Creating the Thermal Network Region for the Manikin

For thermal comfort simulations, you represent the manikin using a network region. A network region does not require meshing.

The Equivalent Homogeneous Temperature model groups the manikin surface into 17 different segments. These segments follow the comfort diagrams suggested in literature [959]. The Fiala model divides the manikin into 58 different sections (known as links) based on the whole body matrix structure created by D. Fiala [958].

The surfaces of the Driver part are named according to the naming convention (see Manikin Segmentation Naming Convention Reference). Therefore, when you assign the manikin part to the network region, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically assigns the part surfaces to the corresponding segments and links.

To create the thermal network region for the manikin:
  1. Right-click the Regions node and select New > Network Region.
  2. Rename the Regions > Region 1node to Manikin.
  3. Select the Manikin node and set Parts to Cabin > Driver.
  4. Select the Manikin > Boundaries > Default > Physics Values > Static Temperature node and set Value to 34.0 C.
  5. Select the Manikin > Physics Values > Manikin Part Groups > Manikin 1 node and set Parts to Cabin > Driver.
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically assigns the part surfaces to the corresponding segments and links.
Each segment or link must have an associated part surface. However, there is no restriction on the number of part surfaces assigned to a link or segment.
  1. Expand the Manikin 1 > EHT Segments and Network Links nodes and make sure each segment and link has an associated Part Surface.


  2. Select the Regions > Cabin > Boundaries > Driver node and click (Custom Editor) next to the Part Surfaces property.
  3. In the Driver - Part Surfaces dialog, activate Cabin > Driver > Face_L and Face_R, then click OK.
A polyhedral mesh with prism layers is set up for the Cabin region. The mesh has a base size of 40 mm and a prism layer total thickness of 8 mm. To create a closed surface of the car cabin and accurately capture the geometric details, a surface wrapper operation is available which wraps the geometry using a global base size of 10 mm and a custom control for the manikin geometry. The manikin network region does not require a mesh.
  1. Right-click the Geometry > Operations node and select Execute All.
  2. Visualize the mesh:
    1. Create a mesh scene.
    2. Right-click the Scenes > Mesh Scene 1 node and select New Displayer > Mesh.
    3. Expand Mesh Scene 1 and set the following properties:
      Node Property Setting
      Mesh 1 Opacity 0.5
      Surface Activated
      Parts Parts Regions > Cabin > Boundaries (Select all boundaries except Regions > Cabin > Boundaries > Driver)
      Mesh 2 Opacity 0.5
      Mesh Color Mesh Color Sap Green
      Parts Parts Regions > Cabin > Boundaries > Driver


  3. Save the simulation