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Tutorials
Tutorials show you how to use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for various applications in a step-by-step format with recommendations for setup, initialization and steps of the solution process specific to the application. Macro and simulation files are available for download for a large proportion of cases.
Design Exploration
The tutorials in this set illustrate various features for running design exploration studies in Design Manager.
Design Manager: Gradient-Based Optimization of a U-Bend
Gradient-Based Optimization is an iterative method that optimizes a set of geometric features towards an engineering objective.
Loading the Initial Simulation and Visualizing the Parameters for the Study
For this tutorial, you are provided with a starting reference simulation that contains a 3D-CAD model of a U-bend and predefined parameters for the geometric features that you optimize during the study.

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Tutorials
Tutorials show you how to use Simcenter STAR-CCM+ for various applications in a step-by-step format with recommendations for setup, initialization and steps of the solution process specific to the application. Macro and simulation files are available for download for a large proportion of cases.
- Using Tutorial Macros and Files
  Macros, input files, and final simulation files for a range of tutorials are provided as an optional download package on the Support Center website. These macros and final simulation files are provided as an aid to the written tutorials, so that you can check your final results against the downloaded files, or against a simulation that is built and run using the macros.
- Introduction
  Welcome to the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ introductory tutorial. In this tutorial, you explore the important concepts and workflow. Complete this tutorial before attempting any others.
- Foundation Tutorials
  The foundation tutorials showcase the major features of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ in a series of short tutorials.
- Geometry
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for creating and working with parts and 3D-CAD.
- Mesh
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for building CFD meshes.
- Incompressible Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for incompressible fluid flows as well as porosity and solution recording
- Compressible Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for compressible fluid flows as well as harmonic balance.
- Heat Transfer and Radiation
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for heat transfer, radiation, and thermal comfort.
- Multiphase Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating multiphase fluid flow problems
- Discrete Element Method
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating Discrete Element Method problems
- Motion
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various STAR-CCM+ features for simulating problems with moving geometries and meshes, dynamic fluid body interaction, and rigid body motion:
- Reacting Flow
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for simulating reacting flows such as combustion.
- Solid Stress
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for computing deformation, strain, and stresses in solid regions. They also show how such computations can be coupled to the fluid behavior in an analysis of fluid-structure interaction.
- Aeroacoustics
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for solving aeroacoustic simulations.
- Electromagnetism
  The following tutorials illustrate features for solving problems that involve electromagnetic fields.
- Electrochemistry
  The following tutorial demonstrates chemical reactions induced by an electrical current.
- Battery
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for setting up a battery model:
- Automation
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automation and macro features.
- Design Exploration
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various features for running design exploration studies in Design Manager.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Mesh Sensitivity for Dual Element Wing
    A typical application of an adjoint flow analysis is to use the computed gradients in a shape optimization study with respect to a chosen cost function. In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, simulation operations allow you to construct an automated pipeline for optimization studies without any need for Java macros.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Sensitivity for S-Bend
    An adjoint shape optimization study requires a repeated sequence of steps in which the mesh is deformed according to a deformation field derived from the surface sensitivity. Simulation operations include specific steps that allow you to automate this workflow without requiring Java macros.
  - Adjoint Shape Optimization: Surface Mesh Morphing for Y-Junction Manifold
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides the adjoint solution for shape optimization as a method for finding modified designs to improve performance and efficiency.
  - Adjoint Topology Optimization: Flow through a U-Bend
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ provides adjoint topology optimization as a method for finding optimized designs for complex flow problems. Topology optimization can aid in the design of, for example, components found in aeroplanes or ground transportation vehicles such as air ducts by improving performance and efficiency.
  - Pareto Optimization: Static Mixer
    One of the study types that Design Manager supports is the multiple-objective tradeoff optimization, also called Pareto optimization. In this type of study, the optimal design is not unique, but a set of designs, which are expressed through a Pareto front. Design Manager searches for the combination of inputs that gives the best overall result among competing objectives.
  - Design Sweep of a Static Mixer
    Design Manager provides an automated method for evaluating the performance of a single product design.
  - Pareto Optimization: 2D Airfoil Design
    Design Manager allows you to run design optimization studies with multiple competing objectives. This type of study is known as multiple-objective tradeoff optimization, or Pareto optimization.
  - Export of 2D Field Data for ROM: Airfoil Analysis
    In Simcenter STAR-CCM+, you can export 2D field data from a design study in Design Manager to Simcenter Reduced Order Modeling.
  - Part-Replacement Using Design Manager
    In some industrial situations you are required to run standard flow analyses on different product configurations for regulatory requirements. Through its part-replacement capability, Design Manager can assist with automating these analyses.
  - Surrogates: Reliability of an Industrial Exhaust System
    Robustness and reliability studies are employed to assess the influence of installation and manufacturing tolerances on the performance of a design. In Design Manager, surrogate models provide an efficient method for running these studies as using surrogates reduces the overall number of flow simulations that must be run.
  - Surrogate FMU: Flapper Valve Representation within Simcenter Amesim
    When a 1D fluid system simulation contains a complex hydraulic component, an FMU built from a surrogate model can represent the influence of the component without requiring a full 1D/3D co-simulation. Design Manager provides a facility for exporting such FMUs based on a surrogate model.
  - Surrogate FMU: Pipeline Junction with Simcenter Flomaster
    Oil transportation from shore-based storage facilities to ships anchored offshore is often analysed using 1D simulation tools such as Simcenter Flomaster. In this tutorial, the flow behavior through a 3D component is characterized using Simcenter STAR-CCM+, exported as an FMU, and introduced within a 1D model of a ship to shore system in Simcenter Flomaster.
  - Smart Sweep Study for Air Compressor: Performance Map
    The operating conditions of an air compressor are stable for mass flow values within a specific range. The operating range varies with the rotational rate of the air compressor rotor. Mass flow values below this range are too low to maintain the desired pressure ratio and can lead to a harmful surge in the air compressor. Mass flow above this range can lead to a choke in the air compressor.
  - Design Manager: Gradient-Based Optimization of a U-Bend
    Gradient-Based Optimization is an iterative method that optimizes a set of geometric features towards an engineering objective.
    - Loading the Initial Simulation and Visualizing the Parameters for the Study
      For this tutorial, you are provided with a starting reference simulation that contains a 3D-CAD model of a U-bend and predefined parameters for the geometric features that you optimize during the study.
    - Defining Mesh Operations and Geometric Sensitivity
      In this section, you complete the mesh operations with the Geometric Sensitivity mesher by adding predefined geometric parameters into this mesher and generate the volume mesh including extrusions for inlet and outlet boundaries.
    - Defining Physics and Adjoint Surface Sensitivity
      The physics models include the coupled solver, which solves the incompressible steady air flow as the primal flow, and the adjoint surface sensitivity solver, which solves the surface sensitivities with respect to the cost function—the pressure drop.
    - Setting Stopping Criteria for the Reference Simulation
      In the reference simulation, you set stopping criteria for both the steady flow solver and the adjoint solver.
    - Setting Up the SQP Optimization Study in Design Manager
      To perform a gradient-based optimization, you set up a SQP optimization study in Design Manager.
    - Run the Optimization Study
      Define the Run Settings for the optimization study.
    - Analyzing the Optimization Results
      In this optimization design run, the SQP algorithm searches for the best parameter combinations, in the specified range, that result in a local minimum of the pressure drop.
- Coupling with CAE Codes
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for coupling with CAE codes:
- Analysis Methods
  The tutorials in this set illustrate various Simcenter STAR-CCM+ features for analysing and visualizing simulation data.
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder
  The tutorials in this set illustrate features for simulating internal combustion engines in Simcenter STAR-CCM+ using the dedicated add-on Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder.

Loading the Initial Simulation and Visualizing the Parameters for the Study

For this tutorial, you are provided with a starting reference simulation that contains a 3D-CAD model of a U-bend and predefined parameters for the geometric features that you optimize during the study.

To load the starting simulation file:

Launch a double-precision version of Simcenter STAR-CCM+ and select File > Load.
In the Load a File dialog:
1. Click Browse.
2. In the Open dialog, navigate to the designExploration folder of the downloaded tutorial files and select gradient_ubend_start.sim.
3. Click Open, then OK.
To view the parametrized profiles:
1. Right-click the Geometry > 3D-CAD Models > UBend node and select Edit.
2. In the 3D-CAD tab, right-click the Features > Profile-1 node and select Edit.
The profile-1 sketch appears as follows:

Note All the lines in the profiles are b-splines. All the corner points are fixed.

To optimize the shape of the u-bend and minimize the pressure drop, you define the dimensions of 6 profiles using predefined parameters, which Design Manager can modify during the optimization runs.
According to the constraint definition, Design Manager can:
- modify all the mid-side points (marked in blue) within the plane of the sketches by changing coordinate parameters
- adjust the position of the midpoint (marked in red) in the normal direction
In the reference simulations, all required dimensions are predefined and ready for you to use in the optimization study. In general, to add sketch dimensions to a b-spline, you first multi-select two points with <Ctrl> key, then right-click one of the selected points and enter the dimension as parameter name:

To review the parameters defined for the profiles:

Open the Automation > Parameters node and review the parameters defined within each tag group. Each tag corresponds to a profile.
Save the simulation as gradient_ubend_run.sim.