Defining the Motion of the Solid Propeller

The boat-propeller system moves rigidly in response to the applied fluid forces. Additionally, the solid propeller has a prescribed rotation motion and can deform under the applied fluid loads.

To define the motion of the solid propeller:
  1. In the physics continuum, Continua > Solid Physics, activate the Flexible DFBI Motion model.
  2. Select the Regions > Propeller > Physics Conditions > Flexible DFBI Motion Option node and set Flexible DFBI Motion Option to DFBI - Deformable moving attachment.
  3. Right-click the DFBI > 6-DOF Bodies > BoatWithPropeller node and select Create > Body Motion.
    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ adds the 6-DOF body motion under the Tools > Motions node.
To superpose the propeller rotation on the 6-DOF motion:
  1. Right-click the Tools > Motions > BoatWithPropeller-Motion > Superposing Motions node and select New > Rotation.
To define the rotation, you specify the rotation rate with respect to a coordinate system that follows the 6-DOF motion:
  1. Edit the BoatWithPropeller-Motion > Superposing Motions > Rotation node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Setting
    Rotation Axis Direction [0.0, 0.0, 1.0]
    Rotation Rate Rotation Rate -30 rpm
When you create a superposing rigid motion, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ automatically creates the coordinate system in which the motion is defined. The coordinate system associated with a superposing motion is defined with respect to the coordinate system associated with the parent motion:

Adjust the settings of the coordinate system for the superposed rotation motion, so that it is aligned with the propeller:

  1. Expand the Tools > Coordinate Systems > Laboratory > Local Coordinate Systems node.
  2. Select the BoatWithPropeller-CSys > Local Coordinate Systems > Rotation-CSys node and set the following properties:
    Property Setting
    X Axis Input [0.0, -1.0, 0.0]
    Vector on X-Y Plane Input [0.0, 0.0, 1.0]
    Origin [-4.155557, 0.3, -0.1872958]
To account for the non-rigid displacements calculated by the solid stress solver, superpose the Solid Displacement motion:
  1. Right-click the Motions > BodyWithPropeller-Motion > Superposing Motion > Rotation > Superposing Motions node and select New > Solid Displacement.


  2. Select the Regions > Propeller > Physics Values > Motion Specification node and set Motion to BoatWithPropeller-Motion > Rotation > Solid Displacement.
  3. Save the simulation.