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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.
Incompressible Flow
The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for incompressible fluid flows as well as porosity and solution recording
Steady Flow: Channel Flow with Multiple Meshes
This tutorial describes a steady airflow simulation over an obstacle that is mounted at the bottom wall of a three-dimensional channel.
Polyhedral Mesh
This part of the tutorial models the same problem as the previous two parts. However, the mesh used in this case is polyhedral. All problem conditions and properties are defined using the java macro file created when setting up the Hexahedral Mesh case.
Comparing Mesh Types
You have already examined the velocity plot and seen that the numerical solution compares well with the experimental data. Compare the velocity data that is produced on this mesh with that produced on the Hexahedral Mesh and the Tetrahedral Mesh.

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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
  - Steady Flow: Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
    This tutorial demonstrates the performance of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ in solving a traditional square lid-driven cavity flow. The problem geometry consists of a two-dimensional 1 m² cavity. The cavity is covered by an impermeable wall that moves in the x-direction with constant velocity of 1 m/s. A stretched quadrilateral mesh with 6400 cells is used.
  - Steady Flow: Channel Flow with Multiple Meshes
    This tutorial describes a steady airflow simulation over an obstacle that is mounted at the bottom wall of a three-dimensional channel.
    - Hexahedral Mesh
      The first mesh for this tutorial is hexahedral. Create a new simulation and import the mesh.
    - Tetrahedral Mesh
      This part of the tutorial models the same problem as the Hexahedral Mesh part, shown in the introductory Steady Flow: Channel Flow with Multiple Meshes section. However, the mesh used in this case is tetrahedral. All problem conditions and properties are defined using the java macro file created when setting up the Hexahedral Mesh case.
    - Polyhedral Mesh
      This part of the tutorial models the same problem as the previous two parts. However, the mesh used in this case is polyhedral. All problem conditions and properties are defined using the java macro file created when setting up the Hexahedral Mesh case.
      - Importing the Mesh and Naming the Simulation
        Create a new simulation and import the polyhedral mesh.
      - Running the Macro
        Run the setup macro to create the vector and scalar scenes.
      - Opening the Plots
        Open the required plots.
      - Initializing and Running the Simulation
        Initialize and run the simulation.
      - Visualizing the Results
        View the vector and scalar scenes.
      - Examining Plots
        View the velocity and shear stress plots.
      - Comparing Mesh Types
        You have already examined the velocity plot and seen that the numerical solution compares well with the experimental data. Compare the velocity data that is produced on this mesh with that produced on the Hexahedral Mesh and the Tetrahedral Mesh.
    - Summary
      This tutorial described a steady airflow simulation, using three different meshing methods.
  - Steady Flow: Laminar and Turbulent Flow in an S-Bend
    This tutorial demonstrates the flow of an incompressible gas through an s-bend of constant diameter (2 cm), for both laminar and turbulent flow. The first part of the tutorial covers the laminar flow, with a Reynolds number (Re) of 500, and the second part covers the turbulent flow, Re = 50,000. The same pipe geometry is used in both cases.
  - Steady Flow: Backward Facing Step
    Steady flow over a backward facing step is a typical scenario to investigate the behaviour of reattaching flows. Understanding the behaviour of the flow is crucial for many applications such as designing heat exhangers, evalutating aerodynamic performance and improving flow control strategies.
  - Anisotropic Flow: Cyclone Separator
    The flow inside a cyclone separator is characterised by strong swirling motion and three-dimensional boundary layers. Properly accounting for these effects is a challenging problem for CFD simulations. This tutorial presents the initial step in setting up a coarse mesh cyclone flow simulation.
  - Porous Resistance: Isotropic Media
    This tutorial models flow through a catalyst geometry.
  - Porous Resistance: Orthotropic Media
    This tutorial solves the same problem as the Porous Resistance: Isotropic Media, except that the fluid in the porous region cannot flow in any direction other than the bulk flow (y-) direction.
  - Solution Recording and Playback: Vortex Shedding
    This tutorial demonstrates how to use the solution recording and playback module for capturing the results of transient phenomena.
  - Generalized Newtonian Fluid: Flow in a Static Mixer
    This tutorial demonstrates the process of setting up and analyzing the flow of a viscous fluid through a static mixer.
  - Viscoelastic Flow: Basic Extrusion
    This tutorial illustrates the extrusion of molten rubber through a die.
  - Material Calibration: Curve Fitting Non-Newtonian Model Parameters
    This tutorial illustrates the workflow for calibrating rheological model parameters from experimental rheological data through curve-fitting.
  - Polymer Melt Extrusion: Film Casting
    In industry, film casting is a common process for producing thin polymeric films. Cast films are used for applications such as food and textile packaging, stretch wraps, or plastic bags. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a combination of the Film Casting model and the Free Surface model that allows you to simulate that process and to investigate the impact of various parameters on the resulting film.
- 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:
- 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.

Comparing Mesh Types

You have already examined the velocity plot and seen that the numerical solution compares well with the experimental data. Compare the velocity data that is produced on this mesh with that produced on the Hexahedral Mesh and the Tetrahedral Mesh.

First, import the data from the previous two simulations:

Open the Tools node.
Right-click the Tables node and select New Table > File Table.
Select file hex380.csv and click Open.
Do the same to import the data saved in file tet380.csv.

To plot the imported data:

Open the Plots > Velocity Plot at X = 0.38 node.
Right-click the Data Series node and select Add Data.
In the Add Data Providers to Plot dialog, select hex380 and click OK.

Expand the Data Series > hex380 node and set the following properties:


Node	Property	Value
hex380	Legend Name	HexMesh
hex380	Sort Plot Data	Activated
Line Style	Style	Solid
Symbol Style	Shape	None

Once again, right-click the Data Series node and select Add Data.
In the Add Data Providers to Plot dialog, select tet380 and click OK.

Select the Data Series > tet380 node and set the following properties:


Node	Property	Value
tet380	Legend Name	TetMesh
tet380	Sort Plot Data	Activated
Line Style	Style	Solid
Symbol Style	Shape	None

Expand the Data Series > exp380 node and set the following properties:


Node	Property	Value
exp380	Legend Name	Experimental
Symbol Style	Color	Black

Expand the Plots > Velocity Plot at X = 0.38 > Y Types > Y Type 1 node and set the following properties:


Node	Property	Value
X=0.38	Legend Name	PolyMesh
X=0.38	Sort Plot Data	Activated
Line Style	Style	Solid
Symbol Style	Shape	None

The plot appears as shown below.

There is little difference in the quality of the results from the three meshes, although the result from the polyhedral mesh is slightly better than the other two in the recirculation zone. The polyhedral mesh has only 60,838 cells. The hexahedral mesh has 67,699 cells and the tetrahedral mesh has 140,141 cells. The analysis on the polyhedral mesh only required 121 iterations to reach convergence which compares to 221 for the hexahedral mesh and 181 for the tetrahedral mesh. The results therefore demonstrate the ability of polyhedral meshes to produce good quality results with lower cell counts and shorter run times than other mesh types.

Save the simulation.