Home
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.
Freeform Surface Modeling
Freeform surface modeling is a modeling technique in 3D-CAD that allows you to deform existing surfaces for desired shapes.

Share

Link: copied

Breadcrumb: copied

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.
  - Freeform Surface Modeling
    Freeform surface modeling is a modeling technique in 3D-CAD that allows you to deform existing surfaces for desired shapes.
    - Deforming a Freeform Surface Using Points
      Typically, you create and move points to control the deformation of a freeform surface.
    - Controlling Freeform Surfaces Using Design Parameters
      You can control the displacement of a control point on the freeform surface using design parameters in 3D-CAD.
    - Freeform Surface Panel Reference
      Modify the settings in the Freeform Surface panel to control the deformation of the freeform surface.
  - 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.

Freeform Surface Modeling

Freeform surface modeling is a modeling technique in 3D-CAD that allows you to deform existing surfaces for desired shapes.

A spline surface is created for each face surface and a tolerance of 1.0E-6 m is used when the original face surface is converted to a spline surface of choice. All changes to the surfaces are carried out on the copies, also referred to as 'deformed surface'. These changes are stored within the Freeform Surface feature in the 3D-CAD feature tree, which allows you to revert the original surfaces when needed. You can precisely alter the shape of your geometry and deform multiple connected faces simultaneously under prescribed boundary constraints.

While you are in freeform mode, all actions are tracked, so you can undo and redo these actions within the active session. Once you accept the changes and exit the session, all tracked changes are lost. You can continue making new changes to the modified freeform surface, and, as before, all actions for the current active session are tracked.

Requirements:

Changes that you make must not result in self-intersecting geometry.
While very large changes to the surface are allowed, you are advised to keep changes small.
All input surfaces must be connected.