Data Analysis

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides tools for analyzing simulation results both numerically and visually.

Reports

A report presents a computed summary of the current simulation or CPU data. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides three types.

System Reports
Provide information related to performance and memory
Statistical reports
Apply statistical functions to data within the simulation
Specific Reports
Provide information relevant to, and only available with, specific physical models
Includes reports for harmonic balance, DFBI, reacting flows, and solid mechanics

Monitors

Monitors facilitate sampling and saving of summary information from the simulation during the solution.

Report-based
Provide the evolution of report values as the simulation progresses
Field monitors
Collect data samples from all or part of the solution domain
Types are: maximum, minimum, mean, sum, variance, and co-variance
Field history monitors store data samples for previous iterations or time-steps

Plots

Plots graphically display data either from Simcenter STAR-CCM+ or imported using tables. The appearance and layout of the plots are fully customizable.

Monitor plots
Displays values that are collected by report-based monitors as the solution proceeds
XY plots
Two-dimensional graphs that can display scalar values from the set of available solution variables or from table data; extends to bubble plots and heatmaps
Histogram plots
Two-dimensional bar charts that can display data distribution

Visualization

Visualization of results within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ is achieved through graphical scenes and associated displayers. Specific rendering of results depends on the type of displayer being used. Any simulation can have any number of scenes each with any number of displayers.

Default scene types
  • Geometry, mesh, scalar, vector, or empty
Global scene controls
  • Lighting, background colors and images, environment maps, object clipping, annotations, measurement grids, scene update and export, transparency (fast or high quality)
  • Ray tracing for realistic visual presentation
Post-processing entities
  • Scalar field display
  • 2D and 3D vector glyphs
  • Many pre-defined colormaps with tools for creating new ones
  • Streamlines
  • Volume rendering of scalar fields
  • Line Integral Convolution (LIC) for vector fields
  • Section slices
  • Iso-surfaces
  • Display of DFBI bodies, forces, and couplings
  • Point, line, grid, and arbitrary probes
  • Scalar and vector warps for showing exaggerated deformations

Simulation Summaries

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can generate user-customizable HTML reports that detail the settings chosen for a simulation.

Solution History

During a simulation run, a solution history stores chosen simulation data on specific analysis surfaces. You can create solution history content for:
  • Boundaries
  • Selected derived parts: probes, streamlines, sections, iso-surfaces, and warp parts
  • Lagrangian/DEM phases
Simulation data can come from any field function (including user-defined) and is written at specified intervals. Intervals are defined by iteration, time-step, delta time, or a specific update event.
  • After the simulation ends, Solution Views allow you to interact with the recorded data
  • Interactions include advancing to any stored state instantaneously, and creating animations

Data Focus

Method for exploring and interrogating simulation data interactively in order to focus on critical engineering results.
  • XY plots provide the canvas for creating data focus selections
  • Heatmap XY plots style supports large amounts of data
  • Data focus selection filters connect to 3D scenes for interactive data exploration

Screenplay Animation

Screenplay is an integrated animation tool in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ by which you can create and export sophisticated animations.
  • Uses keyframe animation techniques
  • Includes ribbon-based editor with time cursor
  • Allows time-based control for a wide range of visualization properties

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Viewer

A license-free scene and plot viewer for three-dimensional Simcenter STAR-CCM+ visualization files. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Viewer allows you to:
  • Deliver sets of scenes and/or plots for post-processing review
  • Pan, roll, rotate, and zoom within a scene
  • Animate objects within a scene, or a series of scenes

A web-based version of this viewer is also available.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Virtual Reality

A license-free virtual reality client for Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that provides immersive exploration of simulation results.
  • Standalone and connected modes
  • Model manipulation using handheld controllers: pan, zoom, fly
  • Interactive massless particle emitters