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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.
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.
Using Transforms
Displayers use transforms to modify the default position, orientation, or size of the part in the displayer.
How Transforms Work with Coordinate Systems
Transforms have units associated with each position property and axis property depending on the selected coordinate system.

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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.
  - Scenes
    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can visualize the results of your simulation using scenes. Scenes, which are stored within the Scenes node, are compositions of one or more displayers that render solution data on the parts you choose.
  - Visualization Workflow
    Scenes are the central objects that you use for visualizing results in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. In general, scenes are composed of one or more displayers to which you assign parts or regions for rendering. Each displayer is responsible for rendering solution data, geometry surfaces, or mesh surfaces according to your selections.
  - Advanced Rendering
    Advanced rendering provides realistic visual presentation at an economic computational cost through ray tracing. Ray tracing simulates the travel of light as it passes through the domain and comes into contact with objects in that domain.
  - Screenplay Animation
    Screenplay is an integrated animation tool in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to tell a story about figures of merit in your simulations. The underlying technology used in Screenplay is known as keyframe animation.
  - Annotations
    Annotations are objects that you add to scenes in order to provide extra information or visualization within the same window. For example, you can show the current time-step in a scalar scene or include a numerical value from a report. Possible annotations include report values, 2D or 3D images, and embedded versions of other scenes.
  - Using Transforms
    Displayers use transforms to modify the default position, orientation, or size of the part in the displayer.
    - How Transforms Work with Coordinate Systems
      Transforms have units associated with each position property and axis property depending on the selected coordinate system.
    - Using Automatically Created Transforms
      In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, there are three types of automatically created transforms:
    - Using a Meridional Projection Transform
      This transform is a simple projection of the points of the part into the (z,r) plane. It requires only two vectors in its properties: Rotation Origin and Rotation Axis.
    - Working with Transforms
      You can create transforms and use them to project visual data in a variety of ways.
    - Transform Properties Reference
      These properties reflect the types of boundaries you created.
    - Pop-Up Menu of the Transforms Manager
      These pop-up menu items are available when you right-click the Transforms manager node.
  - Obtaining Render Performance Data for a Scene
    You can view a report that provides rendering statistics for a scene that is open in the Graphics window.
  - Visualization Reference
    Visualization tools in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ include a wide range of objects in the UI with which you can control the appearance, scope, and type of data in the display. The controls, documented in the following sections, include a comprehensive set of properties as well as convenient right-click actions.
- 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.
- 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.

How Transforms Work with Coordinate Systems

Transforms have units associated with each position property and axis property depending on the selected coordinate system.

The following example shows a simple transform with its properties.

This transform has three properties whose specification and units depend on the chosen coordinate system: Rotation Origin, Rotation Axis, and Translation. Each of these properties is represented as a coordinate in the specified coordinate system, but the interpretation of the components depends on the type of property:

The Rotation Origin property specifies a position in the chosen coordinate system which defines the rotation origin relative to the referencing coordinate system origin. In the above example, the position is [0.0, 5.0, 0.0] m, m, m, indicating the three components each have units of meters.
The Rotation Axis property is a vector, but is also represented as a position in the chosen coordinate system. It is the vector formed from the origin of the chosen coordinate system to the specified position in that coordinate system.
The Translation property is a vector, and shifts the Cartesian coordinates of the part in the display of the Graphics window relative to the origin of the chosen coordinate system.

When the coordinate system is changed, each property that depends on the coordinate system has its components recalculated with the units pertaining to that system. Consider the following example of a cylindrical coordinate system.

The Cylindrical 2 coordinate system has the Laboratory coordinate system as its reference system. The Origin property reads 1.0,1.0,1.0 because that is the position of the Cylindrical 2 coordinate system relative to the origin of the Laboratory coordinate system. Changing the Coordinate System property of Simple Transform 1 to Cylindrical 2 results in a change of its properties as shown in the following screenshot.

The components of coordinate system-dependent properties are recomputed to reflect the appropriate units for the cylindrical coordinate system.

In this example, the position of Simple Transform 1 has shifted relative to the Laboratory coordinate system. This shift is because the transform now uses the Cylindrical 2 coordinate system for its origin, and the Cylindrical 2 coordinate system is positioned at 1, 1, 1 relative to the Laboratory coordinate system.