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Tutorials
Tutorials show you how to use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for various applications in a step-by-step format with recommendations for setup, initialization and steps of the solution process specific to the application. Macro and simulation files are available for download for a large proportion of cases.
Motion
The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for simulating problems with moving geometries and meshes, dynamic fluid body interaction, and rigid body motion:
Morphing: Cylinder with Boundary Motion
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ contains a Morphing Motion Model that enables you to define motion on boundary surfaces using several methods.
Importing the Geometry and Naming the Simulation
The first step in this tutorial is to import the cylinder geometry from the Parasolid file supplied.

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Tutorials
Tutorials show you how to use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for various applications in a step-by-step format with recommendations for setup, initialization and steps of the solution process specific to the application. Macro and simulation files are available for download for a large proportion of cases.
- Using Tutorial Macros and Files
  Macros, input files, and final simulation files for a range of tutorials are provided as an optional download package on the Support Center website. These macros and final simulation files are provided as an aid to the written tutorials, so that you can check your final results against the downloaded files, or against a simulation that is built and run using the macros.
- Introduction
  Welcome to the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ introductory tutorial. In this tutorial, you explore the important concepts and workflow. Complete this tutorial before attempting any others.
- Foundation Tutorials
  The foundation tutorials showcase the major features of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ in a series of short tutorials.
- Geometry
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for creating and working with parts and 3D-CAD.
- Mesh
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for building CFD meshes.
- Incompressible Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for incompressible fluid flows as well as porosity and solution recording
- Compressible Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for compressible fluid flows as well as harmonic balance.
- Heat Transfer and Radiation
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for heat transfer, radiation, and thermal comfort.
- Multiphase Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating multiphase fluid flow problems
- Discrete Element Method
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating Discrete Element Method problems
- Motion
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for simulating problems with moving geometries and meshes, dynamic fluid body interaction, and rigid body motion:
  - Moving Reference Frames: Rotating Fan
    This tutorial outlines the steps that are required to set up and run a rotating radial fan analysis. It uses the Moving Reference Frame model, a steady-state approach that involves two or more frames of reference that can be stationary or moving relative to each other.
  - Rigid Body Motion: Rotating Fan
    This tutorial models the same radial fan problem as the Moving Reference Frames: Rotating Fan tutorial. However, instead of using the steady-state moving reference frame model, this tutorial uses the transient Rigid Body Motion model with actual mesh rotation.
  - DFBI: Lifeboat with Overset Mesh
    This tutorial demonstrates use of the Overset Mesh feature with free surface flow and DFBI to model the motion of a lifeboat falling into water. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automates the grid overlapping process.
  - DFBI and AMR: Boat In Parameterized Waves
    In Dynamic Fluid-Body Interaction (DFBI) simulations, you can use Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) to dynamically refine the mesh around a moving 6-DOF body based on the computed flow solution.
  - Marine Resistance Prediction: KCS Hull with a Rudder
    This tutorial demonstrates the workflow for setting up a resistance prediction simulation for a marine application.
  - Moving Reference Frames: Marine Propeller in Open Water
    This tutorial demonstrates the workflow for setting up an open water simulation for a marine propeller.
  - Body Force Propeller Method: Marine Self-Propulsion
    One of the challenges in marine engineering is to predict the speed with which a ship hull moves through water in response to the thrust supplied by a spinning propeller. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a methodology by which you can predict this speed.
  - Blade Element Method: Helicopter Rotor-Fuselage Interaction
    The rotating main rotor blades of a helicopter generate a complex flow field that leads to periodic aerodynamic loads on the airframe. Because of these aerodynamic loads, the passenger cabin can be subject to noise and vibration. These aerodynamic interactions affect the performance of helicopters and they can cause structural damage. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a method for simulating the flow generated by rotor blades that does not require you to mesh the blades individually. This method allows you to predict the complex flow field around a helicopter taking into account the fuselage and rotor flow field interaction.
  - Morphing: Cylinder with Boundary Motion
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ contains a Morphing Motion Model that enables you to define motion on boundary surfaces using several methods.
    - Importing the Geometry and Naming the Simulation
      The first step in this tutorial is to import the cylinder geometry from the Parasolid file supplied.
    - Preparing the Surfaces, Region, and Boundaries
      There is only one boundary surface at this stage, but as you need to have separate surfaces for the inlet and outlet boundaries, it is necessary to split the surface before creating the volume mesh.
    - Generating the Volume Mesh
      The volume mesh is generated by creating an automated mesh operation, setting the appropriate sizing parameters, and running the mesh generator.
    - Setting up the Physics
      A default Physics Continuum, Physics 1, was created when the volume mesh was generated. This continuum is used to define the physical models required for the simulation.
    - Setting up the Motion
      Motion is defined in STAR-CCM+ using motion objects, which are managed by the Motions manager.
    - Creating the Local Coordinate System
      Define the cylinder wall motion by a grid velocity in the radial direction. It is necessary to create a local cylindrical coordinate system in which to define the radial velocity as one does not exist by default.
    - Creating a Field Function for the Grid Velocity
      A radial velocity is to be set at the cylinder wall using a field function based on the axial position.
    - Setting Boundary Conditions and Values
      The boundary types were set before the volume meshing stage to make sure prism layers were obtained only on the wall.
    - Setting Initial Conditions
      For this tutorial, the only initial condition to set is the flow axial velocity.
    - Setting Solver Parameters
      This is a simple transient simulation and so an appropriate time step must be set.
    - Setting Stopping Criteria
      Stopping Criteria is created based on the Monitors for Continuity and Momentum to make sure that the solution does not iterate unnecessarily within a single time-step.
    - Creating Additional Monitors
      It is generally useful to create one or two additional monitors to help assess convergence of the simulation.
    - Visualizing the Solution
      A scalar scene is created to show the deformation of the cylinder wall as the simulation proceeds.
    - Setting Solver Verbosity
      The Mesh Morpher solver has an option to display additional information in the Output window during runtime. This can be useful in gauging the proportion of CPU time devoted to the Morphing process.
    - Running the Simulation
      The setup is complete and you can now run the simulation.
    - Visualizing the Results
      A new scene is created to show streamlines of velocity magnitude running through the geometry.
    - Expanding the Cylinder
      The same exercise can be repeated to model an expansion of the cylinder instead of a contraction. A displacement is specified at the wall boundary instead of a grid velocity.
    - Summary
  - Overset Mesh Small Gap Modeling: Lobe Blower
    Rotary lobe blowers are valveless positive-displacement units. Fluid is pumped by two counter-rotating lobes that are mounted on parallel shafts. Fluid enters through the expanding volume at the suction side of the pump. As the lobes continue to rotate, the fluid is compressed between the lobes and the pump casing and hence transported towards the discharge.
  - Trajectory Motion: Paint Dipping of a Chassis on a Fixed Skid
    Paint dipping is a process by which a component is coated with paint in a dipping tank. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to simulate this process and therefore study the effects of different trajectories and component speeds.
  - General Remesh: Gerotor Pump with Small Gap
    A Gerotor pump is a unit with an inner and an outer rotor that have different rotational speeds related to their tooth numbers. The dynamically changing volume between the rotors transports the liquid from inlet to outlet.
- Reacting Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating reacting flows such as combustion.
- Solid Stress
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for computing deformation, strain, and stresses in solid regions. They also show how such computations can be coupled to the fluid behavior in an analysis of fluid-structure interaction.
- Aeroacoustics
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for solving aeroacoustic simulations.
- Electromagnetism
  The following tutorials illustrate features for solving problems that involve electromagnetic fields.
- Electrochemistry
  The following tutorial demonstrates chemical reactions induced by an electrical current.
- Battery
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for setting up a battery model:
- Automation
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automation and macro features.
- Design Exploration
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various features for running design exploration studies in Design Manager.
- Coupling with CAE Codes
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for coupling with CAE codes:
- Analysis Methods
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for analysing and visualizing simulation data.
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder
  The tutorials in this set illustrate features for simulating internal combustion engines in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ using the dedicated add-on Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder.

Importing the Geometry and Naming the Simulation

The first step in this tutorial is to import the cylinder geometry from the Parasolid file supplied.

Start up Simcenter STAR-CCM+ in a manner that is appropriate to your working environment and select the New Simulation option from the menu bar. Click OK to accept the default options.
Select File > Import > Import Surface Mesh from the menu bar. In the Open dialog, navigate to the motion folder of the downloaded tutorial files and select file cylinder.x_t.
Click the Open button to start the import. The Import Surface Options dialog appears.
Click OK to import the cylinder.
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides feedback on the import process in the Output window. A new geometry scene is created in the Graphics window showing the imported cylinder.
Save the new simulation to disk under file name contraction.sim.