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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.
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.
Selecting Entities
The surface repair tool allows you to select faces based on either individual triangles from the tessellation or underlying patch definitions in the CAD geometry. A number of methods are available for making rapid selections based on continuity and proximity.
Selecting With a Specified Threshold
This tool selects entities on the displayed surface using the Threshold Selection dialog.
Using The CAD Association Selection Mode
The CAD Association threshold selects faces, edges, or vertices that are based upon CAD association.

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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.
- 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.
  - The Surface Repair Workflow
    Use the Surface Repair tool to identify and manually repair surface and part curve errors on the discretized geometry.
  - Surface Repair User Interface
    The functions of the Surface Repair tool are contained within the Surface Repair environment. Repair tool modes are presented in the Surface Repair panel; display, selection, and diagnostics/search functions are embedded within the Graphics window.
  - Selecting Entities
    The surface repair tool allows you to select faces based on either individual triangles from the tessellation or underlying patch definitions in the CAD geometry. A number of methods are available for making rapid selections based on continuity and proximity.
    - Using Individual or Patch-Based Selection
      The Surface Repair tool allows you to use two selection modes during repairs, organization, and diagnostic operations.
    - Embedded Tools Reference
      Common tools are embedded in the Graphics window.
    - Selection Options
      There are four selection options available for use with the zone, threshold, and surface selection tools.
    - Selecting With a Specified Threshold
      This tool selects entities on the displayed surface using the Threshold Selection dialog.
      - Using The Geometric Range Selection Mode
        This section describes how to specify a threshold using a geometric range.
      - Using The Edge Length Selection Mode
        The Edge Length threshold selects edges according to length, which is based on a user-defined range.
      - Using The Dihedral Angle Selection Mode
        The Dihedral Angle threshold selects edges according to the angle between the face normals of the faces that are connected to the edge. You can select edges that have three or more faces attached.
      - Using The Face Area Selection Mode
        The Face Area threshold selects faces according to area, which is based on a user-defined range.
      - Using The Face Quality Selection Mode
        The Face Quality threshold selects faces according to face quality, which is based on a user-defined range.
      - Using The CAD Association Selection Mode
        The CAD Association threshold selects faces, edges, or vertices that are based upon CAD association.
    - Selecting Surfaces and Curves with the Selection Controls
      Use this method of selecting entities to pick surfaces from the object selection dialog.
    - Selecting Surfaces Or Curves With The Graphics Window
      This method of selecting entities allows you to pick surfaces and curves by right-clicking in the Graphics window.
    - Using the Chase Edge Selection Mode
      You can select edges manually using the shortest distance between two vertices.
    - Using the Select Curves Mode
      Use the Select Curves Mode to quickly select edges that are marked as part curves by the Mark Features by Angle tool or related tools.
  - Repairing Surfaces
    Diagnose and fix surfaces before running the surface remesher.
  - Repairing Features
    Diagnose and fix part curves before running the surface remesher.
  - Surface Repair Error Categories
    The Surface Repair tool diagnoses the geometry for surface and feature errors and groups the various errors into color-coded categories.
  - Repair Tools Reference
    Use the repair tools to repair errors on the geometry surface and part curves.
  - Global Tools
    Global tools are designed for work on larger portions of the model as opposed to individual faces, edges, and vertices.
  - Query Tools
    Query tools provide information on selected entities in the Graphics window.
  - Classifying Surfaces
    In many cases, different surfaces of a geometry part require different mesh settings, for example, a different number of prism layers for internal and external surfaces. In Surface Repair, you can Classify faces based on specified criteria and create corresponding part surfaces. This classification process is suitable for regular geometries with well defined angles.
  - Organizing Discretized Geometry
    The search capability of the Surface Repair tool is a powerful feature that helps you organise and prepare discretized geometry for simulation.
  - Tagging Surfaces in Surface Repair
    You can tag selected surfaces in the Surface Repair Tool. You can manually select surfaces for tagging, or tag the surfaces returned by the search filters.
  - Part Controls
    The Organize tab allows you to create or reassign part entities using the Part Edit or Create New Part options.
  - Set Controls
    A set is a collection of faces, edges, or vertices, which you can store, recall and browse, using the Set Controls group box.
  - Query Diagnostic Responses From Java Macros
    This section provides example Java and reference material for accessing information from surface preparation query diagnostics.
  - Surface Repair Hotkeys
    Hotkeys, also known as keyboard shortcuts, execute surface repair operations using the keyboard instead of the user interface.
  - Pop Up Menu of the Surface Repair Tool Graphics Window
    The following pop-up menu items are available when you right-click a part or part surface in the Graphics window, while using the Surface Repair tool.
- 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.

Using The CAD Association Selection Mode

The CAD Association threshold selects faces, edges, or vertices that are based upon CAD association.

To activate the CAD Association selection mode, select the CAD Association option from the Select Threshold drop-down menu.
Three specification options are available from the Select drop-down menu:
- Faces on CAD Face selects all faces that have association with CAD faces. A CAD face is a surface on the part that is defined in the CAD model.
- Edges on CAD Edge selects all edges that have association with CAD edges. A CAD edge is the perimeter of a CAD face. This option is useful for identifying which edges are used with the aligned meshing and geometric features when using the surface remesher.
- Vertices on CAD Vertex selects all vertices that have association CAD vertices. A CAD vertex is the point where two CAD edges intersect.
Activating the Select NOT Associated with CAD option has the opposite effect and selects face, edges, or vertices that do not have CAD association.
As an example, consider the following surface, which has faces with CAD association highlighted in beige using the CAD association display option:

Using the Faces on CAD Face option and ticking the checkbox to select faces that do not have CAD association has the following effect:

The following image shows edges that have CAD association, which is used with the aligned meshing and geometric features: