Defining the Solid Materials

Specify the materials for the solid structure and define their properties.

  1. Select the solid materials from the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ material library:
    • If you selected the Solid model, choose a single material for the solid part.

    • If you selected the Multi-Part Solid model, add a material for each part in the assembly.

      Assign the materials to the corresponding parts using the [Region] > Physics Values > Material Part Groups node. For more information, see Modeling a Single-Component Material and Multi-Part Solid Model Reference.

For each material, you define the relationship between stress and strain by specifying an appropriate material law (see Constitutive Relations: Material Models). Simcenter STAR-CCM+ supports:
  • linear elastic materials, with either isotropic, orthotropic, or anisotropic properties
  • elastoplastic materials
  • hyperelastic materials

To define a material law:

  1. Expand the relevant [Physics Continuum] > Models > Material Law Models node.
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ creates a material law node with the name, Default Material Law. This node allows you to select the models that approximate the material behavior. You do not require a separate material law for each material. Multiple materials can be described using the same material law.

    If you require a new material law, right-click the Material Laws node and select New.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically assigns the default material law to any solid material defined in the physics continuum.

To assign a different material law to a material:

  1. Expand the relevant [Physics Continuum] > Models > [Solid] > [Material] node.
  2. Select the Material Properties > Material Law node and set Type to the relevant material law.


  3. For each material law node, select the material models that define the material behavior. You can access the material law models from one of the following nodes:
    • Material Law Models > Material Laws > [Material Law] > Models
    • [Physics Continuum] > Models

      In this case, you select the material law in the continuum Physics Models Selection dialog, then choose the relevant material law models.

    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides material models that define linear elastic, elastoplastic, and hyperelastic materials. For the analysis of thermal expansion, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ also provides models that define the response of the material to changes in the solid temperature. The next sections provide instructions for selecting the material law models and defining mechanical properties (such as the material Young's modulus) and thermal properties (such as the thermal expansion coefficient):