Retrieving Transient Solution Data

Solution views allow you to retrieve and view solution data states from a simulation history file. Each solution view has its own representation that you then apply in scenes, plots, and reports.

By default, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ creates a solution view node at the same time as you create a solution history node. For older simulations, where this did not happen automatically, or when you load simulation history files directly, you can create your own solution views.

For each solution view, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ adds a corresponding representation within the Representations node. You can access the data from the solution view by applying this representation to post-processing objects such as scenes and plots. The state properties of the solution view node controls the time-step or instant from which data is pulled for the post-processing object.

You can create additional solution views that reference the same simulation history file. This capability is useful for performing side-by-side comparisons of different case set-ups or design iterations. In each solution view, you can choose to display the transient data that is stored in each state, or the snapshots that you created.

All coordinate system data and motion data in the simulation is recorded in the simulation history file automatically. (For details about motion data, see Modeling Motion.)

For reports, you can apply a solution view representation to any report for which the simulation history contains the necessary data. You can then create a monitor and plot from the report and have Simcenter STAR-CCM+ populate the plot using all or some of the states in the simulation history file. In this way, you can recreate a time history plot for the reported function or expression.

To apply a solution view in context:

Action Instructions

Change the point from which data is read in the history file
  1. Select the [solution view] node.
  2. Change any of the properties for which a selection is available: State Name, State Index, Iteration, Time Step, or Solution Time.

    To display the data that is contained in a snapshot, select the desired snapshot from the drop-down list next to the State Name property.

Create an additional solution view
  1. Right-click the Solution Histories > [solution history] node.
  2. Select Create Recorded Solution View.

Apply a recorded solution view to a scene

Choose one of the following methods:

  • Drag the recorded solution view node from the object tree into the scene and release. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ applies the underlying representation for this view to all displayers in the scene.
  • Drag the Representations > [solution view representation] into the scene and release. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ applies this representation to all displayers in the scene.
  • In the scene object tree, select a displayer node and set its Representation property to the representation of the recorded solution view.

When you first apply a recorded solution view to a scene, the scene displays the data for the first time-step that is stored in the simulation history file.

Use motion data from a simulation history file in a scene
  1. Right-click the Tools > Transforms node and select New Graphics Transform > Motion Transform.
  2. Select the transform node and set its properties as follows:
    1. Set Motion to one of the motions available in the simulation.
    2. Set Recorded Representation to the recorded solution view representation.

      The Recorded Representation property for a motion transform is independent of the Representation property for a displayer. You can apply a recorded motion transform to a displayer with any representation as you desire.

    You can now apply the motion transform to one or more displayers in a scene.

  3. In the target scene, select the displayer node whose objects you wish to move using the motion transform and set Transform to the [motion transform] created above.
  4. To animate the solution view in the scene, with the scene open, right-click the node of the solution view and select Animation > Play.
注The above procedure provides an animation that is viewed from a fixed position. With a simulation history that includes the managed coordinate systems, you can have the camera view follow the moving object. For details, see Following the Moving Object with the Camera View.

Compute a report using simulation history data
  1. Select the Reports > [report] node and set its Representation property to [solution view representation].
  2. Run the report.

Populate a time-history plot for one report or more
注Monitor data can only be populated from solution history for a report that has its Representation property set to the solution view representation. It cannot be populated directly from an expression report, since this report type has no Representation property. However, it is possible to set up the equivalent of such a monitor with user-defined field functions. For details, see the example Populating a Combination of Field Functions with Solution History below.
  1. (Optional) Multi-select the reports that you want to include in a single plot.
  2. Right-click the [report] node and choose Create Monitor and Plot from Report. If prompted, choose Single Plot.

    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ configures the monitor(s) to recompute the report whenever the solution view state changes.

  3. To change the range or frequency with which data points are plotted, modify the properties of the Solution Views > [solution view] > Animation node and its child nodes.
  4. Right-click the Solution Views > [solution view] node and select Animation > Play.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ steps through the range of states and, for each state, adds the computed report value to the monitor and plot.
Use the recorded coordinate system for converting field functions to a local coordinate system

Vector field functions can be transformed based on the recorded data of a local coordinate system. These field functions can be used in displayers, reports, and tables.

The following steps use a Sum report as an example:

  1. In the properties of a Sum report, set the Representation property to the representation that was created with the simulation history, and Centroid in Cartesian 1[X] for the field function to be reported.
  2. Run the report. The result is computed using the centroid values that are converted based on the recorded Cartesian 1 data.

Apply recorded solution data in an XY plot

 Select the Plots > [xy plot] node and set its Representation property to [solution view representation].

Include the recorded coordinate system in the extraction of an xyz internal table
  1. In the properties of the xyz internal table, set the Representation property to the representation that was created with the simulation history.
  2. Extract the table. The xyz coordinates are converted based on the recorded data of the specified coordinate system.
  3. (Optional) Export or tabulate the table. The data includes the coordinates from the simulation history.

Use the recorded coordinate system in the extraction of an accumulated force table

When extracting an accumulated force table, you can use the recorded coordinate system data to transform the direction vector of the force.

  1. In the properties of the accumulated force table, set the Representation property to the representation that was created with the simulation history.
  2. Extract the table. The force direction vector is transformed based on the recorded data of the specified coordinate system.
  3. (Optional) Export or tabulate the table. The data includes the force direction vector from the simulation history.

Populating a Combination of Field Functions with Solution History

In this example, you are using an expression report that has the definition ${MaximumPressureReport}/${MaximumAreaMagnitudeReport}, based on two Maximum reports (one for Pressure and one for Area Magnitude). You also have a monitor and plot from the expression report and have them populated with solution data during iteration.

  1. As described in the instructions above, define the two Maximum reports to use simulation history.
  2. Create a user-defined scalar field function with a definition as follows: ${MaximumPressureReport}/${MaximumAreaMagnitudeReport}.
  3. Create a Maximum report with this user field function selected.
  4. Create a monitor and plot from this report. The solution history results are consistent with the solution data in the plot of the expression report.