Parameterizing the Coordinates

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to specfiy the coordinates of certain parts, such as closures and refinements, using parameters. When importing a new duct with a different geometry or orientation into the previous simulation templates, the inflow volume, test chamber, refinements, and closures may not enclose the duct inlets or outlets. To resolve this, define the location and orientation of the closures and refinements using parameters.

  1. Create a new simulation using the simulation template you saved in part two of this tutorial:
    1. Select File > New....
    2. In the Create a File dialog, click Select....
    3. Navigate to your working directory and select wrappedHVACduct_template.simt.
    4. Click Open, and then OK.
  2. Save the simulation as parameterizedHVACduct.sim.
  3. To define the orientation of the XY plane of the duct center, create a vector parameter:
    1. Right-click the Automation > Parameters node and select New > Vector.
    2. Rename the Parameters > Vector node to DuctCenterXYPlane.
  4. Create three additional vector parameters with the following names:
    • DuctCenterXAxisInput
    • VentCenterXYPlane
    • VentCenterXAxisInput


  5. Multi-select the four vector parameters and drag them under the Parameters > CoordinateSystems parameter group.
Assign the parameters to the local coordinate systems.
  1. Expand the Tools > Coordinate Systems > Laboratory > Local Coordinate Systems node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Value
    DuctCenter X Axis Input $$DuctCenterXAxisInput
    Vector on X-Y Plane Input $$DuctCenterXYPlane
    Origin $$DuctCenterOrigin
    VentCenter X Axis Input $$VentCenterXAxisInput
    Vector on X-Y Plane Input $$VentCenterXYPlane
    Origin $$VentCenterOrigin
    NoteAs the parameters have values set to zero, when setting the X Axis Input and the Vector on X-Y Plane Input properties for the DuctCenter and VentCenter, warnings are issued to the output window. You assign the parameter values after importing the geometry at a later step, hence ignore these warnings.
  2. Save the simulation.