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Post-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to post-process the solution after each iteration or time-step, (while the simulation is running), as well as when the simulation completes. For this reason, you generally create post-processing objects before running the simulation. Post-processing objects are also known as analysis objects.
Visualizing the Solution
The visualization tools in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ are integrated with the analysis, allowing for the interactive extraction and viewing of solution data from either a running or converged simulation.
Annotations
Annotations are objects that you add to scenes in order to provide extra information or visualization within the same window. For example, you can show the current time-step in a scalar scene or include a numerical value from a report. Possible annotations include report values, 2D or 3D images, and embedded versions of other scenes.
Visual Annotations from Reports
Some reports return data that is best viewed by a visual artifact. The center of loads, minimum, and maximum reports compute a position and/or vector that you can view in a scene.

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Post-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to post-process the solution after each iteration or time-step, (while the simulation is running), as well as when the simulation completes. For this reason, you generally create post-processing objects before running the simulation. Post-processing objects are also known as analysis objects.
- Analysis Workflow
  The key steps in successfully analyzing simulation results are to: (1) be clear on what quantities you want to extract; (2) locate or define surfaces on which to obtain the data; and, (3) present the data in visual scenes or numeric output.
- Data Interpolation
  Most visualization objects such as plots, reports, and scalar displayers allow for smooth and non-smooth values. For example, the contour style for scalar displayers provides a Smooth Filled option (smooth) and a Filled option (non-smooth). The way these values are calculated depends on the discretization method.
- Field Function Interpolation and Interfaces (FV)
  For finite volume meshes, understanding how Simcenter STAR-CCM+ deals with field function data is important for avoiding non-physical results in post-processing at an interface, and to appreciate the difference that smoothing makes when it is applied.
- Accessing Solution Data through Derived Parts
  Although Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can display, analyze, and report simulation data on regions, boundaries, and parts, there are many cases when you want to access data in other entities of the solution space. Derived parts provide a mechanism for defining additional entities on which you can access solution data.
- Visualizing the Solution
  The visualization tools in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ are integrated with the analysis, allowing for the interactive extraction and viewing of solution data from either a running or converged simulation.
  - Scenes
    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can visualize the results of your simulation using scenes. Scenes, which are stored within the Scenes node, are compositions of one or more displayers that render solution data on the parts you choose.
  - Visualization Workflow
    Scenes are the central objects that you use for visualizing results in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. In general, scenes are composed of one or more displayers to which you assign parts or regions for rendering. Each displayer is responsible for rendering solution data, geometry surfaces, or mesh surfaces according to your selections.
  - Advanced Rendering
    Advanced rendering provides realistic visual presentation at an economic computational cost through ray tracing. Ray tracing simulates the travel of light as it passes through the domain and comes into contact with objects in that domain.
  - Screenplay Animation
    Screenplay is an integrated animation tool in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to tell a story about figures of merit in your simulations. The underlying technology used in Screenplay is known as keyframe animation.
  - Annotations
    Annotations are objects that you add to scenes in order to provide extra information or visualization within the same window. For example, you can show the current time-step in a scalar scene or include a numerical value from a report. Possible annotations include report values, 2D or 3D images, and embedded versions of other scenes.
    - Annotations Property Reference
    - Simple Text Annotation
      A simple text annotation is used to place a customized text label in a scene or plot display.
    - Image Annotations
      You can use annotations to import 2D or 3D images into a display. The images are saved in the simulation, or can be linked through relative paths.
    - Iteration, Time-Step, and Solution Time Annotations
      Some annotations allow you to display the solution state in the display. The read-only text of these annotations is updated automatically as more steps are completed.
    - Scene Annotation
      The scene annotation, one of five pre-defined annotations created with each new simulation, displays information about the simulation in the scene or plot display.
    - Report Annotation
      A report annotation displays the result of a report as formatted text in the scene or plot display. You create a report annotation from the right-click menu of a report node, and then apply the resulting annotation to the scene or plot.
    - Visual Annotations from Reports
      Some reports return data that is best viewed by a visual artifact. The center of loads, minimum, and maximum reports compute a position and/or vector that you can view in a scene.
    - Point Probe Annotation
      The visual point probe annotation allows you to annotate the location of a point probe in the scene with the value of a field function. It provides a point probe derived part with a persistent representation in the scene.
    - Plot and Scene Image Annotations
      Plot and scene image annotations are used to import a plot or a scene as an image in another scene or plot display.
    - Scene Grid Annotation (Scenes Only)
      A scene grid annotation lets you add a grid to a scene, allowing easier interpretation of visual data.
    - Working with the Derived Data Annotation
      A derived data annotation is used to display information about derived data objects that are associated with data set functions.
  - Using Transforms
    Displayers use transforms to modify the default position, orientation, or size of the part in the displayer.
  - Obtaining Render Performance Data for a Scene
    You can view a report that provides rendering statistics for a scene that is open in the Graphics window.
  - Visualization Reference
    Visualization tools in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ include a wide range of objects in the UI with which you can control the appearance, scope, and type of data in the display. The controls, documented in the following sections, include a comprehensive set of properties as well as convenient right-click actions.
- Transient Solution Data
  For transient solutions, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the simulation history file (.simh) to which you can save selected data while a simulation is running. After the simulation completes, you can load this file and query its states for post-processing.
- Sampling Data Values Using Reports and Monitors
  This workflow incorporates the roles of both reports and monitors.
- Accessing Field Data from Previous Time-Steps or Iterations
  A field history is a type of field monitor that stores a finite number of past values (or samples) of a field function, captured at moments defined by its update policy, for a given set of input regions or boundaries (or both).
- Reporting Results
  Reports provide summaries of solution data.
- Monitoring the Solution
  Monitors sample, save, and plot solution data.
- Plots
  The plotting features in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allow you to create three kinds of two-dimensional plots.
- Exploring Solutions with Data Focus
  This interactive tool lets you extract knowledge of merit -- information that facilitates a correct engineering decision -- from a large volume of data.
- Parametric Positioning for Analysis Surfaces in Turbomachine Domains
  In studies of cases of revolving volumes, such as turbomachinery, a typical requirement for post-processing is to render and plot data on surfaces or profiles that are positioned parametrically in relation to the domain bounding surfaces. For example, you may wish to view the total pressure on a surface located exactly half-way between the hub and shroud, or you may wish to plot pressure across both blade surfaces on a given slice.
- Triggers and Update Events
  Several features of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ require that you define a trigger for when an action takes place. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides three built-in trigger types, and one custom trigger type (defined by an update event).
- Signal Processing
  Signal processing applies data set functions to sets of wave data.

Visual Annotations from Reports

Some reports return data that is best viewed by a visual artifact. The center of loads, minimum, and maximum reports compute a position and/or vector that you can view in a scene.

The center of loads report annotation shows the location of the center of loads in the scene as a small sphere, the direction of the force vector as a 3D glyph, and a text label showing the label of the report.

Similarly, the minimum and maximum report annotations let you visualize the locations of either of those quantities with a spherical glyph. In a label that is associated with that location, you have the following information:

The report name
Value of the minimum or maximum field function
Any collocated field function values
Position

By default, the glyph and label are only shown for the overall value of the report.

The following images show a maximum report annotation with the report value by itself, and with a collocated field function.



No collocated field function	With a collocated field function

To view the visual annotation for center of loads, minimum, or maximum in a scene:

Create or open a scene that contains the same set of input parts that were used in the underlying report.
Right-click the Reports > [report] node and select Create Visual Annotation from Report.
A new node appears within Tools > Annotations.
Select the Tools > Annotations > [visual annotation] node and drag it onto to the open scene. For details, see Adding Annotations to Scenes.
You can control the appearance of these annotations by selecting the [scene] > Attributes > Annotations > [visual annotation] and modifying its properties as follows:
- For the center of loads annotation, hide or show the arrow (Resultant Forces), label (Labels), or the whole annotation (Visible).
- For the minimum or maximum annotation, activating Show per-part on the annotation shows the locations of the minimum or maximum values on a per-part basis. At the same time, a star-glyph represents the overall report value in the label. You can also control the number format of the annotation with the Number Format property.