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Pre-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solves physics problems on a computational mesh. To provide this mesh, you first define geometry using internal or external tools, and then create a mesh pipeline whose operations generate the mesh in repeatable steps.
3D-CAD
3D-CAD is a feature-based parametric modeler within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to build geometries from scratch. The geometries that you create with 3D-CAD are stored as 3D-CAD models, which you can then convert to geometry parts for integration with the meshing and simulation process.
Working with 3D-CAD Models

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Pre-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solves physics problems on a computational mesh. To provide this mesh, you first define geometry using internal or external tools, and then create a mesh pipeline whose operations generate the mesh in repeatable steps.
- 3D-CAD
  3D-CAD is a feature-based parametric modeler within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to build geometries from scratch. The geometries that you create with 3D-CAD are stored as 3D-CAD models, which you can then convert to geometry parts for integration with the meshing and simulation process.
  - 3D-CAD Environment
    The 3D-CAD environment provides you with a feature tree from which you can activate all steps for creating and modifying geometry, and a 3D-CAD View scene in which you interact with the geometry. Many of the same feature actions are available for selection in the 3D-CAD View scene.
  - Sketches in 3D-CAD
    3D-CAD supports two types of sketch—2D sketches that are created on a planar surface and 3D sketches that are built from points located anywhere in geometric space. You can use both types of sketch in 3D geometry operations such as extrude, revolve, or sweep.
  - 3D-CAD Geometry Modeling
    Bodies represent the individual objects that make up the 3D-CAD model. Imported CAD geometry appears as bodies in 3D-CAD, and you can also create your own bodies directly using 3D-CAD features.
  - Freeform Surface Modeling
    Freeform surface modeling is a modeling technique in 3D-CAD that allows you to deform existing surfaces for desired shapes.
  - Importing and Exporting Geometry
  - Working with 3D-CAD Models
    - Creating Geometry Parts from 3D-CAD
    - Part Creation Options Dialog
    - Modifying a 3D-CAD Model
      As the 3D-CAD modeler is fully integrated into the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ environment, it is quick and easy to modify the 3D-CAD model before and after the simulation is run.
    - Updating the 3D-CAD Model
      The 3D-CAD model contains all features that define the 3D-CAD geometry. When you make a change to a feature in the 3D-CAD model, you must update the model for the changes to take effect.
    - Synchronizing Geometry Parts with the 3D-CAD Model
      Synchronize the geometry parts with the 3D-CAD model to maintain an up-to-date list of geometry parts every time you update the 3D-CAD model and geometry parts list.
  - Geometry Repair and Preparation
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a suite of tools in 3D-CAD that helps you to prepare your CAD geometry so that it is suitable for meshing. CAD that is designed for manufacture can have gaps or inaccuracies that cause problems when trying to generate a watertight mesh.
  - Design Parameters
    Design parameters allow Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to update geometry designs during design exploration studies. Although you define them within the 3D-CAD environment, they are exposed outside 3D-CAD for manual or automatic update.
- Modeling Geometry
  This part of the User Guide describes how to use 3D-CAD, the parametric solid modeler available within Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It also describes the features and tools available for further preparation of the geometry model and its surfaces.
- The Surface Repair Tool
  The Surface Repair tool diagnoses errors in, and provides repair tools for, tessellated surfaces and part curves. The same tool allows you to reorganize discretized geometry by searching for face-based features and attributes then assigning the results to new or existing part surfaces or curves.
- Defining the Regions Layout
  An essential part of the process in setting up your simulation is to define the relationship between geometry parts and regions, boundaries, and interfaces.
- Meshing
  A mesh is a discretized representation of a geometric domain. This domain can include real-world geometry, its content, and its surrounding environment.

Working with 3D-CAD Models

With 3D-CAD, you can create models and perform a full CFD simulation all within the user-friendly environment of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. The fully integrated modeler makes using 3D-CAD models in a simulation quick and easy, and enhances the process of performing design and optimization studies.

To use a 3D-CAD model in a simulation, the first step is to convert it to geometry parts. This action brings the CAD data into the simulation, where it can be assigned to regions and boundaries.

Following this action, it is possible to modify the 3D-CAD model and run the same simulation for the altered geometry. These processes can be automated using the scripting functionality of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. You can also synchronize the geometry parts with the 3D-CAD model so that additional bodies that you create in 3D-CAD are automatically created when you update the geometry parts list. If the changes you make in 3D-CAD result in bodies being removed, the corresponding parts are removed from the parts list.