Converting to a Two-Dimensional Mesh

For greater efficiency, convert the mesh region from a one-cell-thick three-dimensional grid to a two-dimensional one.

There are special requirements in the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ product for three-dimensional meshes that are converted to two-dimensional ones. These requirements are:

  • The grid must be aligned with the X-Y plane.
  • The grid must have a boundary plane at the Z = 0 location.

The mesh imported for this tutorial was built with these requirements in mind. Were the grid not to conform to the above conditions, it would have been necessary to realign the region using the transformation and rotation facilities in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.

  1. Select Mesh > Convert To 2D.
  2. In the Convert Regions To 2D dialog:
    • Make sure that all regions are selected.
    • Activate the Delete 3D Regions After Conversion option.


  3. Click OK.
    Once you click OK, the mesh conversion takes place. The new two-dimensional mesh is shown, viewed from the z-direction, in the Geometry Scene 1 display which was created after you imported the mesh. The mouse rotation option is suppressed for two-dimensional scenes.
  4. Right-click the Continua > Physics 1 continuum node and select Delete.
  5. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog.
  6. Repeat these steps for the Physics 2 continuum node.