Parameterizing the Flowpath

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a parameterization object in which you can define the coordinate system and surfaces by which the domain is normalized.

Using the cylindrical coordinate system and the chosen surfaces, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ computes arclengths from the hub to the shroud and from the inlet to the outlet. After computing the parameterization, several fields functions are available for you to use as normalized distances within the domain.
To create the cylindrical coordinate system:
  1. Activate Geometry Scene 1.
  2. Right-click the Tools > Coordinate Systems > Laboratory > Local Coordinate Systems node and select New > Cylindrical.
  3. In the Edit dialog, enter the following properties:
    Axis Definition Value
    Origin [0.0,0.0,0.0]
    Radial Direction [-1.0,0.0,0.0]
    Tangential Direction [0.0,-1.0,0.0]
  4. Click Renormalize, then Create and Close.
To create the parameterization:
  1. Right-click the Tools > Parameterization node and select New > Axisymmetric.
    A new node appears under the Parameterizations node called Axisymmetric 1 along with a new transform under the Transform node called Embedding: Axisymmetric 1 (Conformal). This transform allows you to create 2D projections from 3D isosurfaces along the turbines.

  2. Select the Axisymmetric 1 node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Settings
    Axisymmetric 1 Cylindrical coordinate system Laboratory > Cylindrical 1
    Geometry Parts > Row 01 and Row 02
    Meridional Min Row 01 > Surfaces > 00 - Inlet
    Max Row 02 > Surfaces > 01 - Outlet
    Interfaces Row 01 > Surfaces > 01 - Outlet and Row 02 > Surfaces > 00 - Inlet
    Spanwise Min Row 01 > Surfaces > Hub and Row 02 > Surfaces > Hub
    Max Row 01 > Surfaces > Shroud and Row 02 > Surfaces > Shroud
    Circumferential Min Row 01 > Surfaces > 02 - Periodic 1 and Row 02 > Surfaces > 02 - Periodic 1
    Max Row 01 > Surfaces > 02 - Periodic 2 and Row 02 > Surfaces > 02 - Periodic 2
To visualize the parameterization:
  1. Right-click the Scenes node, and select New > Scalar.
  2. Rename Scalar Scene 1 to Scalar: Parameterization
  3. Select the Scalar: Parameterization > Scalar 1 > Parts node and set Parts to Parts > Row 01 and Row 02.
  4. Select the Scalar 1 > Scalar Field node and set Function to Axisymmetric 1 > Axisymmetrix 1 M Normalized.
  5. In the Vis toolbar, click (Save-Restore-Select Views) and select Restore View > View 1.
    The resulting scene is displayed as follows:

    The scene shows the normalized parameterization in the meridional direction (the arclength from stage inlet to stage outlet). As you can see, the Axisymmetric M Normalized value reflects the row number of each blade, hence the normalized distance at the outlet of Row 01 is 1, and at the outlet to Row 02 is 2.
  6. Now, set Function to Axisymmetric 1 > Axisymmetric 1 S Normalized.
  7. In the Vis toolbar, click (Save-Restore-Select Views) and select Views > +Y > Up +X.
    The resulting scene is displayed as follows:

    The scene shows the normalization distance in the spanwise direction (the distance between hub and shroud). As you can see, the parameterization results in a distance of zero at the hub and one at the shroud.