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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.
Design Exploration
The tutorials in this set illustrate various features for running design exploration studies in Design Manager.
Adjoint Shape Optimization: Mesh Sensitivity for Dual Element Wing
A typical application of an adjoint flow analysis is to use the computed gradients in a shape optimization study with respect to a chosen cost function. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, simulation operations allow you to construct an automated pipeline for optimization studies without any need for Java macros.

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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
- 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.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Mesh Sensitivity for Dual Element Wing
    A typical application of an adjoint flow analysis is to use the computed gradients in a shape optimization study with respect to a chosen cost function. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, simulation operations allow you to construct an automated pipeline for optimization studies without any need for Java macros.
    - Loading the Simulation File and Generating the Mesh
      For this tutorial, you are provided with a simulation file that contains pre-defined objects. After loading the file, the first action is to generate the volume mesh.
    - Activating the Adjoint Models
      The starting simulation file already contains model selections for the primal flow. Here, you activate the adjoint flow model.
    - Creating the Downforce Report, Monitor, and Plot
      The aim of this adjoint flow analysis is to find a design that increases the amount of downforce that is generated by the wing.
    - Creating the Adjoint Cost Function
      The adjoint cost function specifies which engineering quantity is the subject of the sensitivity analysis.
    - Setting Mesh Deformation Boundary Conditions
      The shape optimization process uses the morphing procedure to deform the geometry of interest. Specified control points are displaced by amounts calculated using mesh sensitivities that the Adjoint Mesh solver provides.
    - Creating the Initial Control Points
      The volume mesh deformation is driven from a row of control points close to the wing.
    - Setting up Morpher Displacement for the Control Points
      The Adjoint Mesh Deformation model calculates the new positions of the control points based on the morpher displacement you specify.
    - Setting Up the Simulation Operation Sequence
      Simulation operations allow you to automate steps, in a Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workflow. In this tutorial, a loop is required in which you run the sequence of steps for adjoint shape optimization.
    - Setting Solver Controls and Stopping Criteria
      For this simulation, the coupled implicit solver is set to run with automatic CFL control. The primal solver is set to run for 300 iterations by applying solver-specific stopping criteria. The adjoint solver is set to run for 150 iterations for each optimization loop.
    - Defining Post Processing Objects
      Before activating the simulation sequence, you create a geometry scene to compare the improved wing lower element shape with the original shape. You also include an annotation with the down force plot.
    - Running the Operation Sequence and Analysing Results
      The simulation operation sequence defines the complete simulation workflow. You can now activate and run the sequence.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Sensitivity for S-Bend
    An adjoint shape optimization study requires a repeated sequence of steps in which the mesh is deformed according to a deformation field derived from the surface sensitivity. Simulation operations include specific steps that allow you to automate this workflow without requiring Java macros.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Mesh Morphing for Y-Junction Manifold
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the adjoint solution for shape optimization as a method for finding modified designs to improve performance and efficiency.
  - Adjoint Topology Optimization: Flow through a U-Bend
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides adjoint topology optimization as a method for finding optimized designs for complex flow problems. Topology optimization can aid in the design of, for example, components found in aeroplanes or ground transportation vehicles such as air ducts by improving performance and efficiency.
  - Pareto Optimization: Static Mixer
    One of the study types that Design Manager supports is the multiple-objective tradeoff optimization, also called Pareto optimization. In this type of study, the optimal design is not unique, but a set of designs, which are expressed through a Pareto front. Design Manager searches for the combination of inputs that gives the best overall result among competing objectives.
  - Design Sweep of a Static Mixer
    Design Manager provides an automated method for evaluating the performance of a single product design.
  - Pareto Optimization: 2D Airfoil Design
    Design Manager allows you to run design optimization studies with multiple competing objectives. This type of study is known as multiple-objective tradeoff optimization, or Pareto optimization.
  - Export of 2D Field Data for ROM: Airfoil Analysis
    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can export 2D field data from a design study in Design Manager to Simcenter Reduced Order Modeling.
  - Part-Replacement Using Design Manager
    In some industrial situations you are required to run standard flow analyses on different product configurations for regulatory requirements. Through its part-replacement capability, Design Manager can assist with automating these analyses.
  - Surrogates: Reliability of an Industrial Exhaust System
    Robustness and reliability studies are employed to assess the influence of installation and manufacturing tolerances on the performance of a design. In Design Manager, surrogate models provide an efficient method for running these studies as using surrogates reduces the overall number of flow simulations that must be run.
  - Surrogate FMU: Flapper Valve Representation within Simcenter Amesim
    When a 1D fluid system simulation contains a complex hydraulic component, an FMU built from a surrogate model can represent the influence of the component without requiring a full 1D/3D co-simulation. Design Manager provides a facility for exporting such FMUs based on a surrogate model.
  - Surrogate FMU: Pipeline Junction with Simcenter Flomaster
    Oil transportation from shore-based storage facilities to ships anchored offshore is often analysed using 1D simulation tools such as Simcenter Flomaster. In this tutorial, the flow behavior through a 3D component is characterized using Simcenter STAR-CCM+, exported as an FMU, and introduced within a 1D model of a ship to shore system in Simcenter Flomaster.
  - Smart Sweep Study for Air Compressor: Performance Map
    The operating conditions of an air compressor are stable for mass flow values within a specific range. The operating range varies with the rotational rate of the air compressor rotor. Mass flow values below this range are too low to maintain the desired pressure ratio and can lead to a harmful surge in the air compressor. Mass flow above this range can lead to a choke in the air compressor.
  - Design Manager: Gradient-Based Optimization of a U-Bend
    Gradient-Based Optimization is an iterative method that optimizes a set of geometric features towards an engineering objective.
- 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.

Adjoint Shape Optimization: Mesh Sensitivity for Dual Element Wing

A typical application of an adjoint flow analysis is to use the computed gradients in a shape optimization study with respect to a chosen cost function. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, simulation operations allow you to construct an automated pipeline for optimization studies without any need for Java macros.

In this tutorial, you use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to optimize the dual element wing of a race car such that you obtain the maximum downforce possible within the parameters of the geometry. The objective of the analysis is to identify the factors that influence the downforce generated by the wing.

The angle of attack of the wing is 16.2 degrees. The fluid domain consists of a velocity inlet, pressure outlet, and symmetry boundaries. The flow velocity is 100 kph. The wing is positioned in the domain as follows:

For this tutorial, you are provided with a simulation file that contains the following objects already defined:

An automated mesh operation with mesh settings. To keep the file size to a minimum, the volume mesh is not provided—the mesh is ready for you to generate.
Geometry parts for the fluid domain surrounding the wing
A physics continuum with physics models required for the initial flow solution. The Adjoint Flow model is activated in a later step.
Initial conditions.
Regions and boundaries (including the boundary types).
A mesh scene.

In the simulation operation sequence, the primal flow is solved for 300 iterations. Afterwards you run an adjoint analysis. Sequentially, you define control points around the wings. The wing surface boundary is deformed using a morpher displacement as a function of the mesh sensitivity of the control points. See also Using Mesh Sensitivity on Control Points.

In particular, the tutorial shows how the shape of the lower element can be modified to increase the downforce generated by the wing.

You require a double-precision version of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to complete this tutorial.