Reference Frames

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you define the motion of a region relative to a specified reference frame. By default, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a stationary reference frame (the Laboratory reference frame).

Ready-only reference frames are also added when particular types of motion are added to the Motions manager.

For more information on all available properties, refer to the section, Reference Frames Reference.

Lab Reference Frame

The Lab Reference Frame node is the default stationary reference frame in a Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulation.

This frame is the one type of reference frame present in the reference frames manager when a simulation is created, and is the default selection for all regions in the simulation. It cannot be deleted, and more reference frames of this type cannot be created.

Read-Only Rotating Reference Frame

A read-only Rotating reference frame is created automatically for each of the following objects that you add to the simulation:

The label of the read-only Rotating reference frame includes the name of the object with which it was created.

If you rename the related object, the label of the Rotating reference frame changes accordingly.

User-Defined Rotating Reference Frame

A user-defined rotating reference frame is a rotating frame of reference that can be applied to regions to generate a constant grid flux, or used in post-processing as an alternative frame of reference for certain quantities. Add this type of frame using the pop-up menu of the Reference Frames node, and define it using its properties. For more information, see Reference Frames Reference.

User-defined rotating reference frames can have further relative rotating frames defined within them. This creates a nested hierarchy of rotating reference frames, where child frames are defined relative to the parent frame.

Read-Only Rotating and Translating Reference Frame

A read-only Rotating and Translating reference frame is created automatically for each of the following objects that you add to the simulation:

The label of the read-only Rotating and Translating reference frame includes the name of the object with which it was created.

If you rename the related object, the label of the Rotating and Translating reference frame changes accordingly.

User-Defined Rotating and Translating Reference Frame

A user-defined rotating and translating reference frame is a moving frame of reference that can be applied to regions to generate a constant grid flux, or used in post-processing as an alternative frame of reference for certain quantities. It has inputs for both rotation and translation.

Add this type of reference frame using the pop-up menu of the Reference Frames manager node, and define it using its properties. For more information, see Reference Frames Reference.

User-defined rotating and translating reference frames can have further relative rotating frames defined within them. This creates a nested hierarchy of reference frames, where child frames are defined relative to the parent frame. The child reference frames have rotation only.

Relative Reference Frame

Relative reference frames are rotating reference frames defined as children of other reference frames. They are contained within the Relative Reference Frames manager node, which is a child of both Rotating and Rotating and Translating reference frames. You add a new relative reference frame by using the right-click menu of the Relative Reference Frames manager node.

Relative reference frame nodes can be renamed, copied, and deleted as required. Nodes of relative reference frames which are assigned to the Motion Specification of regions cannot be deleted. They must be unassigned before the option to delete becomes available.