Abaqus Multiphysics Simulation: Capture Real Interactions

Simulated deformation of fluid-filled containers using Abaqus fluid–structure interaction (FSI) tools.

Many engineering systems are influenced by more than one physical phenomenon. Whether it’s thermal expansion, fluid flow, or electromagnetic forces, accurately predicting product behavior requires more than just structural simulation. Abaqus provides a unified platform where multiple physics interact seamlessly, helping you simulate complex real-world conditions with confidence.

Benefit 4: Multiphysics 

Most real-world systems don’t operate in a single physical domain. Thermal effects influence structural behavior. Electromagnetic fields interact with mechanical deformation. Fluids exert transient forces on moving parts. If you need to model those interactions in a reliable, consistent environment, Abaqus offers built-in multiphysics capabilities, without third-party coupling tools. 

This benefit focuses on how Abaqus handles coupled physics and why it matters for advanced engineering simulation. 

Why Engineers Use Multiphysics in Abaqus

In high-fidelity design tasks, such as battery simulation, impact analysis, or thermomechanical manufacturing, it’s not enough to model structural behavior in isolation. Temperature fields, electric potential, fluid pressure, and chemical gradients often evolve together with mechanical stress and deformation. 

Abaqus supports a range of fully and sequentially coupled multiphysics workflows: 

• Thermal–mechanical interaction (e.g. residual stress in welding or additive manufacturing) 

• Electromagnetic–mechanical coupling (e.g. solenoids, sensors, or actuators) 

• Electrochemical simulation (e.g. lithium-ion battery swelling under cycling) 

• Acoustic–structure interaction (e.g. NVH or sonar signature studies) 

• Fluid–structure interaction (FSI) (e.g. airbags, valves, or crash-related fluid motion) 

These workflows help you capture the real physical response of a system, whether slow and quasi-static or fast and highly nonlinear. 

Co-simulation Across Solvers: Standard + Explicit

Both Abaqus/Standard (implicit) and Abaqus/Explicit (explicit) were developed in-house and follow consistent modeling logic. That allows for structural–structural co-simulation where each part of the system uses the solver best suited to its behavior. For example: 

• Use Abaqus/Standard to model the detailed, quasi-static response of a vehicle chassis. 

• Use Abaqus/Explicit to simulate the dynamic impact behavior of a tire hitting a bump. 

• Couple both via co-simulation to study how the full system behaves under realistic road conditions. 

This modularity improves efficiency and accuracy without sacrificing interoperability. 

Real-World Applications of Multiphysics in Abaqus

Engineers across industries apply Abaqus multiphysics to: 

• Evaluate thermal expansion, distortion, and stress evolution in additive manufacturing processes. 

• Simulate magnetostrictive or piezoelectric devices that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. 

• Combine electrochemistry and structural loading in battery abuse or charging studies. 

• Model the interaction between high-speed fluids and moving components in safety-critical designs. 

With direct solver support and predefined interfaces, you avoid the complexity of manually coupling different simulation tools. 

Abaqus Nonlinear Simulation: 8 Key Benefits

Benefit 1: Nonlinear Performance 

Benefit 2: Contact Modeling 

Benefit 3: Efficient Substructures 

Benefit 4: Multiphysics 

Benefit 5: Large Deformation 

Benefit 6: Fracture and Failure 

Benefit 7: Development and Support 

Benefit 8: Flexible Pricing

Need Help with Multiphysics Workflows?

Simulating coupled physics doesn’t need to be overwhelming. If you need guidance setting up a multiphysics analysis in Abaqus, we’re here to assist. Reach out via our contact form or email us at sales@4realsim.com and we’ll help you move forward with realistic, scalable simulations.