Coupling a thermal modeling tool with your CFD code can provide accurate simulation results, giving you beneficial thermal feedback for your project. Over the past few years, the most effective process to implement these results has moved from writing custom scripts to coupling using an automated coupling program as the methods have become more robust. 

The Original Coupling Method

Manual scripting was the original tool for coupling CAE processes until automated solutions emerged in the industry. Scripting is the process of writing and designing codes to enable two CAE processes to work together. As the original coupling method for most companies, scripting had a stronghold as the only option for coupling simulations until users realized this wasn’t the best solution. Scripting requires team members experienced in coding scripts, as well as IT teams who can deploy and maintain these codes throughout the company. The scripts rapidly become complicated in coupling situations, as they require detailed prompts outlining each move the program needs to make between CAE processes. For the written codes to work properly, they must be continually updated as the software programs launch new releases.

Coupling in the Industry

The automotive industry is one of the most prevalent industries regularly using coupling methods to solve their thermal issues. One of their most popular situations for coupled simulation is an automotive key-off scenario. These scenarios are often simulated with coupled software because they require accurate results from both a thermal and CFD code. Key-offs contain two significant factors including the heat dissipation of the vehicle components when it comes to a stop and the convection of heat around the vehicle when air movement is no longer a factor in the heat management. To analyze this, OEMs use pseudo-transient coupling methods by capturing the full transient simulation, but only snapshots of the fluid dynamics. This method provides accuracy with much less computation time.

In the key-off scenario, the scripting method would provide a solution, albeit long solve times and increased difficulty due to the amount of coding necessary to perform transient timespans and direct the running of each section of the fluid dynamics snapshots. Scripts also aren’t created equal among authors, generally requiring the original author to debug and implement edits on the code which frequently happen in fast-paced simulation environments.

A Breakthrough Process

Emerging in our industry are automated coupling software solutions built to host CAE processes and compute accurate simulations in less time with less effort from engineers and IT teams. Coupling software eliminates the need for writing codes and is instead built with a graphical interface that allows users of many skill levels to successfully create thermal models. The software can automatically run these models once it receives the necessary inputs and end goal, freeing users from writing codes to detail this process. Without codes, maintenance is less cumbersome because the user can quickly search for issues instead of debugging complicated scripts.

CoTherm Redefines Coupling

CoTherm is a complete solution to coupling. It’s able to seamlessly work between thermal and CFD codes to provide accurate simulation results, performing coupling scenarios with ease. Once a process is developed, it can be adapted to different coupling models or different variations of the same model. The architecture of the software also enables easy sharing of coupling processes to team members or new projects.

CoTherm is a strong and well-designed coupling program, backed by the support of ThermoAnalytics’ hands-on team who ensure each user has the necessary assistance to set-up and deploy the coupling software to reach their needs accurately and quickly. CoTherm can be applied to the current IT environment, further easing the implementation process. Once the program is established and training and operations are developed, CoTherm allows engineers to focus on model results instead of scripting, design or implementation issues.

If you are interested in testing the new application, want to view a live demo of CoTherm in action, or have any questions at all, contact us!