diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel.H
index cf87a4d7..3f11ca68 100755
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel/dataExchangeModel.H
@@ -129,31 +129,31 @@ public:
         template <typename T>
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             T ** const& field
         ) const { getData(name,type,field,couplingStep_-1); }
 
         virtual void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const = 0;
 
         virtual void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const = 0;
 
         virtual void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype="double"
         ) const = 0;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/noDataExchange/noDataExchange.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/noDataExchange/noDataExchange.H
index 1fda4c54..6d7a8e1f 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/noDataExchange/noDataExchange.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/noDataExchange/noDataExchange.H
@@ -78,24 +78,24 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const {}
 
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const {}
 
         void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype = ""
         ) const {}
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.C
index 327519ec..285b80db 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.C
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ oneWayVTK::~oneWayVTK()
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 void oneWayVTK::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     label step
 ) const
@@ -194,8 +194,8 @@ void oneWayVTK::getData
 
 void oneWayVTK::giveData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     const char* datatype
 ) const
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.H
index 72731202..0f030c3f 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/oneWayVTK/oneWayVTK.H
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ public:
 
         void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype = ""
         ) const;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.C
index 73aed9d6..fcc4e0bd 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.C
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ twoWayFiles::~twoWayFiles()
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * private Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-fileName twoWayFiles::getFilePath(word& name, bool in) const
+fileName twoWayFiles::getFilePath(const word& name, bool in) const
 {
     char timeStep[40];
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ fileName twoWayFiles::getFilePath(word& name, bool in) const
     return particleFilePathOld;
 }
 
-void twoWayFiles::renameFilePath(fileName& particleFilePathOld,word& name) const
+void twoWayFiles::renameFilePath(const fileName& particleFilePathOld, const word& name) const
 {
     char timeStep[40];
 
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ void twoWayFiles::renameFilePath(fileName& particleFilePathOld,word& name) const
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * public Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 void twoWayFiles::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     label step
 ) const
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ void twoWayFiles::getData
 
 void twoWayFiles::giveData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     const char* datatype
 ) const
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.H
index e5f15814..6279ca5e 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayFiles/twoWayFiles.H
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ private:
 
   // private member functions
 
-    fileName getFilePath(word&, bool) const;
+    fileName getFilePath(const word&, bool) const;
 
-    void renameFilePath(fileName&,word&) const;
+    void renameFilePath(const fileName&, const word&) const;
 
 public:
 
@@ -92,24 +92,24 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const { FatalError<<"function not implemented !!! twoWayFiles::getData!!!\n" << abort(FatalError); }
 
         void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype = ""
         ) const;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C
index 45af8a5c..2b028010 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.C
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ double twoWayMPI::DEMVariableValue(word variablename)
 
 void twoWayMPI::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     label /*step*/
 ) const
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ void twoWayMPI::getData
 
 void twoWayMPI::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     int ** const& field,
     label /*step*/
 ) const
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ void twoWayMPI::getData
 
 void twoWayMPI::giveData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     const char* datatype
 ) const
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H
index 9801ec52..1c647436 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMPI/twoWayMPI.H
@@ -107,24 +107,24 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype
         ) const;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.C
index da2df875..c1a7ef9d 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.C
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ twoWayMany2Many::~twoWayMany2Many()
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * public Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 void twoWayMany2Many::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     label /*step*/
 ) const
@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ void twoWayMany2Many::getData
 
 void twoWayMany2Many::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     int ** const& field,
     label /*step*/
 ) const
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ void twoWayMany2Many::getData
 
 void twoWayMany2Many::giveData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     const char* /*datatype*/
 ) const
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.H
index a9697249..18b4a448 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayMany2Many/twoWayMany2Many.H
@@ -157,24 +157,24 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype
         ) const;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.C
index b8c314f6..43a1c236 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.C
@@ -253,8 +253,8 @@ twoWayOne2One::~twoWayOne2One()
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * public Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 void twoWayOne2One::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     label /*step*/
 ) const
@@ -361,8 +361,8 @@ void twoWayOne2One::getData
 
 void twoWayOne2One::getData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     int ** const& field,
     label /*step*/
 ) const
@@ -383,8 +383,8 @@ void twoWayOne2One::getData
 
 void twoWayOne2One::giveData
 (
-    word name,
-    word type,
+    const word& name,
+    const word& type,
     double ** const& field,
     const char* datatype
 ) const
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.H
index a6ee34da..59f5f9f9 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/dataExchangeModel/twoWayOne2One/twoWayOne2One.H
@@ -152,24 +152,24 @@ public:
     // Member Functions
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void getData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             int ** const& field,
             label step
         ) const;
 
         void giveData
         (
-            word name,
-            word type,
+            const word& name,
+            const word& type,
             double ** const& field,
             const char* datatype
         ) const;