Multiphysics Simulation
Real engineering systems rarely operate within a single physical domain. Fluid flow changes temperature; temperature changes material behaviour; pressure creates structural loads; deformation can alter the flow itself.
Mansim combines fluid, thermal, structural and electromagnetic modelling to capture these interactions within a single engineering assessment. Our multiphysics simulations help clients understand system behaviour, identify coupled failure mechanisms and optimise designs where CFD, thermal analysis or structural modelling alone cannot provide the complete answer.
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What is multiphysics simulation?
Multiphysics simulation models the interaction between two or more physical phenomena within the same engineering system. Rather than assessing fluid flow, temperature, structural loading or electromagnetic behaviour independently, information is transferred between models so that the effect of one domain on another can be quantified.
For example, CFD may determine the pressure and temperature acting on a component, while finite-element analysis evaluates the resulting thermal stress or deformation. In a two-way fluid–structure interaction model, that deformation can then alter the fluid domain itself. This coupled approach is particularly valuable when system performance, safety or durability is governed by interactions that would be missed by a single simulation discipline.
When is Multiphysics Simulation Used
Thermal Stress and Material Integrity
When temperature gradients, heating or cooling create structural deformation, stress concentrations or fatigue that cannot be assessed through thermal analysis alone.
Fluid–Structure Interaction
When fluid pressure, aerodynamic or hydrodynamic forces deform a component, or when structural movement changes the surrounding flow and system performance.
Electronics and Battery Thermal Management
When electrical losses, heat generation and cooling performance interact in batteries, power electronics, motors, processors and high-density computing systems.
Transient Safety and Failure Assessment
When rapid events such as depressurisation, thermal shock, load changes or loss of cooling create coupled fluid, thermal and structural risks.
High-Temperature and Reactive Systems
When combustion, chemical reactions, heat transfer and material response interact in furnaces, reactors, thermal oxidisers and other process equipment.
Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation
When a design must simultaneously balance thermal performance, pressure loss, structural integrity, weight, energy use, durability and operating constraints.
Technical Multiphysics Capabilities
Fluid–Structure Interaction
Couple fluid loads with structural response to assess deformation, stress, vibration and flow-induced effects.
Thermal–Structural Analysis
Transfer temperature fields into structural models to evaluate thermal expansion, stress and material limits.
Coupled CFD and FEA
Combine detailed CFD results with finite-element analysis where local pressure or temperature drives component performance.
Electrothermal and Electromagnetic Modelling
Assess interactions between electrical losses, heat generation, cooling and electromagnetic behaviour.
Transient Multiphysics Analysis
Model rapid events such as depressurisation, thermal shock, load changes and loss of cooling.
Multidisciplinary Optimisation
Optimise designs across competing requirements including thermal performance, pressure loss, structural integrity and energy use.
Software and Simulation Ecosystem
ANSYS Fluent and CFX -
CFD and conjugate heat-transfer workflows
STAR-CCM+
OpenFOAM
MATLAB and bespoke numerical tools
Thermal finite-element analysis
Custom model coupling and post-processing workflows
Mansim’s Approach to Multiphysics Simulation
01
Define the coupled engineering problem
We identify the physical interactions that materially affect the engineering decision and define the required performance criteria.
02
Review inputs and interfaces
We assess geometry, materials, operating data, loads, measurements and how information must pass between simulation domains.
03
Build the individual physics models
Fluid, thermal, structural or electromagnetic models are developed and verified at the appropriate level of fidelity.
04
Couple and validate the models
Loads, temperatures, deformation or other variables are transferred between domains and checked for numerical consistency and physical plausibility.
05
Test scenarios and optimise
We evaluate operating conditions, transient events, design alternatives and failure cases, with optimisation where appropriate.
06
Deliver engineering recommendations
Results are converted into clear performance margins, risks, design changes and practical recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiphysics Simulation Projects
Discuss Your Multiphysics Simulation Project
Tell us the engineering decision you need to make, the information you already have and the timescale you are working to. Your enquiry will be reviewed by a CFD engineer, who will acknowledge your enquiry within one working day and identify the most proportionate next step.
