Coupled Physics Simulation
Coupled physics simulation is a computational modeling approach that integrates multiple physical phenomena (e.g., fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, electromagnetics, thermodynamics) into a single, interconnected simulation. It solves these coupled systems simultaneously or iteratively to capture complex interactions that isolated models cannot represent, such as fluid-structure interaction in aerospace or thermal-stress effects in electronics. This method is essential for accurately predicting real-world behavior in multidisciplinary engineering and scientific applications.
Developers should learn coupled physics simulation when working on projects involving complex systems where multiple physical processes interact, such as in automotive crash testing (combining structural deformation and airbag deployment), biomedical devices (fluid flow and tissue mechanics), or renewable energy systems (thermal and electrical coupling). It is crucial for high-fidelity analysis in industries like aerospace, automotive, and energy, where isolated simulations lead to inaccurate predictions and increased prototyping costs. Mastery enables more realistic virtual prototyping and optimization.