Learning Forum

[AR]

I am trying to solve an optimization problem involving a coolant fluid flowing over a channel. The solid bodies involved experience body heat generation, and the resulting thermal expansion disrupts the flow. Some geometric dimensions and the mass flow rate need to be optimized to keep the structure temperature within limits, while targeting the fluid outlet temperature to a maximum value.

The possible ways I thought this could set up this problem using system coupling are:

1. Coupled filed static problem to simulate (solid heat transfer and structural deformation) + Fluent to simulate flow
2. CHT in Fluent + Structural
3. Steady state thermal + structural + fluent

But I have problems with the first two options

In the first option: Ansys does not allow me to import external heat generation data (spatially varying) as thermal load to the coupled field static problem. The same data was imported without any problems in a regular steady state thermal. Any idea why this restriction?

In the second option: Fluent needs to pass the temperature on the entire solid body to the structural solver, not just at the boundaries. The structural solver just needs to pass the deformation at the solid boundaries back to Fluent. I think this is impossible with the current setup. Am I right?

I have yet to try the third option. But I do not know if it is easy to do (coupling three systems & further running design exploration etc.,) or if there is a simple way?

[Rahul]

Hello,
Please refer to the system coupling users guide Participant Variables and Quantity Types Supported by System Coupling (ansys.com).and Mechanical user guide Variables Available for System Coupling (ansys.com).

I recommend going over this tutorial in the Ansys documentation that shows a 2-way FSI simulation with Fluent and Mechanical. https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v221/en/sysc_tut/sysc_tut_reedvalve_fluent.html

 If the structural model is simple, you can use Intrinsic FSI which is an FEA solver built into Fluent. The tutorial is here: Chapter 25: Modeling Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) Within Fluent (ansys.com)