Extracting the Optimized Channel Surface

You extract the flow channel by creating an isosurface based on the inverted material indicator.

To extract the closed surface, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ collects all cells whose material indicator value is lower than the one you specify. In order to obtain the fluid material shape as an isosurface (as opposed to the solid material shape), you must use the inverse of the material indicator. Then, you extract this isosurface and create a geometry part from it.

To extract the optimized channel surface:

  1. Create a field function to calculate the inverse of the material indicator:
    1. Right-click Tools > Field Functions and select New > Scalar.
    2. Rename the field function to TO Surface.
    3. Select the TO Surface node and set the following properties:
      PropertySetting
      Function NameTOSurface
      Definition1-${MaterialIndicator}
  2. Right-click the Derived Parts node and select New > Isosurface.
  3. In the Create Isosurface dialog:
    1. Set Parts to Topology Optimization Domain, without the boundaries.


    2. Set Scalar to TO Surface.
    3. Set Extraction Mode to Closed.
    4. Set Isovalue to 0.5.
    5. Click Create, then close.
  4. Select the Derived Parts > Isosurface node and rename it to TO channel.
  5. Right-click the TO Channel node and select Extract Geometry Part.
    A TO Channel node is created under Geometry > Parts.
  6. Visualize the extracted surface:
    1. Expand the Scenes node and open the Geometry scene.
    2. In the Scene/Plot tab, select the Geometry > Surface 1 node and set Representation to Geometry.
    3. Select the Surface 1 > Parts node and set Parts to Parts > TO Channel > with all surfaces.


    4. Click OK.


  7. Save the simulation.