Editor's Pick: CD-adapco Releases STAR-CCM+ v6.02

By Anthony J. Lockwood

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

Almost every time I write about high-level analysis software, an acquaintance fires off an e-mail, excoriating me for noting something of interest about the developer and product. So, I considered censorial clicking of the keys for a sec. But — alas — I can't help myself. Folks, it sounds like what I believe is a fascinating high-level, multiphysics analysis product just got better: CD-adapco recently announced version 6.02 of STAR-CCM+.

Now, STAR-CCM+ is CD-adapco's flagship simulation tool. Tool sounds so blasé — like it's a YAS (yet another solver). STAR-CCM+ is really more of both a single-interface trove of physics simulation technologies and a integrated hub for your physics simulation work. By hub, I mean two things. First, it plays well with third-party CAE software — you can import/export data to other applications and you can even execute co-simulations. Second, STAR-CCM+ is noted for its time- and effort-saving geometry creation and preparation tools. Its CATIA V5, SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer (now Creo Elements/Pro), and NX CAD clients offer full parametric associativity, boundary setup, and polyhedral as well as trimmed cell meshing.

Still, to me, the interesting thing is that CD-adapco continually extends the versatility of STAR-CCM+ to embrace more physics and, hence, more applications. Over time a partial list of physics analysis and phenomena STAR-CCM+ handles has grown to include, in no particular order, cavitation, conduction, convection, coupled flow, harmonic balance, large displacement solid stress, multi-phase and multi-component fluids, porous media, turbulence, old favorites like thermal, and so on. Which brings us to STAR-CCM+ version 6.02.

New areas of discovery in v6.02 include electro-plating simulation, which, in short, lets you investigate the efficiency of your painting process by predicting how layers of paint build up over time. There's something called Motion Superposition, which CD-adapco describes as allowing you to prescribe more complex body motion within a simulation and combine multiple rigid body motions or rigid body motions with mesh morphing. The DEM (discrete element modeling) and Lagrangian functionality now support full moving mesh and phase selective boundaries.

A new battery simulation module introduced with v6.02 provides an environment for simulating flow, thermal, and electro-chemistry phenomena for Li-Ion battery cells and packs. It includes automated problem definition and user-defined discretization controls for thermal and electro-chemical networks within a cell. Post-processing has also been enhanced in STAR-CCM+ v6.02, and a new plug-in for Isight process flow and optimization code from Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA debuts.

These and other new features of STAR-CCM+ v6.02 are covered in part in today's Pick of the Week write-up. But to really get an idea of how versatile STAR-CCM+ is, you should hit the links at the end of the write-up and explore some of webinars or reading materials. Good way to spend your time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to don my flame-proof skivvies and see what e-mail brings me.

Thanks, pal. -- Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Read today's Pick of the Week write-up.

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