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Post-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to post-process the solution after each iteration or time-step, (while the simulation is running), as well as when the simulation completes. For this reason, you generally create post-processing objects before running the simulation. Post-processing objects are also known as analysis objects.
Plots
The plotting features in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allow you to create three kinds of two-dimensional plots.
Interacting with the Plot Display
The plot display in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to adjust the axis ranges interactively, zoom into an area, and pan the plot area. You can also reset to the original plot view.

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Post-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to post-process the solution after each iteration or time-step, (while the simulation is running), as well as when the simulation completes. For this reason, you generally create post-processing objects before running the simulation. Post-processing objects are also known as analysis objects.
- Analysis Workflow
  The key steps in successfully analyzing simulation results are to: (1) be clear on what quantities you want to extract; (2) locate or define surfaces on which to obtain the data; and, (3) present the data in visual scenes or numeric output.
- Data Interpolation
  Most visualization objects such as plots, reports, and scalar displayers allow for smooth and non-smooth values. For example, the contour style for scalar displayers provides a Smooth Filled option (smooth) and a Filled option (non-smooth). The way these values are calculated depends on the discretization method.
- Field Function Interpolation and Interfaces (FV)
  For finite volume meshes, understanding how Simcenter STAR-CCM+ deals with field function data is important for avoiding non-physical results in post-processing at an interface, and to appreciate the difference that smoothing makes when it is applied.
- Accessing Solution Data through Derived Parts
  Although Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can display, analyze, and report simulation data on regions, boundaries, and parts, there are many cases when you want to access data in other entities of the solution space. Derived parts provide a mechanism for defining additional entities on which you can access solution data.
- Visualizing the Solution
  The visualization tools in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ are integrated with the analysis, allowing for the interactive extraction and viewing of solution data from either a running or converged simulation.
- Transient Solution Data
  For transient solutions, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the simulation history file (.simh) to which you can save selected data while a simulation is running. After the simulation completes, you can load this file and query its states for post-processing.
- Sampling Data Values Using Reports and Monitors
  This workflow incorporates the roles of both reports and monitors.
- Accessing Field Data from Previous Time-Steps or Iterations
  A field history is a type of field monitor that stores a finite number of past values (or samples) of a field function, captured at moments defined by its update policy, for a given set of input regions or boundaries (or both).
- Reporting Results
  Reports provide summaries of solution data.
- Monitoring the Solution
  Monitors sample, save, and plot solution data.
- Plots
  The plotting features in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allow you to create three kinds of two-dimensional plots.
  - Plotting Workflow
    Decide on the quantities to plot, and based on that choice, select the plot type. Set up the plot with the appropriate field functions and parts. Decide how to customize the appearance of the plot, and whether to export images for presentation purposes.
  - Working with Monitor Plots
    Monitor plots display the values collected by report-based and residual-based monitors as the solution is advanced. You can also use them to plot data from tables in the simulation.
  - Working with XY Plots
    XY plots are two-dimensional charts that can be used to display graphs of scalar values from the set of available solution variables or from table data.
  - Working with Histogram Plots
    Histogram plots are two-dimensional bar charts that can be used to display data distribution.
  - Plotting with Multiple Axes
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ lets you add an axis to a plot to allow the comparison of multiple variables in a single chart display.
  - Interacting with the Plot Display
    The plot display in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to adjust the axis ranges interactively, zoom into an area, and pan the plot area. You can also reset to the original plot view.
  - Updating Plots
    You can control how open XY, monitor, and histogram plots update by changing the trigger type that is located in the Update node.
  - Customizing Data Display in Plots
    The appearance of data in all plots can be modified in a number of ways.
  - Customizing Plot Colors
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to define plot colors based on inputs to the plots, and to override these color choices where necessary. For example, you can define and maintain colors based on their relationship to specific residuals on residual plots, or to particular input surfaces within a region. You can also create and apply your own colors, such as the colors used by your company for its branding.
  - Managing Data in a Plot
    You can make various types of simulation data available for plotting: monitors, tabular data, and derived data.
  - Plots Reference
    Plot nodes contain controls for the overall content of the plot, while individual sets of sub-nodes are available for controlling data, functions of axes, and the appearance of data and grid lines.
  - Saving and Printing Plot Data
    You can export the contents of a plot as data in .csv format. You can also save the plot to an image file or PDF, or send it to a printer.
- Exploring Solutions with Data Focus
  This interactive tool lets you extract knowledge of merit -- information that facilitates a correct engineering decision -- from a large volume of data.
- Parametric Positioning for Analysis Surfaces in Turbomachine Domains
  In studies of cases of revolving volumes, such as turbomachinery, a typical requirement for post-processing is to render and plot data on surfaces or profiles that are positioned parametrically in relation to the domain bounding surfaces. For example, you may wish to view the total pressure on a surface located exactly half-way between the hub and shroud, or you may wish to plot pressure across both blade surfaces on a given slice.
- Triggers and Update Events
  Several features of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ require that you define a trigger for when an action takes place. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides three built-in trigger types, and one custom trigger type (defined by an update event).
- Signal Processing
  Signal processing applies data set functions to sets of wave data.

Interacting with the Plot Display

The plot display in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to adjust the axis ranges interactively, zoom into an area, and pan the plot area. You can also reset to the original plot view.

Adjusting the Axis Ranges Using Handles

As you hover with your mouse pointer over the ends of the plot axes, axis handles appear as shown below. When you hover the mouse pointer over the handle line, arrows show you which direction to move.

To change the bounds of the axis, click and drag the line.

The plot display adjusts to the new bounds.

The corresponding axis property, such as Maximum, is changed in the Properties window accordingly. The new bound is locked in place by default (as shown by the closed lock icon). To adjust a particular bound, you can unlock that bound by clicking its lock icon. The closed and open lock icons are the equivalent of activating and deactivating the Lock Minimum and Lock Maximum properties, while the handles are equivalent to numerical entries in the Minimum and Maximum properties.

To restore the original view of the plot, click the (Fit Plot View) button in the toolbar, or press <R>.

Zooming and Panning

To zoom in on the plot display and pan:

Press the middle mouse button (or mouse wheel) while pointing in the plot display. This action activates the plot zooming feature, which operates on the rubber-banding principle. With the middle mouse button pressed, drag the mouse through the area of the plot that you want to magnify. This will show a quadrangle expanding like a rubber band.

That quadrangle bounds the zoomed area.

Alternatively, use the mouse wheel: turn it toward you to zoom in, or away from you to zoom out.
When you are zoomed in on the plot, you can drag the mouse pointer to pan and examine adjacent portions.

To restore the original view of the plot, click the (Fit Plot View) button in the toolbar, or press <R>.