Abaqus - StarCCM+ Fluid Structural Interaction (FSI) analysis using one way coupling and mesh morphing

FSI analysis using Abaqus and StarCCM+ using co simulation and mesh morphing technique

1.   Create the Solid model and extract the fluid volume out of it in CAD
2.       Setup and Run the Static analysis in Abaqus using normal methods in the Solid CAD model.
3.       Set up the CFD study in StarCCM+. Make sure that you have created a separate boundary for all the mating surfaces between solid and fluid CAD models in StarCCM+.

Import Abaqus data into StarCCM+
1.       Extract and create input file (*.inp) file in Abaqus CAE model.
2.       In StarCCM+ window, File – Import – Import CAE model
3.       Locate the Abaqus input (*.inp) file and click OK.
4.        In Simulation tree of StarCCM+, Inside Imported Models, and Locate Abaqus data.
5.       Right click in the Abaqus imported model and Select Import CAE Solution Data
6.       Locate Abaqus result file (*.ODB) and open it.

After importing the Abaqus ODB file to StarCCM+
1.       Map the surface displacements from Imported model to StarCCM+
2.       Check whether the data is properly imported in Data mappers
3.       In a scalar scene – select the scalar field as “Mapped vertex imported displacement
4.       To activate mesh morphing the solver should be in unsteady – Select Implicit unsteady in physics model
5.       Activate Mesh morphing in Tools - Motions
6.        Select Morpher from Physics condition of Wall and choose displacement in method
        Select Morpher: Linear Displacement method as field function from physics values
7.       Select the Field function vector function as Mapped vertex imported displacement
8.       Step the unsteady run for one iteration after freezing the segregated flow and K-epsilon turbulence solvers      
9.        Step the solution
10.   Plot the Morpher Displacement in a scalar scene and verify the deformations are properly morphed
11.   Revert back to Steady Simulation
12.                Unfreeze the solvers                         

13.   Run the solution

Solidworks Abaqus Associative Interface Sw2AbqPlugin Installation and use

Installation of Solidworks to Abaqus Plugin and importing the model in solidworks for Windows

1.       Go to the installation directory of solidworks “C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks”


2.       Right click on Solidworks.exe and select Run as Administrator


3.       In SolidWorks window  File – Open


4.       Select from the drop down, the file type “Add-Ins (*dll) 


5.       Browse to the Sw2AbqPlugin_64_VX.X.dll and open the file 


6.       If it installed properly you can find an icon in top left corner and the corresponding line item in Addins 


7.       Open Abaqus CAE

8.       Set the Modude to “Assembly”


9.       Click on Tools – CAD Interfaces - SolidWorks


10.   Click on enable


11.   Open the required part or assembly on solidworks and click the abaqus icon on top left corner of soliworks 


12.   The model will be imported in Abaqus

An unexpected ( SIG$SEGV ) has occurred...

This error occured when I was solving a static analysis in parallel using 8 processor HPC license in workbench V14.0.

I have changed the size of the global mesh slightly fron 4 mm to 3.9 mm and solved the error.

Failed to load addin Ansys.Simulation.Core.Addin from location C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v140/Addins/Simulation/bin/Win64//Ans.Simulation.Core.dll. This addin will be skipped.: The given configuration file path does not exist!

This error occurs when the following file "SolverInventory.xml" is missing in C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v140\aisol\bin\winx64

This occurs in V14.0 and Ansys tech support confirms that they corrected this in v14.5


To work arround, Just copy and paste "SolverInventory.xml" from C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\v140\aisol\bin\winx64 from any other workstation where Ansys is working fine or re install the Ansys.



Unable to attach geometry file, PlugIn Error: Attach failed., PlugIn Error: No valid bodies found.

I have recieved this error when i was trying to import a 2D axisymmetric CAD model into the modelling window.
When I checked the model and noticed that im getting error message while transferring the model from geometry to simulation because model is not appropriately placed for 2D analysis. For axi-symmetric analysis we need to place the model such that:

-------------------------------------------------

The axis of symmetry must coincide with the global y-axis. The geometry has to lie on the positive x-axis of the x-y plane

-------------------------------------------------
Please refer following section of help manual for details:

 // Mechanical User's Guide // Approach // Special Analysis Topics // 2-D Analyses

Error in Surface mesh of region Region 1: No triangles in surface

This error was found when I import geometry in an exixtin star ccm+ template, which i have created by deleteng the geometry portion from a completed model.
When I Open 'Import' under Representations, Number of faces was showing as 0 in properties.
I have solved this by performing following step.
1. deleting everything except geometry under Representations (i.e. Initial Surface and Import)
2. Initialize meshing (initial surface will be created again while you do this))
3. mesh

AMG coarsening halted - Star CCM+

While running a CFD, i got this error at 10th iteration

WARNING: Ap = 0 on multigrid level X, nRows = XX, blockSize = X
         AMG coarsening halted.

This is due to small un conected surfaces in mesh
To rectify this right click and select repair surface in Representation >> remeshed surface, which you can find below plots

A new window called Surface Prepration Options will pop up. Click OK

In the side pane, select mode as "Edit conected surfaces" from the drop down and click start diagonosis

it will display more than one line of surface groups in a table.
Highlight and delete the small unconnected surfaces and close the window.

Select generate volume mesh to remesh

CONTACT PAIR IS OVERCLOSED BY WHICH IS TOO SEVERE.

There are lot of overclosures between these two surfaces. Please check your surface and contact definitions.
Take corrective actions for the surfaces involved as indicated by the warnings.

WARNING: THE SYSTEM MATRIX HAS 1 NEGATIVE EIGENVALUES

This is issued when the system matrix has gone singular. Check your loads to see if they are excessive.

WARNING: SOLVER PROBLEM. NUMERICAL SINGULARITY WHEN PROCESSING NODE

This is caused when there are unconstrained rigid body motions in your model. Check the nodes and their location where they are occuring and specify proper boundary conditions.