Fluid systems Setup cell (B4) to open CFX-Pre.
2. Open the Analysis Type tab:
In CFX-Pres Outline view, right-click Analysis Type and select Edit.
3. Configure settings on the Basic Settings tab:
a. For Analysis Type > Option, select Transient.
b. For Time Duration > Option, select Total Time, and set the Total Time to 1 s.
c. For Time Steps > Option, select Timesteps, and set the Timesteps to 0.1 s.
d. For Initial Time > Option, select Automatic.
The system couplings values for number of time steps and time step size will override the values
set above.
4. Close the Analysis Type tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Analysis Type tab.
Creating the Fluid

Create a custom fluid and specify its properties.
1. Create the "Fluid" material:
In the CFX-Pre toolbar, click Material and set the name of the material to Fluid.
The Material: Fluid tab opens.
a. For Option, select Pure Substance.
b. Select Thermodynamic State, and for Thermodynamic State select Liquid.
3. Configure settings on the Material Properties tab:
a. Set Equation of State > Molar Mass to 1 [kg kmol^-1].
Note
The molar mass is not used for this tutorial setup and has been set only for the
completeness of the fluid property.
b. Set Density to 1 [kg m^-3].
c. Expand Transport Properties, and select Dynamic Viscosity. Set Dynamic Viscosity to 0.2 [Pa
s].
4. Close the Material: Fluid tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Material: Fluid tab.
Creating the Domain

In order to enable the ANSYS Mechanical solver to communicate mesh displacements to CFX-Solver,
mesh motion must be activated in CFX-Pre.
1. Open the General Options tab:
In the CFX-Pre Outline view, right-click Case Options > General and select Edit.
2. Verify that the automatic default domain is enabled:
Verify that Automatic Default Domain is selected and click OK.
3. Open the Domain: Default Domain tab:
In the Outline tree view, right-click Simulation > Flow Analysis 1>Default Domain and select
Edit.
a. For Fluid 1 > Material, select Fluid.
b. Set Pressure > Reference Pressure to 1 [atm].
Using the default settings, the reference pressure does not affect this simulation. If you use
the expert parameter include pref in forces = t, then the reference pressure will
be included in the total force sent to System Coupling.
c. For Mesh Deformation > Option, select Regions of Motion Specified.
d. For Mesh Deformation > Displacement Rel. To, select Previous Mesh.
e. Expand Mesh Motion Model, and for Option select Displacement Diffusion.
f. For Mesh Stiffness > Option, select Increase near Small Volumes.
g. Set Mesh Stiffness > Model Exponent to 2.
h. For Reference Volume > Option, select Mean Control Volume.
5. Configure settings on the Fluid Models tab:
a. For Heat Transfer > Option, select None.
b. For Turbulence > Option, select None (Laminar).
6. Close the Domain: Default Domain tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Domain: Default Domain tab.
Creating the Boundaries

This case needs two types of boundaries:
Fluid Solid External Boundary (p. 85) which results from the fluid-solid interface, and
Symmetry Boundaries (p. 86).
Fluid Solid External Boundary

The interface between ANSYS Mechanical and CFX is considered as an external boundary in CFX-Solver
with its mesh displacement being defined by the System Coupling process.
On this boundary, CFX-Solver will send the ANSYS Mechanical solver the forces on the interface. The
ANSYS Mechanical solver will send back the mesh displacement it calculates given the forces passed
from CFX-Solver and the other defined loads.
1. Create the "Interface" boundary:
From the CFX-Pre main menu, select Insert > Boundary, and name the new boundary wall_de-
forming.
The Boundary: Interface tab opens.
a. For Boundary Type, select Wall.
b. For Location, select wall_deforming.
3. Configure settings on the Boundary Details tab:
On the Boundary Details tab, under Mesh Motion > Options, select System Coupling.
4. Close the Boundary: Interface tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Boundary: Interface tab.
Symmetry Boundaries
Since a 2D representation of the flow field is being modeled (using a 3D mesh with one element
thickness in the Z direction) symmetry boundaries will be created on the low and high Z 2D regions of
the mesh.
1. Create the "Sym1" boundary:
From the CFX-Pre main menu, select Insert > Boundary, and name the new boundary Sym1.
The Boundary: Sym1 tab opens.
a. For Boundary Type, select Symmetry.
b. For Location, select symmerty1.
3. Close the Boundary: Sym1 tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Boundary: Sym1 tab.
4. Create the "Sym2" boundary:
From the CFX-Pre main menu, select Insert > Boundary, and name the new boundary Sym2.
The Boundary: Sym2 tab opens.
a. For Boundary Type, select Symmetry.
b. For Location, select symmerty2.
6. Close the Boundary: Sym2 tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Boundary: Sym2 tab.
Setting Initial Values

Since a transient simulation is being modeled, initial values are required for all variables.
1. Open the Initialization tab:
In the CFX-Pre toolbar, click Global Initialization .
The Initialisation tab opens.
2. Configure settings on the Global Settings tab:
a. Set Cartesian Velocity Components > U to 0 [m s^-1].
b. Set Cartesian Velocity Components > V to 0 [m s^-1].
c. Set Cartesian Velocity Components > W to 0 [m s^-1].
d. Set Relative Pressure to 0 [Pa].
These settings ensure that the fluid is at rest initially, so that the flow is generated by the initial
motion of the plate.
3. Close the Initialisation tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Initialisation tab.
Setting Solver Control

Within each time step, a series of coupling or stagger iterations are performed to ensure that CFX-Solver,
the Mechanical solver and the data exchanged between the two solvers are all consistent. Within each
stagger iteration, the Mechanical solver and CFX-Solver both run once each, but which one runs first
is a user-specifiable setting. In general, it is slightly more efficient to choose the solver that drives the
simulation to run first. In this case, the simulation is being driven by the initial pressure applied in the
Mechanical application, so the Mechanical application is set to solve before CFX-Solver within each
coupling iteration.
1. Open the Solver Control tab:
In the CFX-Pre toolbar, click Solver Control .
The Solver Control tab opens.
a. For Advection Scheme > Option, select Upwind.
b. For Transient Scheme > Option, select Second Order Backward Euler.
c. Set Convergence Control > Max. Coeff. Loops to 5.
3. Configure settings on the Advanced Options tab:
In the Advanced Options tab, select Velocity Pressure Coupling.
4. Close the Solver Control tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Solver Control tab.
Setting Output Control

Set up transient results files so that they are written at set intervals.
1. Open the Output Control tab:
In the CFX-Pre toolbar, click Output Control .
The Output Control tab opens.
2. Add and configure new transient results:
a. In the Trn Results tab, click Add new item , and click OK to accept the default name.
1. For Transient Results 1 > Option, select Selected Variables.
2. For Output Variable List, select Pressure.
3. For Output Frequency > Option, select Timestep Interval.
4. Set Timestep Interval to 2.
b. Click Add new item again, and click OK to accept the default name.
1. For Transient Results 2 > Option, select Selected Variables.
2. For Output Variable List, select Velocity.
3. For Output Frequency > Option, select Timestep Interval.
4. Set Timestep Interval to 2.
These settings cause pressure and velocity transient results files to be written every two system
coupling time steps.
3. Configure settings on the Monitor tab:
a. In the Monitor tab, select Monitor Objects.
b. Under Monitor Points and Expressions, Click Add new item and accept the default name.
c. For Monitor point 1 > Option, select Cartesian Coordinates.
d. For Output Variables List, select Total Mesh Displacement X.
e. Set the Cartesian Coordinates to [10.05, 1, 0].
This monitor point measures the x-component of the total mesh displacement at the top of
the plate.
4. Close the Output Control tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Output Control tab.
Setting Execution Control

Set up the CFX-Solver so that it runs with double precision.
1. Open the Execution Control tab:
In the CFX-Pre toolbar, click Execution Control .
The Execution Control tab opens.
2. Specify double precision runs:
On the Run Definition tab, under Run Settings, select Double Precision.
3. Close the Execution Control tab:
Click OK to save your settings and close the Execution Control tab.
The settings for fluid physics are now complete. Remember that you will not solve the fluid analysis
from CFX-Solver Manager because you are using the System Coupling system to solve both the
Structural and the Fluid system at the same time. In the next section, you will set up the System
Coupling system.
Select File > Save Project, and then File > Close CFX-Pre to close the CFX-Pre application.
Note
To prepare for the execution of a command-line run using the setup from the CFX system,
you need the CFX-Solver input file (*.def, which is not generated until after data transfers
have been created. As such, the fluid command-line setup step is deferred until after the
System Coupling setup is complete. For details, see Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line
Run of the CFX System (p. 94).

In the System Coupling system, you are setting up the coupling between your structural and fluid
analyses. You will use the System Coupling system to solve both of these analyses at the same time.
Notice that in the Structural and Fluid systems, all of the cells up to Setup have a state of Up to Date.
Setting up and running the coupled analysis consists of the following steps:

Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the CFX System

Set up the transient analysis settings for your coupled analysis:
1. Open the System Coupling workspace:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the System Coupling systems Setup cell (C2).
In the dialog box, click Yes to allow upstream data to be read. The System Coupling system is ob-
taining data from the Structural and Fluid systems Setup cells (A5 and B4).
The System Coupling application opens in a new tab in your Workbench project.
2. Open the Properties view for Analysis Settings:
In Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, select System Coupling > Setup > Analysis Set-
tings.
3. Set the Analysis Settings properties:
In Properties of Analysis Settings:
a. Set Duration Controls > End Time to 10.
The end time is the same as the Structural systems time duration. The choice of 10 s gives
enough time to observe the plate oscillating a few times. System Couplings end time value
always overrides the number of time steps specified in CFX-Pre.
b. Set Step Controls > Step Size to 0.1.
The coupling iteration size is same as the transient analysis time step, and the choice of 0.1
s is small enough to observe the plates oscillations to a reasonable degree. System Couplings
step size value always overrides the time steps size specified in CFX-Pre.
c. Verify that the Maximum Iterations is set to 5.
For this system to converge, 5 coupling iterations within each coupling step is sufficient. If
your own system has trouble converging within the coupling step, you may want to increase
the number of maximum iterations or reduce the time step size.

For your two-way coupled analysis, data from the Structural and Fluid solutions must be shared
throughout the solution process. System Coupling coordinates the transfer of data between these two
systems using the data transfers that you create.
1. Expand the Participants node:
In Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, expand System Coupling > Setup > Participants
until all region components are visible.
2. Create the data transfers:
a. Ctrl-select first the Fluid Solid Interface region (from the Structural system) and then the wall_de-
forming region (from the Fluid system).
b. With both selected, right-click one of those regions and select Create Data Transfer.
Under System Coupling > Setup > Data Transfers, the following two data transfers are created:
Data Transfer: here, the surface of the Structural system around the plate transfers displacement to
the surface of the Fluid system around the plate.
Data Transfer 2: here, the surface of the Fluid system around the plate transfers force to the surface
of the Structural system around the plate.
3. Review the data transfer properties:
a. Click System Coupling > Setup>Data Transfers > Data Transfer.
b. In the Properties of Data Transfer on the bottom left, notice that the source, target and variable
transferred are already defined for each of these data transfers.
c. Perform the previous two steps for Data Transfer 2.

Ensure that System Coupling is producing restart data to be used in the event that the System Coupling
analysis must be restarted.
1. Open the Properties view for Intermediate Restart Data Output:
Under System Coupling > Setup > Execution Control, select Intermediate Restart Data Output.
The restart output frequency for the system coupling analysis is defined and controlled by these
settings.
2. Set the Intermediate Restart Data Output properties:
Set the following properties:
a. Set Output Frequency to At Step Interval.
b. Set Step Interval to 5.
Select File > Save to save your settings before solving.
Note
Recall that earlier, the CFX output frequency was set to a time step interval of 2 so that
CFX-Solver will output a transient results file every two time steps (that is, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
etc.). CFX-Solver will also output additional result files at 5, 10, 15, 20 etc. based on the
Step Interval frequency specified for the Intermediate Restart Data Output. In CFD-
Post, both sets of files will be available for postprocessing.

During the solution process, the System Coupling system coordinates the solving of your Structural and
Fluid systems as well as the data transfers between these two systems. The Fluid system solves using
the Structural solutions displacement data, and the Structural system solves using the Fluid solutions
force data.
1. Update the Solution:
To start solving the coupled analysis, in Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, right-click
Solution and select Update.
The solution progress begins, and progress is summarized in the System Coupling Chart and
Solution Information views, as well as the Workbench schematic progress view. This solution will
run for 100 coupling steps because you specified an end time of 10 s in System Coupling (time
duration in Mechanical), and each coupling step represents 0.1 s (step size in System Coupling,
and time step in Mechanical).
Tip
Alternatively, you can start solving the coupled analysis from Workbenchs Project
Schematic, as follows:
1. Return to the Project Schematic.
2. Right-click the System Coupling systems Solution cell (C3) and select Update.
Notice that for the Structural and Fluid systems Solution cells (A6 and B5), the
Update operation is disabled because the coupled solution process must be
run through the System Coupling system.
2. Monitor the System Coupling update:
Return to the System Coupling workspace and observe the coupled solution progress using any
of the following methods:
Progress bar: Access by clicking on the Show Progress button at the bottom right corner of the
Workbench window.
Messages view: Access by clicking on the Show Messages button at the bottom right corner of the
Workbench window.
Solution Information view: As your analysis is solved, in the Solution Information view, information
from the System Coupling Log file is displayed. For details on the kinds of information included, see
the next step.
3. Review solution update information:
The System Coupling solution is complete when the Solution Information view reads System
coupling run completed successfully. You can review the following information:
Coupling step and iteration details:
Each coupling step and coupling iteration is recorded with information about convergence of
the data transfer.
Solution overview:
At the beginning of the file (scroll up in your Solution Information view), there is an overview
of the participants (the Fluid and Structural system), the data transfers, the System Coupling
settings, and a mapping summary.
The Mapping Summary has information about the percentage of nodes on your fluid-structure
interface that are mapped. This information is used to determine the quality of the mapping in
your system.
Restart data:
Restart data will be output during the solution process. An additional note will be seen in the
System Coupling log output under Solution Information, indicating the name and frequency
of the system coupling result file.
For example, the intermediate result file is written: scResult_01_000005.scr. The restart
data for CFX will also be output at the same frequency during the coupled solution. When the
coupled solution completes, Mechanical restart files (that is, file0.r001,
file0.r002...file1.r001, file1.r002, etc.) will be visible in the Workbench project
files (that is, they are automatically transferred from the solver temporary/scratch folder). The
file naming convention is such that file0.r001 refers to a Mechanical restart file at step 5,
file0.r002 refers to a Mechanical restart file at step 10, and so on.
Select File > Save to save the project, and then click the Project tab to return to the Project
Schematic.
If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the System Coupling system, proceed
to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the System Coupling System (p. 94).
If you have not already made preparations for a command-line run using the setup from the
CFX system, then proceed next to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the CFX Sys-
tem (p. 94).
to Viewing Results in CFD-Post (p. 94).

If you intend to execute a command-line run using the setup from the System Coupling system, you
need to export the System Coupling Input (SCI) file. To do this:
1. From your Project Schematic, make sure that the System Coupling Setup cell (C2) is in an Up to Date
state.
2. If your System Coupling tab is not open, double-click System Couplings Setup cell (C2).
3. From the System Coupling tab, in the main menu, select File > Export SCI File.
4. Specify the path and SCI file (SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine\oscillat-

ing_plate.sci) that you will use later.
5. Select File > Save to save the project, and then click the Project tab to return to the Project Schematic.
Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the CFX System

The CFX-Solver requires a CFX-Solver input file (*.def). Because the .def input file is not generated
until System Coupling data transfers have been created, this command-line preparation step is deferred
until after the System Coupling setup is complete.
1. From the Project Schematic, confirm that the Fluid system's Setup cell is in an Up to Date state. If not,
update the cell.
2. From the Project Schematic main menu, select View > Files.
3. In the Files view, right-click the Fluid.def input file and select Open Containing Folder.
4. From the containing folder, copy the Fluid.def file and paste it into the SystemCouplingOscil-
latingPlate_CmdLine directory for future use.

You will use CFD-Post to view the results of your coupled analysis. You have simulated the plate oscil-
lating in a closed cavity filled with air. The results you have obtained show the plate and surrounding
air for a few oscillations, and you will be able to use CFD-Post to see the motion of the plate as it is
damped.
In Workbench, you need to set up the Project Schematic so that CFD-Post can read the solution of
your Structural and Fluid systems.
To view the results in CFD-Post:
1. Connect the Structural system's Solution cell to the Fluid system's Results cell:
From the Project Schematic, drag the Structural Solution cell (A6) to the Fluid Results cell (B6).
2. Open CFD-Post:
Double-click the CFX Results cell (B6) in the Fluid system to launch CFD-Post.
CFD-Post opens in a new window. Both sets of results are loaded into the CFD-Post session, and
are ready for you to view.
Viewing results in CFD-Post includes the following steps:

Animating Results
Animating Results
An animation is a good way to view results in a transient analysis. In this animation, you will show:
the pressure and velocity of the fluid on the symmetry plane
the deformation of the plate geometry, with stress visible
Note
In order for velocity vectors to be included in the animation, both velocity and pressure
values must be written to the intermediate transient files.
Setting Up the Animation

Set up your animation:
1. Open the Timestep Selector dialog:
From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Tools > Timestep Selector to open
the Timestep Selector dialog.
The Timestep Selector dialog shows the results time history for both CFX and MAPDL system
coupling.
2. Set the Fluid timestep value:
In the Timestep Selector dialog, on the Fluid tab, select a Time of 0.2 s for the Fluid case, then
click Apply.
Close the Timestep Selector dialog.
3. Set properties for the "Sym1" zone:
Under Cases > Fluid at 0.2s > Default Domain, select the Sym1 zone under the Fluid case to
display that zone, then double-click to edit it.
a. In Details of Sym1, on the Color tab set the Mode to Variable and set Variable to Pressure.
b. On the Render tab, clear the Lighting check box and check Show Mesh Lines.
c. Click Apply to save your changes. The pressure at 0.2 s is now visible on the one side of the fluid
geometry.
4. Set properties for the "Default Boundary" zone:
Under Cases > Structural at 0.2s > Default Domain, select the Default Boundary zone and then
double-click to edit it.
a. In the Details of Default Boundary, on the Color tab, set the Mode to Variable and set Variable
to Von Mises Stress.
b. On the Render tab, enable Show Mesh Lines.
c. Click Apply. Stress is now visible on the structural body.
5. Insert a Vector and set its properties:
From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Vector to create a vector
plot. Accept the default name and click OK.
a. In the Details view on the Geometry tab, set the Locations to Sym1, set Sampling to Face Center,
and ensure that Variable is set to Velocity.
b. On the Symbol tab, set Symbol to Arrowhead3D.
c. Click Apply. A vector plot of the velocity is now visible on the one side of the fluid geometry.
6. Disable the animation's Default Legend View 1:
In the Outline under User Locations and Plots, clear the Default Legend View 1 check box.
7. Specify text details for the animation:
From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Text and click OK to accept
the default name.
a. In the Details of Text 1 view, for Text String, type Time = . Check the Embed Auto Annotation,
and from the Expression drop-down list select Time.
b. On the Location tab, set X Justification and Y Justification to None, and set the Position text as
0.1 in the first field, and 0.2 in the second field.
c. Click Apply.
The corresponding transient results are loaded into the animation in CFD-Post, and when you run the
animation, you can see the mesh move in both the Fluent and Mechanical regions.
Creating the Animation

1. Zoom in on the plate:
Zoom in so that you can see the oscillating plate clearly.
2. Open the Animation dialog:
At the top of the CFD-Post application, click Animation .
The Animation dialog displays.
3. Create keyframes and set their properties:
a. Select Keyframe Animation.
b. Click New to create KeyframeNo1.
c. Highlight KeyframeNo1, then change # of Frames to 48.
d. Load the last timestep (100) using the Timestep Selector (found at the top of the CFD-Post Inter-
face).
e. Back in the Animation dialog, click New to create KeyframeNo2.
The # of Frames parameter has no effect for the last keyframe, so leave it at the default value.
4. Save the animation:
In the Animation dialog:
a. Click the More Animation Options button , then select the Save Movie check box.
b. Click Browse next to Save Movie to set a path and file name for the movie file.
If the file path is not given, the file will be saved in the directory from which CFD-Post was
launched.
c. Click Save.
The movie file name (including path) will be set, but the movie will not be created yet.
5. Play the animation:
a. If frame 1 is not loaded (shown in the F: text box in the middle of the Animation dialog), click To
Beginning to load it.
Wait for CFD-Post to finish loading the objects for this frame before proceeding.
b. Click Play the animation .
The movie will be created as the animation proceeds. This process will be slow, since a timestep
must be loaded and objects must be created for each frame.
c. Save the results by selecting File > Save Project from the main menu.
d. Close the animation dialog. Your animation is now saved in the file path you specified. You can play
the video in any media player.

You will use a chart to display the deformation of the solid body. One point at the top of the plate is
used to track the displacement in the chart. This chart is a useful way to view the damping that occurs
in the plates motion due to the interaction with the fluid.
1. Create a point in the solid domain, using node number 77:
This point is at the top corner of the solid body, and will be used to track the deformation of the
plate.
a. From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Location > Point. Click OK
to accept the default name.
b. In the Details view, on the Geometry tab, set Domains to All Structural Domains, set Method to
Node Number, and set Node Number to 77.
c. Click Apply. On your model, cross-hairs appear on node number 77, so you can see where this point
is on your solid body.
2. Insert a chart for the data at node 77:
To view the deformation using the point you just created, insert an XY Transient Chart for the data
at this node (Point 1). In the chart you create, the x-axis is time, and the y-axis is the total mesh
displacement.
a. From the taskbar at the top of the CFD-Post application, select Insert > Chart; click OK to accept the
default name.
b. In the Details view, on the General tab, set Type to XY - Transient or Sequence
c. On the Data Series tab, for Name type System Coupling, and set Location to Point 1.
d. On the X Axis tab, ensure that the Expression is Time.
e. On the Y Axis tab, set the Variable to Total Mesh Displacement X.
3. Click Apply to generate the chart of mesh displacement over time.
After the chart is generated, note the damping that is visible in the plates motion. The plate does
not return to equilibrium in this chart because of the length of time chosen for the simulation of
this case. To see the full damping of the system, you would need to simulate the case for a longer
time duration.
4. Save the project and close CFD-Post:
Save the project and then select File > Close CFD-Post to return to the Project Schematic.

You can also see the structural results of your FSI analysis in the Mechanical application. Note that the
Mechanical system does not have any information about results on the fluid bodies.
1. Open Mechanical:
From the Project Schematic, double-click the Results cell (A7) to open Mechanical.
2. Insert an Equivalent (von Mises) Stress result:
In the Outline view, right-click Solution A6 and select Insert > Stress > Equivalent (von Mises)
results.
3. Insert a Directional Deformation result:
Right-click Solution A6 again and select Insert > Deformation > Directional results.
4. Evaluate results:
Right-click Solution A6 again and select Evaluate All Results.
The equivalent stress and directional deformation of the place are now visible on your model.
5. View the Equivalent Stress result:
Under Solution A6 click Equivalent Stress to view the stress on the structural body.
6. View the Directional Deformation result:
Under Solution A6 click Directional Deformation to view the deformation of the structural body.
Select File > Save Project to save the project.
All systems are now complete and the Project Schematic is up-to-date.

This section describes how to restart the coupled analysis from a restart point. Here, the solution is re-
started from 5 s, halfway through the simulation.
1. Set up for a restart in Mechanical:
a. From the Project Schematic, double-click the Structural Solution cell (A6) to open Mechanical.
b. Under Project > Model > Transient, select Analysis Settings.
c. In Analysis Settings Details, set Restart Type to Manual.
d. In Analysis Settings Details, set Current Restart Point to Load Step 50, Substep 1 (that is, 5s).
e. In the main menu, select File > Close Mechanical to close the Mechanical application.
2. Set CFX Solution cell properties for a restart:
a. From the Project Schematic, right-click the Fluid Solution cell (B5) and select Properties.
b. In the Properties of Schematic B5: Solution view, deselect Keep Latest Solution Data only.
This setting causes CFX to keep the intermediate transient files that precede the restart point.
c. In the Properties of Schematic B5: Solution view, set Execution Control Conflict Option to Use
Solution Cell Execution Control.
3. Set up for a restart in CFX-Solver Manager:
a. From the Project Schematic, double-click the Fluid Solution cell (B5) to open CFX-Solver Manager.
The Define Run dialog opens.
b. On the Initial Values tab, set Initialization Option to Initial Conditions.
c. Select Initial Values Specification.
d. Under Initial Values Specification > Initial Values, select Initial Values 1.
e. Under Initial Values Specification > Initial Values > Initial Values 1 Settings > File Name, click
Browse .
The Initial Values File dialog box appears.
f. In the Initial Values File dialog box, under Files of type, select CFX-Solver Backup Results
(*.bak).
g. Browse to your working directory, select SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_files >

dp0 > CFX > CFX > Fluid_001 > 50_SC_ess.bak from your working directory, and click Open.
h. Under Initial Values Specification, confirm that Continue History From is selected and set to Initial
Values 1.
i. Confirm that Use Mesh From is set to Solver Input File.
j. Click Save Settings and then close CFX-Solver Manager.
4. Set up for a restart in System Coupling:
a. From the Project Schematic, right-click the System Coupling Setup cell (C2) and select Update
Upstream Components.
This ensures that both the Structural and Fluid setup cells are up-to-date.
b. From the Project Schematic, double-click the System Coupling Setup cell (C2) to open the System
Coupling workspace.
c. From the Outline view, select Setup > Analysis Settings.
d. In Properties of Analysis Settings, under Initialization Controls, from the Coupling Initialization
drop-down list, select Step 50, Time 5[s].
e. Optional: Under Execution Control > Intermediate Restart Data Output, set Output Frequency
to None. If this is not done, there will be a second set of restart files output under the Workbench
project.
5. Solve the coupled analysis restart:
a. Right-click the Solution branch in Outline of Schematic C1: System Coupling, and select Update.
A summary of the solution progress in the System Coupling Chart (starting from 5s) and
Solution Information views (also starting from 5s), as well as the Progress view on the
Workbench Project Schematic.
b. Once your solution is complete, select File > Save to save your project.
You have now used the Workbench, CFX, Mechanical, and System Coupling interfaces to complete
this tutorials simulation.
If you intend to complete the optional steps for running this tutorial using the command line, proceed
to Optional: Executing the Coupled Analysis from the Command Line (p. 101).
Otherwise, you are now finished with the Oscillating Plate with Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction
tutorial. When you are finished viewing your results, save your project by selecting File > Save from
the main menu, and close Workbench by selecting File > Exit.

This section describes how to execute the analysis for this tutorial from the command line. In this example,
all executables are run in batch mode (there are no user interfaces or launchers) from a standard install-
ation on a single Windows 64-bit machine.
Note
In order to be able to execute runs from the command line, all executables and dynamic
library dependencies must be properly resolved. For more information, see "Executing System
Couplings Using the Command Line" in the "Workflows for System Coupling" section of the
System Coupling User's Guide.
This process includes the following steps:


Restart Analysis Execution

Runs executed from the command line require input files for each of the executables used in the coupled
analysis.
1. Create the file structure for the command-line run:
the tutorial, then follow the instructions in Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run (p. 69) to
create the file structure for the command-line run.
2. Create input files for the command-line run:
the tutorial, then follow directions in the sections referenced below and create the listed input files
in the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine directory:
a. Create the file structural.dat according to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the
Structural System (p. 78).
b. Create the file Fluid.def according to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run of the CFX
System (p. 94).
c. Create the file oscillating_plate.sci according to Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line

Run of the System Coupling System (p. 94).

To run the analysis:
Open a command window, and from the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_Cm-

dLine\Coupling_CmdLine subdirectory, run the System Coupling service using the following
command:
ansys.services.systemcoupling.exe -inputFile oscillating_plate.sci
Note
Now when you run the System Coupling service command, the coupling service starts and creates
the System Coupling Server File (SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine\Coup-
ling_CmdLine\scServer.scs).
Open scServer.scs and review its contents, which will be similar to the following:
12345@yourmachine
2
Solution
Structural
Solution 1
Fluid
6789@licenseservermachine
where:
12345 is the server port
yourmachine is the host's name
2 indicates that two participant connections are expected
The unique names to be used when starting the structural and fluid flow solvers are, respectively:
"Solution" and "Solution 1". The unique names from the solver(s) are encoded in the coupling service
input file and are reported here along with the names of the systems in the Workbench schematic.
Note this correlation, since the unique names are needed when starting the respective solvers. Note,
as well, that the unique names are determined by Workbench and can vary depending upon the order
in which systems were introduced into the schematic.
6789 is the licenser server port
licenseservermachine is the name of the license server machine
3. Run the CFX solver:
From a new command window, change to the FluidFlow_CmdLine subdirectory, then run the
CFX solver by entering the following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\CFX\bin\cfx5solve.exe" -def "..\Fluid.def"
-scport 12345 -schost yourmachine -scname "Solution 1"
From a new command window, change to the Structural_CmdLine subdirectory, then run
the Mechanical APDL solver by entering the following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\ansys\bin\winx64\ANSYS182.exe" -b -scport 12345
-schost yourmachine -scname "Solution" -i ..\structural.dat -o ANSYS.out
Note
In steps 3 and 4 above, you may need to adjust the coupling service port and host (12345
and yourmachine, respectively) and solvers' unique names ("Solution" and "Solution 1"
for the Mechanical APDL and CFX solvers, respectively) based upon information extracted
from the system coupling server file.
The input file name, structural.dat, will need to be replaced with the name of the
manually-created input file (e.g. mapdl.dat) if such a file was created to enable a resume
from a Mechanical APDL database file.
Restart Analysis Execution

For the sake of simplicity, the restart analysis uses the same solver and coupling service directories in
which the initial analysis was performed.

In the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateCFX_CmdLine directory, create the following files:
1. Create a CFX-Pre Command Language file:
Name this file fluidFlowRestart.ccl and have it contain the following:

SIMULATION CONTROL:
EXECUTION CONTROL:
RUN DEFINITION:
INITIAL VALUES SPECIFICATION:
INITIAL VALUES CONTROL:
Continue History From = Initial Values 1
Use Mesh From = Solver Input File
END
INITIAL VALUES: Initial Values 1
File Name = Fluid_001\50_SC_ess.bak
Option = Results File
END
END
END
END
END
2. Create a restart input file for the Mechanical APDL solver:
Name this file structuralRestart.dat, and have it contain the following:

/batch
/solu
/gst,on,on
antype,4,rest,50,1,continue
solve
save
finish
/exit
Restarting the Analysis

The steps for restarting the analysis similar to those for running the initial analysis,
Open a command window, change to the Coupling_CmdLine subdirectory, and run the System
Coupling service using the following command:
oscillating_plate.sci resultFile scResult_01_000050.scr
Note
When restarting the analysis using the command line, resultFile command line option
is required. If modifications were made, the inputFile is also required.
Open the system coupling server file (scServer.scs) and note the coupling servers port and
host. Note that the solvers unique names have not changed because they are encoded in the
coupling service's input file.
3. Run the CFX solver:
Change to the FluidFlow_CmdLine subdirectory, and run the CFX solver by entering the follow-
ing command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\CFX\bin\cfx5solve.exe" -def "..\Fluid.def"
-ccl "..\fluidFlowRestart.ccl" -scport 12345 -schost yourmachine -scname "Solution 1"
Change to the Structural_CmdLine subdirectory, and run the Mechanical APDL solver by en-
tering the following command:
"C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v182\ansys\bin\winx64\ANSYS182.exe" -b
-scport 12345 -schost yourmachine -scname "Solution"
-i ..\structuralRestart.dat -o ANSYSRestart.out
Note
In steps 3 and 4 listed above, you may need to adjust the coupling service port and
host (12345 and yourmachine, respectively) and solvers' unique names ("Solution"
and "Solution 1" for the Mechanical APDL and CFX solvers, respectively) based upon
information extracted from the system coupling server file.
Loading the Results into CFD-Post

To load the Results files into CFD-Post:
1. To start CFD-Post, from the Start menu, go to Start > All Programs > ANSYS 18.2 > Fluid Dynamics >
CFD-Post 18.2.
2. From the CFD-Post main menu, select File > Load Results.
3. In the dialog box that appears, select Run history and multi-configuration options > Load complete
history as: and ensure that A single case is selected.
4. Open the final res file, which will have a name similar to FluidFlow_CmdLine\Fluid_002.res.
5. Again select File > Load Results.
6. In the dialog box that appears, select Keep current cases loaded, and clear Open in new view.
7. Open the file Structural_CmdLine\file.rst. When postprocessing results, your structural results
are named after the name of the file they are loaded from. From this command-line run, your structural
results will appear under the name file (because of file.rst).
8. Proceed to Viewing Results in CFD-Post (p. 94) for instructions on how to postprocess the results. When
following these instructions, remember that your command line structural results will appear under the
name file, and not Structural.
transient results files
Index writing at intervals, 88
transient simulation
C requires initial values, 87
CHT (Conjugate Heat Transfer) example, 39
conjugate heat transfer
example, 39
E
examples
2D modeling with 3D mesh, 86
CHT, 39
conjugate heat transfer, 39
heat exchanger, 39
solid region, 39
steady state simulation, 39
transient mechanical analysis, 11, 75
transient results files
writing at intervals, 88
transient simulation
requires initial values, 87
external coupling
how to choose, 87
F
fluid-solid interactions, 1, 65
H
heat exchanger example, 39
M
moving mesh
configuring, 84
S
simulation example
steady state, 39
solid
region example, 39
solvers
coupling two-model interactions, 2, 66
stagger iterations, 87
steady state simulation example, 39
structural deformations
modeling, 1, 65
structural properties
assigning the material to geometry, 10, 75
T
transient mechanical analysis
example, 11, 75

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System Coupling Tutorials 182

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ANSYS System Coupling Tutorials

ANSYS, Inc. Release 18.2

2017 ANSYS, Inc. Unauthorized use, distribution or duplication is prohibited.

U.S. Government Rights

Published in the U.S.A.

Adding New Materials to the Project ............................................................................................... 43

Component Feature Details

This tutorial includes:

Viewing Results in CFD-Post

1. Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run (p. 4)

Overview of the Problem to Solve

Figure 1: Dimensions of the oscillating plate case

The two-way coupling involves two data transfers:

Performing Basic Project Setup

Creating the Project

1. Start ANSYS Workbench:

2. Create a working directory:

3. Save the project:

A Save As dialog is displayed.

c. Under File name, type SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent and click Save.

4. Download and save the tutorial input files:

Optional: Preparing for a Command-Line Run

1. Create a high-level directory named SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine. This

2. In the SystemCouplingOscillatingPlateFluent_CmdLine directory, create subdirectories

Adding Analysis Systems to the Project

To add these three systems to your Workbench project:

1. Add the Transient Structural system:

2. Add the Fluid Flow (Fluent) system:

3. Add the System Coupling system:

6. Save the project:

Adding a New Material for the Project

1. Open the Engineering Data workspace:

2. Create the "Plate" material:

3. Add Density as a material property:

4. Add Isotropic Elasticity as a material property:

5. Specify a Density value:

6. Specify Istotropic Elasticity property values:

7. Set "Plate" as the default material for the model:

8. Save the material settings to the project:

9. Return to the Project Schematic:

Close the Engineering Data tab to return to the Project Schematic.

Adding Geometry to the Project

1. Browse to the geometry file:

2. Import the geometry file into the project:

In the Open dialog, browse to your working directory, select SystemCouplingOscillating-

The DesignModeler application opens in a separate window.

4. Confirm that all bodies in the model are unsuppressed:

5. Save geometry changes to the project:

6. Return to the Project Schematic:

Select File > Close DesignModeler to return to the Project Schematic.

Defining the Physics in the Mechanical Application

Generating the Mesh for the Structural System

The Mechanical application opens in a separate window.

2. Locate the model's two geometries:

3. Suppress the fluid bodies:

4. Define mesh divisions for the X axis:

b. Click an edge that lies parallel to the X axis.

c. In the Outline, right-click Mesh and select Insert > Sizing.

d. Beside Type, select Number of Divisions from the drop-down menu.

e. Beside Number of Divisions, select 1.

5. Define mesh divisions for the Y and Z axes:

Table 1: Mesh Divisions for Axes

Edge Direction Number of Divisions

6. Generate the mesh: