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Pre-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solves physics problems on a computational mesh. To provide this mesh, you first define geometry using internal or external tools, and then create a mesh pipeline whose operations generate the mesh in repeatable steps.
3D-CAD
3D-CAD is a feature-based parametric modeler within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to build geometries from scratch. The geometries that you create with 3D-CAD are stored as 3D-CAD models, which you can then convert to geometry parts for integration with the meshing and simulation process.
3D-CAD Geometry Modeling
Bodies represent the individual objects that make up the 3D-CAD model. Imported CAD geometry appears as bodies in 3D-CAD, and you can also create your own bodies directly using 3D-CAD features.
Working with Bodies
In 3D-CAD, a body is a single object, formed from a series of operations and features.
Performing Boolean Operations
Imprinting Groups of Bodies

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Pre-Processing
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ solves physics problems on a computational mesh. To provide this mesh, you first define geometry using internal or external tools, and then create a mesh pipeline whose operations generate the mesh in repeatable steps.
- 3D-CAD
  3D-CAD is a feature-based parametric modeler within Simcenter STAR-CCM+ that allows you to build geometries from scratch. The geometries that you create with 3D-CAD are stored as 3D-CAD models, which you can then convert to geometry parts for integration with the meshing and simulation process.
  - 3D-CAD Environment
    The 3D-CAD environment provides you with a feature tree from which you can activate all steps for creating and modifying geometry, and a 3D-CAD View scene in which you interact with the geometry. Many of the same feature actions are available for selection in the 3D-CAD View scene.
  - Sketches in 3D-CAD
    3D-CAD supports two types of sketch—2D sketches that are created on a planar surface and 3D sketches that are built from points located anywhere in geometric space. You can use both types of sketch in 3D geometry operations such as extrude, revolve, or sweep.
  - 3D-CAD Geometry Modeling
    Bodies represent the individual objects that make up the 3D-CAD model. Imported CAD geometry appears as bodies in 3D-CAD, and you can also create your own bodies directly using 3D-CAD features.
    - Working with Bodies
      In 3D-CAD, a body is a single object, formed from a series of operations and features.
      - Overview of Bodies in 3D CAD
      - Creating Sheet Bodies from Solid Bodies
      - Sewing Sheet Bodies Together
        When the free edge of a sheet body coincides with the free edge of an adjacent sheet body, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can sew the edges together to form a single sheet body. Similarly, if multiple edges on the same sheet body overlap, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can merge them with the Sew function.
      - Shelling a Body
        The Shell tool converts a solid body into a thin-walled, hollow, solid body.
      - Creating Bounding Bodies
        In 3D-CAD, you can simplify a complex geometry by replacing detailed bodies with bounding bodies. For example, on a circuit board you can create bounding bodies to replace detailed parts such as the capacitors, resistors or other components.
      - Converting Mesh Data to CAD
        In many cases, geometric information is provided in the form of mesh data. To make changes to the mesh data in Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you first convert the data into a precise CAD geometry.
      - Thickening a Body or a Face
        Use the thicken operation to create a solid body by either thickening a sheet body by a specified amount, or by thickening a specific face on a solid body to create a separate solid body.
      - Transforming a Body
        In 3D-CAD, you can perform transformations on both BRep and facet bodies. Typical transformations include translations, rotations, reflections, scaling, and coordinate system transforms.
      - Performing Boolean Operations
        Imprinting Bodies
        The imprint operation is carried out between two or more bodies that are overlapping or have coincident faces.
        Imprinting Groups of Bodies
        Slicing a Body
        Use the slicing operation to split an existing body into two or more distinct bodies.
        Slicing Bodies Reference
        The Slice Bodies dialog contains the following options:
      - Imprinting Sketches Onto Bodies and Faces
        You can split a surface of a face or body by imprinting a 2D or 3D sketch onto it. You can perform the sketch imprint on a CAD body or face as well as a faceted body or face.
      - Working with Linear Patterns
        The linear pattern tool is used to reproduce a series of identical bodies, from seed bodies, which follow a regular formation along straight lines.
      - Working with Circular Patterns
        The circular pattern tool is used to reproduce a series of identical bodies, from seed bodies which follow a regular formation around a circle.
      - Creating Fillets
        A fillet is a feature that rounds-off the edge, or corner, of a body by replacing it with a smooth curve of constant or variable radius.
      - What Is a Chamfer?
        A chamfer is a feature that makes a straight cut across the corner of a body, resulting in a flat surface.
      - Multi-Body Instancing
        In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can import CAD models that include multiple instances of the same body. You can apply changes to all instances at the same time by modifying a single instance, which acts as a reference to all other instances.
    - Creating Bodies From Profiles
      In 3D-CAD, you create bodies by extruding, revolving, lofting, or sweeping profiles. Once a body is created, you add or remove material from it.
    - Working with Reference Geometry in 3D-CAD
      Reference geometry helps you construct models in 3D-CAD. You can also use reference geometry in downstream applications, such as FEA.
    - Working with Faces, Edges, and Vertices
      In 3D-CAD, vertices define edges, edges, define faces, and faces define bodies. These entities define the surfaces and curves in a geometry part, and the boundaries within a region.
    - Creating and Visualizing Contacts
      A contact defines the connection between two surfaces. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to define contacts directly in 3D-CAD. Face contacts in the 3D-CAD model become contacts between part surfaces, and, ultimately, can form interfaces in the physics regions.
    - Selecting Hidden and Obscured Objects in 3D-CAD
      Use the depth selector to view and select objects which are hidden or otherwise obscured by other objects in the graphics window.
    - The Turbo Slicing Tool
      In turbomachinery simulations, the repeat periodic nature of the geometry allows you to model flow through a single blade passage only. To create the fluid volume for a single blade passage, you must cut the blade passage out of the whole domain volume using surfaces that pass between adjacent blades. The Turbo Slicing tool computes these neutral surfaces for you.
  - Freeform Surface Modeling
    Freeform surface modeling is a modeling technique in 3D-CAD that allows you to deform existing surfaces for desired shapes.
  - Importing and Exporting Geometry
  - Working with 3D-CAD Models
  - Geometry Repair and Preparation
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a suite of tools in 3D-CAD that helps you to prepare your CAD geometry so that it is suitable for meshing. CAD that is designed for manufacture can have gaps or inaccuracies that cause problems when trying to generate a watertight mesh.
  - Design Parameters
    Design parameters allow Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to update geometry designs during design exploration studies. Although you define them within the 3D-CAD environment, they are exposed outside 3D-CAD for manual or automatic update.
- Modeling Geometry
  This part of the User Guide describes how to use 3D-CAD, the parametric solid modeler available within Simcenter STAR-CCM+. It also describes the features and tools available for further preparation of the geometry model and its surfaces.
- The Surface Repair Tool
  The Surface Repair tool diagnoses errors in, and provides repair tools for, tessellated surfaces and part curves. The same tool allows you to reorganize discretized geometry by searching for face-based features and attributes then assigning the results to new or existing part surfaces or curves.
- Defining the Regions Layout
  An essential part of the process in setting up your simulation is to define the relationship between geometry parts and regions, boundaries, and interfaces.
- Meshing
  A mesh is a discretized representation of a geometric domain. This domain can include real-world geometry, its content, and its surrounding environment.

Imprinting Groups of Bodies

In 3D-CAD, you can define and imprint two groups of bodies together rather than imprinting all bodies together. Imprinting all bodies together is computationally expensive, especially if you have hundreds of bodies, and in some cases is unnecessary. For example, if you want to imprint multiple bodies onto a single body, such as in electronics cooling, it is more efficient to perform only the imprint that is required.

An example workflow is provided below:

In the Imprint Bodies panel, set Imprint Option to Between two groups of bodies.

Two group boxes appear.
To define the first group of bodies, click inside the group box labelled First Group and select the select the printed circuit board from the 3D-CAD View scene.

The selection is highlighted in green in the 3D-CAD View scene.
To define the second group of bodies, click inside the group box labelled Second Group and select the select the desired components.
There are two recommended methods to select a group of bodies:
- Using the 3D-CAD feature tree:
  1. Click the 3D-CAD tab to switch to the 3D-CAD feature tree.
  2. Expand the Bodies node and multi-select the bodies that you want to include in the group.
  3. Click the Edit tab to return to the Imprint Bodies panel.
- Using the Rubberband Select tool:
  1. In the 3D-CAD View scene, hide the printed circuit board. See Hiding Bodies.
  2. Set the Selection Filter to only select Volumes. See Filtering the Selections.
  3. Use the Rubberband Select tool and drag a box around the bodies that you want to include in the group. See Selecting in a Rubberband.
The selections are highlighted in red in the 3D-CAD View scene.
Set the imprint options. See Imprint Bodies Panel.
Click OK to perform the imprint.
Whilst performing the imprint operation new part contacts are created between the corresponding bodies.