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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.
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.

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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.
        Thicken Panel
      - 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 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.

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.

Thickening a sheet body converts the sheet body into a solid body. Thickening faces on a solid body creates additional solid bodies for each of the selected faces. You can thicken multiple bodies in a single operation.

To thicken a body:

Choose what type of entity you want to thicken:
- To thicken a sheet body, in the 3D-CAD View scene, right-click the sheet body and select Body > Thicken.
- To thicken a face on a solid body, in the 3D-CAD View scene, right-click the face on the solid body and select Face > Thicken.
Set the parameters for the thicken operation. See Thicken Sheet Body Panel.
To set the thickness:
- In the Thicken panel, set the Thickness.
- In the 3D-CAD View window, click and drag the arrow to change the Thickness parameter.
If you define the Thickness using a design parameter the arrow is hidden in the scene.

A preview of the operation is displayed in the graphics window. In the following example, the selected sheet body is highlighted in green.
Click OK.

A ThickenSheetBodies feature is added to the feature tree.