CD-adapco: STAR-Works

STAR-Works integrates the leading CFD code STAR-CCM+ with a no-compromise CAD front end. It aims to meet the demand of engineers for a single CAD and CFD solution to speed product development and improve product quality.

Engineers who are familiar with CAD will find adding CFD to existing models easy and intuitive, since boundary conditions and fluid properties are simply entered within the familiar SolidWorks GUI environment. Unlike other CFD tools previously released by major CAD companies, the full functionality of STAR-CCM+ is always accessible in STAR-Works.

Solid models are simply built using the powerful parametric tools available in SolidWorks. This model can be used for all downstream functions such as prototyping and manufacturing. A surface mesh can be created by the automatic defaults, or the user can take complete control. With a simple click, the user also has a volume mesh of high-quality tetrahedral cells, including a graded prismatic mesh near walls to capture boundary layer effects. Boundary conditions can be applied directly to the faces of the solid model. If the model is changed, it adapts to the changes. Fluid properties are selected from a large properties database. To solve and see results, the calculation is run either on a single processor or on dual or quad processor machines.

STAR-Works also comes complete with an easy-to-use integrated post-processing environment. Working within the SolidWorks configuration manager, a different geometry or different flow conditions can be tested on the same model.

The solution is as simple as that!