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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.
Coupling with CAE Codes
The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for coupling with CAE codes:
Abaqus Co-Simulation: Mechanical Coupling
This tutorial demonstrates how to carry out a mechanical co-simulation case using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus. Co-simulation involves a strong coupling between the two codes. Data is exchanged at frequent intervals that are called coupling steps. This level of communication between the solvers allows you to obtain a full solution across the fluid-solid interface.
Preparing the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Model
Prepare the fluid model simulation in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
Generating the Volume Mesh
The simulation file provided for this tutorial is complete with the required mesh settings. In this tutorial, the volume mesh is generated using the Polyhedral Mesher and a surface control is used for mesh refinement at the FSI interface.

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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.
- Coupling with CAE Codes
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for coupling with CAE codes:
  - Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Coupling: Heat Transfer in a Chimney
    This tutorial demonstrates the process for modeling conjugate heat transfer using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to Simcenter STAR-CCM+ thermal co-simulation.
  - Simcenter Nastran Co-Simulation: Disc Valve
    To solve fluid-structure interaction problems, you can couple Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and Simcenter Nastran in a co-simulation analysis. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ computes the flow solution and Simcenter Nastran computes the structural analysis for the solid.
  - FMU Co-Simulation with Simcenter Amesim: Check Valve
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can exchange data with Simcenter Amesim through imported FMU models. An FMU is a time-dependent model written in the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard.
  - FMU Co-Simulation: Temperature Controller
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can exchange single-value data with imported FMU models. FMU models are time-dependent models that are written according to the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard.
  - Abaqus File-Based Coupling: Exhaust Manifold
    The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate the typical workflow in running a thermal fluid-structure interaction case using the file-based coupling method with Abaqus.
  - Abaqus Co-Simulation: Thermal Coupling
    This tutorial demonstrates how to run a thermal co-simulation case using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus. Co-simulation involves a strong coupling between the two codes, in which data exchange occurs at frequent intervals, that are known as coupling steps. In this case, data is exchanged at the end of each time-step, and a relatively large time-step is used to approximate a steady-state solution.
  - Abaqus Co-Simulation: Mechanical Coupling
    This tutorial demonstrates how to carry out a mechanical co-simulation case using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus. Co-simulation involves a strong coupling between the two codes. Data is exchanged at frequent intervals that are called coupling steps. This level of communication between the solvers allows you to obtain a full solution across the fluid-solid interface.
    - Prerequisites
      The instructions in the Abaqus Mechanical Coupling tutorial assume that you are already familiar with certain techniques in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
    - Obtaining Input Files
      Copy the files that are required to complete the tutorial into your working directory.
    - Reviewing the Abaqus Model
      Review the features of the Abaqus model and the co-simulation-settings.
    - Preparing the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Model
      Prepare the fluid model simulation in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
      - Loading the Initial Simulation
        For this tutorial, you are provided with a simulation file that contains pre-defined objects.
      - Generating the Volume Mesh
        The simulation file provided for this tutorial is complete with the required mesh settings. In this tutorial, the volume mesh is generated using the Polyhedral Mesher and a surface control is used for mesh refinement at the FSI interface.
      - Selecting Physics Models
        In this simulation you require two physics continua—one continuum for the physics that are solved in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ (the internal continuum) and one continuum that represents the physics in Abaqus (the external continuum).
      - Defining Boundary Conditions
        Specify the fluid velocity at the inlet.
      - Setting Up the Morpher
        Use the Morpher to allow the fluid mesh to deform in response to the imported nodal displacements from Abaqus.
      - Creating a Plane Section
        Create a plane section through the plate, to visualize the solution and mesh deformation.
      - Preparing a Scalar Scene
        Prepare a scalar scene to display the pressure field around the plate. Include the plane section in a separate scalar displayer so that the opacity setting can be adjusted independently.
      - Setting Up Automatic Scene Export
        In the following steps, set up automatic export of the mesh and pressure scenes.
      - Specifying Co-Simulation Settings
        Specify co-simulation settings in Simcenter STAR-CCM+, including the Abaqus input file location, the coupled boundary defining the fluid-structure interface, and the fields that are exchanged at each coupling step.
      - Setting Up Monitors
        Create reports to monitor the displacement of the upper corners of the plate in the x-direction, the traction load, and the moment about the z-axis, during the co-simulation.
    - Obtaining an Initial Flow Field
      Run the simulation in a quasi-steady state to obtain an initial flow field. The solution from this initialization step is used as the initial condition for the co-simulation.
    - Running the Co-Simulation
      Specify the solver settings, stopping criteria, and run the simulation.
    - Visualizing the Results
      Examine the mesh deformation and the Displacement Plot.
    - Summary
      This tutorial demonstrated how to carry out a mechanical co-simulation case using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus.
  - gPROMS File Export: Spray Dryer
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows for one-way coupling with gPROMS, a process modeling platform for the simulation of complex systems. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+ you reduce three-dimensional solution data to discrete values defined for clusters of cells; data from these clusters can then be exported to a network in gPROMS.
  - GT-SUITE Co-Simulation: 1D Coupling
    This tutorial demonstrates the typical workflow for co-simulation with the engine simulation code GT-SUITE from Gamma Technologies.
  - Co-Simulation API: Spindle Valve
    This tutorial demonstrates how to use the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Co-Simulation API (Application Programming Interface), in order to couple a partner program to a Simcenter STAR-CCM+ simulation. The partner simulation models the behavior of a spindle ball valve in response to a multiphase flow.
  - CGNS File Import: Stress Analysis with Imported Fluid Loads
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to import external mesh and solution data in the form of a CGNS file. You can apply the solution data stored in the CGNS file to regions or boundaries within Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
  - Rotor Blade Aeroelasticity: Modeling Elastic Blade Deformation
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to model the aeroelastic performance of elastic rotor blades using displacement and twist data from external files, which can be obtained in multi-body dynamics software such as RCAS, CAMRAD-II, DYMORE, and FLIGHTLAB.
- 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.

Generating the Volume Mesh

The simulation file provided for this tutorial is complete with the required mesh settings. In this tutorial, the volume mesh is generated using the Polyhedral Mesher and a surface control is used for mesh refinement at the FSI interface.

You can review the mesh set up under the Geometry > Operations > Fluid Mesh node.

To generate the volume mesh:

Click (Generate Volume Mesh).
Output from the meshing process is shown in the Output window.
When the mesh generation process is complete, save the simulation.

To visualize the volume mesh using a mesh scene:

Create a new mesh scene.
The volume mesh is displayed in Mesh Scene 1.
Remove some of the boundaries from the scene to see the plate inside the fluid domain:
1. Edit the Scenes > Mesh Scene 1 > Mesh 1 > Parts node.
2. In the Edit dialog, deselect the Top and Front boundaries, then click OK.
Use the mouse to rotate the view and examine the mesh.
The mesh appears as shown below.