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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.
Multiphase Flow
The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating multiphase fluid flow problems
Eulerian: Pipe Flow with Multi-Speed AMUSIG
The Adaptive Multiple Size-Group (AMUSIG) model predicts the size distribution of particles (droplets or bubbles) in a dispersed multiphase flow regime. This tutorial demonstrates how to use the AMUSIG model for predicting the size distribution of hexane droplets in water. The water is flowing up a vertical pipe in which a concentric orifice increases turbulence and so accelerates droplet breakup.
Visualizing the Results
The resulting plots show the development of the size-group diameters as the hexane droplets progress along the pipe. The scenes show the regions where droplet breakup and coalescence are occurring, and the distribution of the droplet mean diameter values in the flow.

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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
  - VOF: Gravity-Driven Flow
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a gravity-driven flow problem in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates two-dimensional gravity-driven compressible flow through a channel connecting two chambers.
  - VOF: Capillary Effects
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a capillary effects problem in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates two-dimensional forced flow of liquid glycerine through a nozzle and into an air-filled chamber at atmospheric pressure.
  - VOF: Cavitation
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a cavitation problem in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates a two-dimensional forced flow of water through a nozzle and into an air-filled chamber at atmospheric pressure.
  - VOF: Boiling
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a boiling problem in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates water boiling as it flows over a heated surface.
  - VOF: Melting-Solidification
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a melting and solidification analysis in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates the freezing of water in a pipe.
  - VOF: Tank Sloshing with Adaptive Meshing
    To reduce the computational time and resources required for VOF multiphase simulations, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides both Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) and Adaptive Time-Stepping. AMR provides adaptation in space and Adaptive Time-Stepping provides adaptation in time. Together, these models improve the resolution of the interface with minimum computational effort by adjusting the mesh and the time-step during the simulation. Additionally, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ offers the Implicit Multi-stepping VOF solver which can be used to decrease computational costs further by sub-stepping the volume fraction transport equation to obtain a sharp interface while allowing for a larger flow time-step.
  - Lagrangian: Particle-Laden Flow
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a simple Lagrangian multiphase analysis in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates a particle-laden flow of air through a partially blocked elbow duct.
  - Lagrangian: Solid Particle Erosion
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up an erosion modeling analysis in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates the erosion that is caused by solid particles in a liquid flow.
  - Eulerian: Hibiki’s Bubble Column
    This tutorial demonstrates how to model a Eulerian multiphase turbulent flow in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
  - Eulerian: Mixture Settling
    Settling tanks/separators are widely used in the industry for the purpose of separating a fluid mixture into its gaseous and liquid phases. Separator designs include horizontal and vertical configurations that account for different stages of the process, ranging from absorbing the momentum of incoming fluid to achieving the desired phase separation.
  - Eulerian: Bubble Formation in a Fluidized Bed
    This tutorial demonstrates how to model bubble formation in a fluidized bed in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates the injection of gas into a fluidized bed and monitors the formation and growth of the bubble.
  - Eulerian: Aeration Tank Degassing
    In industry, aeration tanks facilitate the exchange of gases in various processes within a liquid medium. Degassing is a procedure that actively removes gases from a liquid, such as eliminating excess gases that can build up during the biological treatment of organic pollutants, a process particularly common in waste-water treatment.
  - Eulerian: Wall Boiling
    This tutorial validates the wall boiling model in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ against experimental void and temperature data for high-pressure forced convective boiling.
  - Eulerian: Conjugate Heat Transfer Wall Boiling
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a conjugate heat transfer wall boiling analysis in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates a nuclear fuel pin that is cooled using subcooled boiling under flow conditions typical in the first meter of a 3.7-m long BWR6 reactor channel.
  - Eulerian Multiple Flow Regimes: Pressurized Water Reactor
    This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Multiple Flow Regimes model in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to simulate the counter-current air-water flow in a pressurized water reactor.
  - Eulerian: Pipe Flow with Multi-Speed AMUSIG
    The Adaptive Multiple Size-Group (AMUSIG) model predicts the size distribution of particles (droplets or bubbles) in a dispersed multiphase flow regime. This tutorial demonstrates how to use the AMUSIG model for predicting the size distribution of hexane droplets in water. The water is flowing up a vertical pipe in which a concentric orifice increases turbulence and so accelerates droplet breakup.
    - Prerequisites
      The instructions in the Eulerian: Pipe Flow with Multi-Speed AMUSIG tutorial assume that you are already familiar with certain techniques in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
    - Importing the Mesh and Naming the Simulation
      A 2D axisymmetric mesh has been prepared for this analysis. Launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+, import the mesh, and save the simulation.
    - Selecting the Physics Models
      Set up a Eulerian Multiphase simulation. The geometry is axisymmetric and the flow is turbulent due to the restriction in the pipe. Gravity is included to model the buoyancy of the hexane droplets as they rise up the vertical pipe.
    - Creating Phases and Selecting Phase Models
      Here you create two phases and define the physics models for each. The continuous phase is water and the dispersed phase is hexane. The water and hexane phases are both modeled as liquid with constant density. The Adaptive Multiple Size-Group (AMUSIG) model is used to predict the size distribution of hexane droplets in the flow.
    - Defining the Phase Interactions
      Using the Multiphase Interaction model, you define the interaction between the continuous water phase and the dispersed hexane phase. Phase interaction models account for droplet breakup and coalescence.
    - Setting Initial Conditions and Reference Values
      The simulation requires initial conditions and reference values for gravity. The initial hexane droplet size distribution is uniform within a specified diameter range and zero outside the range.
    - Setting Boundary Conditions
      The boundaries that represent the pipe are a wall (the pipe exterior wall) and an axis of symmetry (the center of the pipe). One end of the pipe is a velocity inlet, and the other end of the pipe is a pressure outlet.
    - Setting Solver Parameters and Stopping Criteria
      The Multiple Size-Group solver default under-relaxation settings give reliable convergence in one-speed cases. However, cases that have a high particle concentration, or multi-speed cases where each size-group can travel in a different direction, require additional relaxation. In this simulation, values of 0.7 and 0.5 respectively are appropriate.
    - Plotting the Droplet Diameter
      To monitor the progress of the simulation, you create plots of droplet diameter.
    - Visualizing the Solution
      To visualize the breakup rate and the coalescence rate of the hexane droplets, and the Sauter mean diameter of the droplets, you create scalar scenes. The pipe width (Y axis) is scaled by a factor of 2 in order to provide a better view of the results.
    - Running the Simulation
      Preparation of the simulation is now complete, and you can run the simulation.
    - Visualizing the Results
      The resulting plots show the development of the size-group diameters as the hexane droplets progress along the pipe. The scenes show the regions where droplet breakup and coalescence are occurring, and the distribution of the droplet mean diameter values in the flow.
    - Plotting the Cumulative Size Distribution
      You extract the droplet size distribution data for the fluid region and then use the extracted data in a cumulative distribution plot.
    - Summary
      This tutorial demonstrated how to model droplet size distribution with the Adaptive Multiple Size-Group (AMUSIG) model in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
  - Eulerian: Suspension Rheology
    This tutorial demonstrates how to set up a Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulation that models the flow of a non-Newtonian concentrated suspension.
  - Fluid Film: Liquid Film Flow
    This tutorial demonstrates how to use the fluid film modeling capability of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It simulates the progress of a rectangular film of water flowing down the wall of a three-dimensional duct.
  - Fluid Film: Binary Liquid Film Flow with Evaporation and Edge Stripping
    This tutorial demonstrates how to use the fluid film modeling capability of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to set up a multi-component film scenario with evaporation and edge stripping. It simulates the progress of a film mixture of water and ethylene glycol flowing down a partially heated wall.
  - Fluid Film - VOF: Rivulets on an Inclined Plane
    Situations occur where a thin film of liquid forms on a solid surface, for example, rainwater on the windshield of a car. This film can flow and accumulate, and gradually grow into a "thick" film, or a pool of liquid that can no longer be described as a fluid film. These situations are multi-scale problems which, if resolved on all scales (using the VOF multiphase model), would require significant computer resources.
  - Dispersed Multiphase: Airfoil Icing
    When aircraft pass through air containing supercooled liquid water droplets, it is possible for the droplets to impact the aircraft surface and form layers of ice. Ice formation on an aircraft wing changes the aerodynamic properties of the wing, and leads to loss of lift, increase in drag, and a change in pressure distribution. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a technique for simulating the formation of ice on airfoils. This technique relies on the Dispersed Multiphase model to represent the liquid droplets in the air surrounding the airfoil.
  - Hybrid Multiphase: Fountain
    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+ modeling, the term hybrid multiphase refers to modeling multiple flow regimes of a phase material using a combination of several different multiphase models. This modeling capability widens the range of real life multiphase flows that you can simulate.
  - Mixture Multiphase with Large Scale Interfaces: Gear Lubrication
    The Mixture Multiphase (MMP) model is suitable for modeling dispersed multiphase mixtures, where the mixture of phases is represented by weighted physical properties. A single set of conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy is solved for the mixture together with transport equations for phase volume fractions.
  - Viscous Multiphase: Two-Layer Pipe Co-Extrusion
  - Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH): Gearbox Lubrication
    Gear mechanisms require adequate lubrication for long-term optimum performance and efficiency. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model with which you can simulate the flow of lubricant around the parts of a gear mechanism and determine whether adjustments are necessary.
- 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.

Visualizing the Results

The resulting plots show the development of the size-group diameters as the hexane droplets progress along the pipe. The scenes show the regions where droplet breakup and coalescence are occurring, and the distribution of the droplet mean diameter values in the flow.

If necessary, adjust the scene to zoom in on the area that you want to view.

Group Diameters Plot

In this plot, some coalescence—especially for large diameters—is observed upstream of the restriction followed by significant breakup as the droplets pass through the region of intense turbulence downstream. Beyond the turbulent region, droplet coalescence resumes. The droplet size distribution can be inferred from the spacing of the five size-group diameters. The line that is plotted for each group represents the mean volume fraction of that group, so the five lines that are shown in the plot can also be read as 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% cumulative volume fractions of hexane.

Mean Diameters Plot

In the Mean Diameters plot, the differences between diameters indicate polydispersity of the size distribution.

Breakup Rate Scene

Here, you can see a high breakup rate in a localized region of turbulence downstream of the restriction, but practically zero breakup elsewhere.

Coalescence Rate Scene

This scene shows a strong peak in the coalescence rate in the area downstream of the region of intense turbulence (where most of the droplet breakup occurs). This increase corresponds to the increased population of smaller droplets.

Sauter Mean Diameter Scene

The Sauter Mean Diameter of the droplets reduces by half as they pass through the turbulent region of the flow.