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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.
Conditions, Values, and Profiles
Throughout the simulation tree, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ presents groups of condition nodes and their matching value nodes. For example, a boundary object has child nodes on which you choose physics conditions, and child nodes on which you set physics values. These values are quantities such as velocity, temperature, or density. The particular values available for change depend on what you set in the conditions.
Setting Values Using a Table
There are several common types of tabular methods, each represented by nodes.
Cubic and Spline Interpolation Methods
Cubic (Akima) and Spline are among the interpolation options that are available for use with profile methods and expressions in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.

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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.
  - Using the Workspace
    If you have used any GUI-based applications (such as Microsoft Word), you will have little difficulty using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workspace.
  - Using the Menus
    The menu bar is typical of GUI-based applications. It can be navigated with the mouse or with the keyboard.
  - Using the Toolbars
    Like the menu bars, the toolbars are typical of GUI-based applications, providing easy access to the most common actions.
  - Using the Explorer Pane
    The Explorer pane is typically docked on the left of the workspace.
  - Using the Table Editor
    The table editor combines the functionality of the simulation tree and Properties window.
  - Using the Properties Window
    The Properties window is a single location where all of the properties for a selected object can be viewed and manipulated.
  - Guide to the Graphics Window
    The graphics window displays viewable objects such as scenes and plots. The window also hosts interactive views such as the 3D-CAD view and the surface repair environment.
  - Using the Output Window
    The Output window gives a precise text description of all developments within the simulation.
  - Using Keyboard Shortcuts
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ accommodates keystrokes for a host of activities.
  - Conditions, Values, and Profiles
    Throughout the simulation tree, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ presents groups of condition nodes and their matching value nodes. For example, a boundary object has child nodes on which you choose physics conditions, and child nodes on which you set physics values. These values are quantities such as velocity, temperature, or density. The particular values available for change depend on what you set in the conditions.
    - Scalar and Vector Quantities
      In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, several nodes in the simulation tree require you to input scalar or vector values. For example, you input scalar or vector values when you define quantities at boundaries or regions, when you specify material properties, or when you define motion.
    - Arrays of Scalar Quantities
      A scalar array is used to specify multiple values of mass-fraction or volume-fraction where each value corresponds to one element of the mixture.
    - Tensor Quantities
      A tensor profile is used to specify tensor quantities such as porous resistances.
    - Complex Quantities
      In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you use complex profiles to specify quantities that are defined by complex numbers.
    - Setting Values Using the Composite Vector Profile Method
      The composite vector profile method differs from the others, as its node serves as a placeholder for the scalar profile quantity nodes. This feature lets you specify profile methods for X, Y, Z components separately.
    - Setting Values Using an Expression
      In addition to constants, you can enter expressions that use field function syntax, such as 10 * sin(3.14 * $Time), directly. This is an easy alternative to creating a macro for calculations of non-constant physical values.
    - Setting Values Using Distributions
      Set the value of a scalar or vector randomly using a uniform or a normal distribution.
    - Setting Values Using a Table
      There are several common types of tabular methods, each represented by nodes.
      - Setting Vector Profiles Using a Table
        You can also use a single table method to specify a vector profile.
      - What Is Table (iteration)?
        An (iteration) table has a column of ’iteration’ values that specify the iteration of each point (row) in the table.
      - What Is Table (r)?
        An (r) table has a column of ‘R’ values that specify the radius, in default units, of each point (row) in the table.
      - What Is Table (time)?
        A (time) table has a column of ’time’ values that specify the physical time, in seconds, of each point (row) in the table.
      - What Is Table (x,y,z)?
        An (x,y,z) table has a column of ’X’ values, ’Y’ values and, in three-dimensional cases, ’Z’ values that specify the position, in default units, of each point (row) in the table:
      - What Is Table (xyz, time)?
        Similar to the (x,y,z) table, an (xyz, time) table has a column of ’X’ values, ’Y’ values and, in three-dimensional cases, ’Z’ values that specify the position, in default units, of each point (row) in the table. The points are considered unordered in the file.
      - What Is Table (Equivalence Ratio)?
        An equivalence ratio table has a column of ‘er’ (equivalence ratio) values, and ‘lfs’ (laminar flame speed) values given in m/s. This method is available with the User Defined Laminar Flame Speed option of the Coherent Flame model, Turbulent Flame Speed Closure model, Thickened Flame model, or Flame Surface Density Transport model.
      - Cubic and Spline Interpolation Methods
        Cubic (Akima) and Spline are among the interpolation options that are available for use with profile methods and expressions in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
      - Example of Creating a Table for a Profile
        This section illustrates how you would go about creating a table for a profile.
      - Example of Extracting and Exporting a Table
        This section illustrates how you would extract a table from one simulation to use as a boundary condition in another.
      - Example of Using Data with Sharp Discontinuities
        In earlier versions of Simcenter STAR-CCM+, it was not possible to choose the Step interpolation option for tables based on iteration and time; all interpolation was based on a B-spline approach.
      - Table Properties Iteration Radius and Time
      - Properties of Table (x,y,z) and Table (xyz, time)
      - Vector Table Properties Iteration Radius and Time
      - Properties of Vector Table (x,y,z) and Vector Table (xyz, time)
    - Setting Values Using a Polynomial
      Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows a number of quantities to be specified using a polynomial.
    - Copying Properties
      The conditions and values for a region, boundary, or interface can be copied from a region, boundary, or interface of the identical type using the clipboard or by using drag-and-drop.
    - Defining Dimensionality
      For various objects in the simulation tree, clicking the property customizer ( ) of the Dimensions property opens a Dimensions dialog.
    - Setting Multiple Corresponding Conditions Simultaneously
      Corresponding conditions for different regions, boundaries, and interfaces can be set at the same time.
    - Setting Multiple Corresponding Values Simultaneously
      Corresponding conditions for different regions, boundaries, and interfaces can be set at the same time.
  - Tables
    Tables refer to objects in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ containing tabular data.
- 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.
- 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.

Cubic and Spline Interpolation Methods

Cubic (Akima) and Spline are among the interpolation options that are available for use with profile methods and expressions in Simcenter STAR-CCM+.

Cubic (Akima) Interpolation

Cubic (Akima) interpolation provides a piecewise cubic curve fit that consistently passes through the input points. The derivatives of the curve are estimated at each input data point using a 5-point approximation scheme.

For each segment between the data points, two pre-computed derivatives and two known spline values are used for building a unique cubic curve. If an insufficient number of input points are provided (less than 4), linear interpolation is performed instead.

By contrast, spline interpolation has a continuous first derivative and possibly discontinuous second derivative.

Spline Interpolation

Spline interpolation fits a spline through the provided data points, then samples that spline more finely than the original data, and stores the sampled points. When interpolation is required, it interpolates linearly between the sampled points.

This method was used in versions of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ prior to 2021.3. However, you are advised to use the newer Cubic (Akima) when setting up tabular methods or expressions.