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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.
Importing and Exporting Geometry
Importing Geometry into a 3D-CAD Model
You can import solid and sheet (zero thickness) bodies into 3D-CAD. During the import process, you are presented with the option to include or omit sheet bodies. The import option is available within the main Simcenter STAR-CCM+ window as well as within the 3D-CAD environment itself.
Using 2D and 3D Curves in 3D-CAD
You can import and use 2D and 3D curves in 3D-CAD.

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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
    - Importing Geometry into a 3D-CAD Model
      You can import solid and sheet (zero thickness) bodies into 3D-CAD. During the import process, you are presented with the option to include or omit sheet bodies. The import option is available within the main Simcenter STAR-CCM+ window as well as within the 3D-CAD environment itself.
      - Using Model Reimport
        The Model Reimport tool allows you to replace an imported assembly with a modified version of that assembly and re-execute the feature tree. When the tool is unable to map between original and updated bodies and faces, you are provided with a split window scene in which you can manually provide the mapping.
      - Using 2D and 3D Curves in 3D-CAD
        You can import and use 2D and 3D curves in 3D-CAD.
        Importing 2D and 3D Curves from a CSV File
        Importing Multiple 3D Curves from a Single CSV File
        Importing and Replacing Sketch Curves
        You can combine tabular and user-created sketches by importing a curve into an existing 2D or 3D sketch. You can also replace a specific spline within a sketch with a new spline from a .csv file to enable tabular-based design changes.
        Curve Import Options
        Set the import options to control how 2D or 3D curves are imported from .csv files.
        File Format for Imported Curves
        The .csv file containing the 2D or 3D curve coordinate points must be in comma-separated values (.csv) format.
    - Checking Geometry Validity
      Before you set up a simulation, you can check the validity of the geometry in 3D-CAD.
    - Exporting Geometry from 3D-CAD
    - Exporting and Importing 3D-CAD Model as a Parametric Model
      3D-CAD allows you to export an entire 3D-CAD model from a simulation file into a macro script and associated binary part files for any imported CAD. The macro script contains all 3D-CAD features such as design parameters, reference geometry, filters, and global options. You can then use the macro file to re-import the 3D-CAD model to an existing or a new Simcenter STAR-CCM+ session.
  - Working with 3D-CAD Models
  - 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.

Using 2D and 3D Curves in 3D-CAD

You can import and use 2D and 3D curves in 3D-CAD.

A 2D curve is a sketch entity constrained to a 2D plane (sketch plane), while a 3D curve is not constrained to any 2D plane. A simple example of a 3D spiral is shown below.

You can import curves in 3D-CAD to perform the following operations:

Extrusions: You can use a closed curve to form a solid body, or an open curve to form a sheet body.
Sweeps: You can use curves both as profiles or as path curves while creating a Sweep feature. For a curve to be used as a profile, it can be closed (to form a solid body), or open (to form a sheet body). For it to be used as a path, it must be an open curve.
Lofts: You can use two or more curves (or a combination of curves and planar sketches) to create a Loft feature. For a curve to be used as a profile, it must be closed (to form a solid body), or open (to form a sheet body). For it to be used as a guide wire, it must be an open curve. A Pierce constraint can be used to connect profiles to guide wires—profiles and guide curves must intersect. See Pierce Constraint.

You cannot use 3D curves with the Revolve feature. Composite curves that contain sharp edges are not supported. 3D curves that you import are fully editable. 2D curves are imported as sketches on the XY sketch plane and are fully editable. You can reposition the sketch onto a transform sketch plane if required.

An example of a sweep using a 3D curve is shown below, whereby it is used as the path for the sweep feature.