---
type: concept
title: "Abaqus Multiphysics Coupling and Co-simulation"
complexity: advanced
domain: computational-mechanics
created: 2026-05-29
updated: 2026-05-29
address: c-000089
aliases:
  - Abaqus co-simulation
  - Abaqus sequential coupling
  - Abaqus multiphysics coupling
tags:
  - concept
  - finite-element-method
  - abaqus
  - multiphysics
  - co-simulation
status: current
related:
  - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-II|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume II]]"
  - "[[Finite Element Heat Transfer and Field Problems]]"
  - "[[Abaqus Output Database and Results Files]]"
  - "[[Abaqus Job Execution Workflow]]"
  - "[[Abaqus User Subroutines and Utility Routines]]"
sources:
  - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-II|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume II]]"
---

# Abaqus Multiphysics Coupling and Co-simulation

## Definition

Abaqus multiphysics coupling and co-simulation are workflows for coupling structural, thermal, fluid, electromagnetic, acoustic, logical, and other analysis domains either within Abaqus procedures or at run time with other solvers.

## How It Works

Sequential coupling uses results from one analysis as predefined fields or loads in a later analysis. Common fields include temperature, normalized concentration, and electric potential. A common workflow is uncoupled heat transfer followed by thermal-stress analysis, where temperature history is read from the output database or results file and interpolated into the stress analysis.

Co-simulation performs run-time coupling between Abaqus and another Abaqus analysis or a third-party program. The coupled domains exchange data over a common interface in a synchronized way. Examples include fluid-structure interaction, conjugate heat transfer, electromagnetic-thermal coupling, electromagnetic-mechanical coupling, Standard/Explicit structural partitioning, and structural-logical coupling with system-level models.

## Why It Matters

Coupled physics can be too expensive, too specialized, or too weakly coupled to solve with one monolithic procedure. Sequential coupling and co-simulation let analysts choose the coupling strength and solver boundary deliberately.

## Connections

- [[Finite Element Heat Transfer and Field Problems]] gives the broader field-problem and multiphysics context.
- [[Abaqus Output Database and Results Files]] provides the stored field histories used in sequential coupling.
- [[Abaqus User Subroutines and Utility Routines]] provides lower-level extension paths for custom staggered or external data exchange.

## Sources

- [[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-II|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume II]]