Usability: Working with Layout Views

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, layout views allow you to define and store arrangements of scenes and plots in the graphics window. By this method you can group one set of plots for viewing during runtime, and another set for post-processing—as well as any other grouping you find appropriate.

This tutorial demonstrates how to apply layout views for plots and scenes in an existing tutorial, Dispersed Multiphase: Airfoil Icing. Additionally, you open the airfoil case for the tutorial, Transonic Flow: RAE2822 Airfoil, and add one of its plots to the runtime layout.

To prepare for this tutorial:

  1. From the tutorials bundle, copy the following files to your working directory:
    • multiphaseFlow\DispersedMultiphaseAirfoilIcing_final.sim
    • compressibleFlow\TransonicFlowRAE2822Airfoil_final.sim

    See Downloading the Tutorial Files from the Support Center Portal.

  2. Open DispersedMultiphaseAirfoilIcing_final.sim and save it as AirfoilLayoutViews.sim.
Define a layout for runtime monitoring.
  1. Right-click the Layout Views node and select New Layout View > N Top, M Bottom.
  2. In the N Top, M Bottom dialog, enter 2 for the top row and 2 for the bottom row for now—in the next exercise you learn how to change this configuration manually. Click OK.
  3. Rename the Layout View node, Runtime Monitoring.
  4. Expand the Plots node, then drag and drop existing plots onto the panes as follows:
    1. Residuals: top left
    2. Film Surface Monitor Plot: bottom left
    3. Film Thickness Monitor Plot: bottom right
  5. To have only the Residuals plot appear in the top row, right-click the top right pane and select Remove.


  6. Right-click the bottom right pane and select Layout > Add Right.


  7. Drag and drop the Film Volume Monitor Plot node into the new pane.
  8. Refine the layout view by right-clicking in any of the panes and selecting Layout > Redistribute Space Evenly.


  9. To create a second layout for post-processing scenes:
    1. Right-click the Layout Views node and select New Layout View > Custom Grid.
    2. In the Custom Grid dialog, accept the defaults and click OK.
    3. Rename the Layout View node, Post-Process Analysis.
  10. To synchronize views between objects in similar scenes, link the scenes as follows:
    1. Within the Scenes node, select the following scenes:
      • Impingement Rate
      • Morpher Displacement
      • Total Solid Film Thickness Increment
    2. Right-click and select Linked View.
  11. In the layout view, assign the scenes to the panes as follows:
    1. Right-click the top left pane and select Assign/Replace With. In the object selector, select Scenes > DMP Volume Fraction.
    2. Using the same technique, assign the Impingement Rate scene to the top right.
    3. Double-click the bottom left pane and select the Morpher Displacement scene in the object selector.
    4. Using the same technique, assign the Total Solid Film Thickness Increment scene to the bottom right.
You can improve the appearance of the scenes in the layout view by adjusting the color scheme, titles, and views:
  1. To improve the appearance of the scenes:
    1. In the Post-Process Analysis layout view, make the DMP Volume Fraction scene display (upper left pane) active.
    2. Flip the view in the scene. Click (Save-Restore-Select Views) and select Views > -Z > Up + Y.
    3. In the Scene/Plot tab, select the Scalar 1 > Color Bar node.
    4. Change the Color Map to green-mauve and activate Reverse. This choice highlights the region of low DMP volume fraction behind the airfoil tip.
    5. Change Title Height to 0.07.
    6. Change Label Height to 0.06.
    7. Set Label Format to %-#3.2g.
    8. Set Width to 0.5.
    9. In the layout view, drag the color bar toward the right edge of the DMP Volume Fraction scene display until it automatically switches to the vertical orientation.
    10. Right-click the Color Bar node and select Copy.
    11. Switch to the Simulation tab. In each of the other scalar and vector scenes, right-click the Color Bar node in the scalar or vector displayer and select Paste.
    12. Make the Morpher Displacement scene active in the Post-Process Analysis layout view.
    13. In the Scene/Plot panel, select the Vector 1 > Color Bar node and set Color Map to blue-red balanced. Also deactivate Reverse.
    14. When scalar titles are too long, further adjustment may be needed. Make the Impingement Rate scene active.
    15. In the Scene/Plot tab, select the Scalar 1 > Color Bar node and set Title Height to 0.06.
    16. In each scene, zoom, pan, and rotate until you obtain views similar to those shown in the following image.


  2. Take a closer look at the scenes:
    1. Right-click in a pane and select Layout > Maximize View.
    2. Examine the scene by zooming and panning.
    3. Right-click in the pane and select Layout > Restore View.
  3. To save an image file of the layout with all its scenes:
    1. Right-click on one of the panes and select Layout > Hardcopy Layout....
    2. In the Save To File dialog set X Resolution to 1920, Y Resolution to 1080, and File Name to Post-Process Analysis Layout.
    3. Click Save.
An additional feature of layouts is that they allow you to monitor multiple running simulations in one visual display. Here, you add the residual plot from another simulation alongside the existing residual plot from the airfoil icing simulation.
  1. To add another residual plot:
    1. Make the Runtime Monitoring layout view active.
    2. Right-click in the top pane and select Layout > Add Right.
    3. Open TransonicFlowRAE2822Airfoil_final.sim.
    4. Expand the Plots node and drag the Residuals plot into the top right pane of the AirfoilLayoutViews - Runtime Monitoring layout view.


  2. Activate the Simulation tab for AirfoilLayoutViews.
  3. Save and close AirfoilLayoutViews.sim.
  4. Close TransonicFlowRAE2822Airfoil_final.sim without saving.