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Tutorials
Tutorials show you how to use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for various applications in a step-by-step format with recommendations for setup, initialization and steps of the solution process specific to the application. Macro and simulation files are available for download for a large proportion of cases.
Design Exploration
The tutorials in this set illustrate various features for running design exploration studies in Design Manager.
Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Mesh Morphing for Y-Junction Manifold
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the adjoint solution for shape optimization as a method for finding modified designs to improve performance and efficiency.

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Tutorials
Tutorials show you how to use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for various applications in a step-by-step format with recommendations for setup, initialization and steps of the solution process specific to the application. Macro and simulation files are available for download for a large proportion of cases.
- Using Tutorial Macros and Files
  Macros, input files, and final simulation files for a range of tutorials are provided as an optional download package on the Support Center website. These macros and final simulation files are provided as an aid to the written tutorials, so that you can check your final results against the downloaded files, or against a simulation that is built and run using the macros.
- Introduction
  Welcome to the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ introductory tutorial. In this tutorial, you explore the important concepts and workflow. Complete this tutorial before attempting any others.
- Foundation Tutorials
  The foundation tutorials showcase the major features of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ in a series of short tutorials.
- Geometry
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for creating and working with parts and 3D-CAD.
- Mesh
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for building CFD meshes.
- Incompressible Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for incompressible fluid flows as well as porosity and solution recording
- Compressible Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for compressible fluid flows as well as harmonic balance.
- Heat Transfer and Radiation
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for heat transfer, radiation, and thermal comfort.
- Multiphase Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating multiphase fluid flow problems
- Discrete Element Method
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating Discrete Element Method problems
- Motion
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for simulating problems with moving geometries and meshes, dynamic fluid body interaction, and rigid body motion:
- Reacting Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating reacting flows such as combustion.
- Solid Stress
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for computing deformation, strain, and stresses in solid regions. They also show how such computations can be coupled to the fluid behavior in an analysis of fluid-structure interaction.
- Aeroacoustics
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for solving aeroacoustic simulations.
- Electromagnetism
  The following tutorials illustrate features for solving problems that involve electromagnetic fields.
- Electrochemistry
  The following tutorial demonstrates chemical reactions induced by an electrical current.
- Battery
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for setting up a battery model:
- Automation
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automation and macro features.
- Design Exploration
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various features for running design exploration studies in Design Manager.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Mesh Sensitivity for Dual Element Wing
    A typical application of an adjoint flow analysis is to use the computed gradients in a shape optimization study with respect to a chosen cost function. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, simulation operations allow you to construct an automated pipeline for optimization studies without any need for Java macros.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Sensitivity for S-Bend
    An adjoint shape optimization study requires a repeated sequence of steps in which the mesh is deformed according to a deformation field derived from the surface sensitivity. Simulation operations include specific steps that allow you to automate this workflow without requiring Java macros.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Mesh Morphing for Y-Junction Manifold
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the adjoint solution for shape optimization as a method for finding modified designs to improve performance and efficiency.
    - Loading the Starting Simulation File
      You start this tutorial with a simulation file that contains the Y-Junction manifold geometry, the region including boundary types, and the initial mesh operations. For convenience, you are provided with pre-defined scalar parameters and scenes.
    - Selecting the Physics Models including Global Filter Radius
    - Defining the Mass Flow Difference Indicator Report
      The objective of this adjoint analysis is to optimize the shape of the Y-Junction manifold in order to achieve a uniform mass flow split between the two outlets.
    - Creating the Adjoint Cost Function
      An adjoint shape optimization uses adjoint sensitivities to derive an optimized shape based on an engineering quantity represented by cost functions.
    - Setting Up the Simulation Operation Sequence
      Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to use simulation operations to automate a complete workflow for this simulation. The sequence of steps for adjoint shape optimization is set with a loop.
    - Defining the Surface Mesh Morphing of the Y-Junction
      The shape optimization process uses the displacements that are computed from the surface sensitivities to deform the geometry parts of interest.
    - Setting Solver Controls and Stopping Criteria
      You control the sequence of flow solution, adjoint solution, and surface mesh morphing by setting individual stopping criteria for each solver. A global stopping criterion determines the overall number of shape optimization loops.
    - Visualizing the Shape Optimization
      You visualize the optimized geometry by displaying it against the original geometry. You add a vector displayer to show the imposed displacement field vector, and use the mass flows plot as annotation in the scene to follow the optimization progress.
    - Running the Operation Sequence and Analyzing Results
      You activate and run the simulation operation sequence, and analyze the results.
  - Adjoint Topology Optimization: Flow through a U-Bend
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides adjoint topology optimization as a method for finding optimized designs for complex flow problems. Topology optimization can aid in the design of, for example, components found in aeroplanes or ground transportation vehicles such as air ducts by improving performance and efficiency.
  - Pareto Optimization: Static Mixer
    One of the study types that Design Manager supports is the multiple-objective tradeoff optimization, also called Pareto optimization. In this type of study, the optimal design is not unique, but a set of designs, which are expressed through a Pareto front. Design Manager searches for the combination of inputs that gives the best overall result among competing objectives.
  - Design Sweep of a Static Mixer
    Design Manager provides an automated method for evaluating the performance of a single product design.
  - Pareto Optimization: 2D Airfoil Design
    Design Manager allows you to run design optimization studies with multiple competing objectives. This type of study is known as multiple-objective tradeoff optimization, or Pareto optimization.
  - Export of 2D Field Data for ROM: Airfoil Analysis
    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can export 2D field data from a design study in Design Manager to Simcenter Reduced Order Modeling.
  - Part-Replacement Using Design Manager
    In some industrial situations you are required to run standard flow analyses on different product configurations for regulatory requirements. Through its part-replacement capability, Design Manager can assist with automating these analyses.
  - Surrogates: Reliability of an Industrial Exhaust System
    Robustness and reliability studies are employed to assess the influence of installation and manufacturing tolerances on the performance of a design. In Design Manager, surrogate models provide an efficient method for running these studies as using surrogates reduces the overall number of flow simulations that must be run.
  - Surrogate FMU: Flapper Valve Representation within Simcenter Amesim
    When a 1D fluid system simulation contains a complex hydraulic component, an FMU built from a surrogate model can represent the influence of the component without requiring a full 1D/3D co-simulation. Design Manager provides a facility for exporting such FMUs based on a surrogate model.
  - Surrogate FMU: Pipeline Junction with Simcenter Flomaster
    Oil transportation from shore-based storage facilities to ships anchored offshore is often analysed using 1D simulation tools such as Simcenter Flomaster. In this tutorial, the flow behavior through a 3D component is characterized using Simcenter STAR-CCM+, exported as an FMU, and introduced within a 1D model of a ship to shore system in Simcenter Flomaster.
  - Smart Sweep Study for Air Compressor: Performance Map
    The operating conditions of an air compressor are stable for mass flow values within a specific range. The operating range varies with the rotational rate of the air compressor rotor. Mass flow values below this range are too low to maintain the desired pressure ratio and can lead to a harmful surge in the air compressor. Mass flow above this range can lead to a choke in the air compressor.
  - Design Manager: Gradient-Based Optimization of a U-Bend
    Gradient-Based Optimization is an iterative method that optimizes a set of geometric features towards an engineering objective.
- Coupling with CAE Codes
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for coupling with CAE codes:
- Analysis Methods
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for analysing and visualizing simulation data.
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder
  The tutorials in this set illustrate features for simulating internal combustion engines in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ using the dedicated add-on Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder.

Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Mesh Morphing for Y-Junction Manifold

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the adjoint solution for shape optimization as a method for finding modified designs to improve performance and efficiency.

An adjoint shape optimization uses surface sensitivities to derive an optimized shape with respect to the user-defined cost functions. Surface sensitivies define how the surface is displaced, and control the deformation calculated by the morpher. The optimized position of the surface is to maximize/minimize the cost function of interest.

This tutorial focuses on demonstrating the workflow for setting up a shape optimization study where the deformation of the Y-Junction of a manifold is accounted for by morphing the surface mesh. The Morph Surface Mesh operation allows you to deform the entire part or individual part surfaces of the geometry and to re-run the volume mesh after every optimization cycle. This is particularly beneficial to avoid a bad quality mesh when dealing with large displacements.

The simplified manifold geometry shown in the diagram below, contains an inlet duct, a Y-Junction connection, and two outlet ducts. Air enters the manifold inlet duct with a velocity of 1 m/s and leaves through the two pressure outlet boundaries at atmospheric pressure.

During the simulation operation sequence, the primal flow is solved, followed by the adjoint solver, and mesh deformation. The Morph Surface Mesh operation is used to deform the Y-Junction to a new shape, dictated by the adjoint sensitivities, and defined in the simulation via an imposed displacement vector. The imposed displacement field uses a displacement multiplier parameter to limit the size of the mesh deformation, and is updated with each optimization cycle. Additionally, to ensure a smooth shape optimization, you apply a surface sensitivity filter to the Y-Junction boundary.

The final results demonstrate how the deformation of the Y-Junction allows you to achieve a balanced mass flow split between the manifold two outlets within 5 optimization cycles.