Running the Simulation

Before you run the simulation, you define the simulation time, the time-step, and the stabilization method for the Fluid Structure Coupling solver.

To define the solver parameters:
  1. Select the Solvers > Fluid Stucture Coupling node, and set Stabilization Method to Dynamic.
  2. Select the Solvers > Implicit Unsteady node and set Time-Step using the expression ${FlappingPeriod}/${StepsPerCycle}, which corresponds to 1/100 of the flapping period.
  3. Select the Mesh Morpher node and set the following properties:
    Property Setting
    Boundary Layer Morphing Activated
    Morph At Inner Iterations Activated
  4. Edit the Stopping Criteria node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Setting
    Maximum Inner Iterations Maximum Inner Iterations 5
    Maximum Physical Time Maximum Physical Time 3*${FlappingPeriod}-1E-8
    Maximum Steps Enabled Deactivated

    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, numbers have finite precision. As simulations stop when the maximum physical time is equal to or greater than the simulation time, subtracting a small quantity (1E-8) from the desired stopping time (3*${FlappingPeriod}) ensures that the solver completes the specified steps per cycle.

  5. Click (Run).
  6. When complete, save the simulation.
The plots and scenes appear as follows:
Prescribed Angles


Periodic Lift
This plot shows the lift as a function of the flapping cycle time. At every new cycle, the lift goes back to its initial value. When the solution converges, the lift curves for each cycle overlap.
A hummingbird weights approximately 1.6 to 2 grams and, therefore, a lift force of 0.015 to 0.02 N is required to balance its weight. The computed lift is within the same order of magnitude.


Wing Tip Displacement


By zooming in, you can see the convergence of the displacement within the time-step.
Fluid Pressure and Velocity


Wing Deformation