Home
User Interface
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a Graphical User Interface generally known as the client workspace. This interface appears when you launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+ interactively.
Working with Volume Shapes
A volume shape is a closed geometric figure that can be shaped as a block, cone, cylinder, or sphere.
Working with Blocks
The block volume shape is a rectangular volume that is aligned with either the global or a local xyz axis.

Share

Link: copied

Breadcrumb: copied

User Interface
Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides a Graphical User Interface generally known as the client workspace. This interface appears when you launch Simcenter STAR-CCM+ interactively.
- Using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Workspace
  This chapter shows you how to use the various components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, with a focus on the user interface.
- What Are the Important Concepts?
  This section presents the key concepts you come across when using Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Working with Simulation Objects
  Objects are the key components of Simcenter STAR-CCM+. They represent various aspects of a simulation and have properties that you can set as required for your particular problem.
- Automation
  The Automation node provides easy access to a number of frequently used automated processes.
- Expressions
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can define property values using expressions, which you write using a function language that is a subset of the C programming language. Expressions can define mathematical expressions or perform other operations, such as interpolating tabular data from XY tables in the simulation.
- Global Parameters
  Global parameters include scalar and vector physical quantities (for example, 120.0 K or [0.0, 1.0, 0.0] m) that can be defined once and used in multiple objects. Another type of global parameter is a file, currently used for the Replace Parts operation in Geometry > Operations and in Design Manager.
- Field Functions
  Field functions allow you to access fields (scalar or vector data that are evaluated at cells, vertices, or boundary faces) in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. You can use field functions to visualize the computed fields, to specify boundary and region values, or to define initial conditions.
- Engineering Units
  Simcenter STAR-CCM+ has flexible and customizable support for engineering units. The standard SI and USCS systems are built in, and you can add new units as desired. Physical quantities can be specified and displayed in any of these units. Individual quantities can be specified with new units on the fly by simply typing something like “80 mph”.
- Simulation Operations
  Simulation operations allow you to automate the solution processes in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ without using Java macros. Condition and loop operations provide the basic logic control common to many programming languages.
- Staged Physics
  In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, staged physics allows you to store multiple configurations of physics settings and apply them in sequence during a simulation. Simulation operations provide the framework in which physics stages are applied.
- Working with Volume Shapes
  A volume shape is a closed geometric figure that can be shaped as a block, cone, cylinder, or sphere.
  - Working with Blocks
    The block volume shape is a rectangular volume that is aligned with either the global or a local xyz axis.
  - Working with Cones
    To define the cone volume shape, specify two radii and the xyz center points of the two cylindrical ends in either the global or local co-ordinate system.
  - Working with Cylinders
    To define a cylinder volume shape, specify a radius and the xyz center points of the two cylindrical ends in either the global or local coordinate system.
  - Working with Spheres
    To define a spherical volume shape, specify a radius and the xyz center point of the sphere in either the global or local coordinate system.
- Simulation Guide
  The simulation guide is a single embedded document that you can edit within a simulation file. This document can contain formatted text, tables, images, and hyperlinks to nodes in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ object tree or external web resources.
- Template Simulation Files
  Template simulation files allow you to define pre-configured setups for use in new simulations. When used in conjunction with query-based selection, template files present a powerful technique for automating repeat analyses on similar geometries.
- Scripting the Application
  Scripting allows you to work more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks.
- Working with User Code
  User code allows Simcenter STAR-CCM+ to be customized with functions written in a compiled language such as C, C++ or Fortran.
- Working with the Plugins Manager
  The Plugins Manager makes it possible to install and manage NetBeans modules for Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
- Simulation Assistants
  A Simulation Assistant provides a visual workflow within the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ user interface (UI).
- Wizard Guide
  This part of the documentation illustrates how Simcenter STAR-CCM+ is used for special application tools and projects.

Working with Blocks

The block volume shape is a rectangular volume that is aligned with either the global or a local xyz axis.

It is defined using the coordinates of two opposite corner points. Once defined, this volume shape has a node in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ object tree, has its own properties and shares a context menu with other types of volume shapes.

The block shape can be created either manually or graphically using the point tool. An example is shown below:

Creating a Block

On selecting the Block option in the New Shape pop up menu, the Create Block Volume Shape dialog appears.

To define the block, specify two separate locations (Maximum and Minimum Coordinates of the opposite corner points) based on either the global cartesian or a local coordinate system. These locations can be entered manually into the dialog, or the point tool can be used to drag the face center balls graphically to the appropriate locations. Pressing the Create button creates a new node that is called Block 1 under the Volume Shapes node. This process can be repeated as many times as necessary to create further block shapes. Press the Close button to complete the operation.

Block Properties

You can use the properties that are listed below to adjust the specifications of the block.


Coordinate System	The coordinate system (either global or local) in which the volume shape is defined.
Corner1	A Cartesian position vector that defines the location of one corner. Note that a comma must separate the numeric values.
Corner2	A Cartesian position vector that defines the location of the other corner, which completes the object. Note that a comma must separate the numeric values.