Engineering Software CD-adapco’s Engineering Software Star-CCM+ v5.06 Handles Solid Particles Via Discrete Element Modeling

The introduction of a new discrete element modeling (DEM) capability into the latest release of CD-adapco’s Star-CCM+ multi-disciplinary engineering software goes beyond computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by adding the ability to simulate bulk material handling and granular flows. In addition, the software includes a broad range of new features and improvements, including more than 200 customer enhancement requests.

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The new DEM feature can be used to simulate the motion of a large number of interacting discrete particles, such as the granular flow of sand, food particles, metal powders, pharmaceutical capsules and slurries. DEM tracks the interaction between every particle in a numerically efficient manner, modeling contact forces and energy transfer in particle collisions, and conductive and radiative heat transfer between particles. Star-CCM+ is the first commercial engineering simulation tool to include a DEM capability that is fully coupled with numerical flow simulation in a single software environment, CD-adapco says.

Potential industrial applications of DEM include mining, for rock mechanics and the transport of granular materials; in the oil, gas and chemical industries for multiphase flows involving solids; in pharmaceuticals for tablet coating, mixing and packing; and in agriculture and food processing for the design of hoppers and conveyors.

Improved CAD Integration

Star-CCM+ v5.06 also includes new CAD clients for CATIA V5, Solidworks, Pro/E and NX. Each of these Star-CCM+ CAD clients enables engineers and designers to manage multi-disciplinary engineering simulation from the comfort of their chosen CAD environment, an approach that delivers a number of benefits over the traditional simulation process:

• communication between various members of a project team is enhanced, as designers and engineers can share models and results;

• the simulation is directly associated with the geometry, enabling parametric “what-if” design evaluations;

• associativity with parametric CAD models allows easy modification of parts without the need to redefine units, materials or boundary conditions, saving time and improving productivity;

• co-simulation with Abaqus FEA from SIMULIA.

Although Star-CCM+ offers a comprehensive suite of multiphysics capabilities, there are occasions in which it is beneficial to tightly couple with a third party simulation tool, such as Abaqus, WAVE, OLGA and GT-Power. For the first time Star-CCM+ v5.06 includes direct connection to Abaqus FEA, delivering fully coupled, two-way, fluid-structure interaction.

Using direct co-simulation coupling provides efficiency and reduced overhead associated with tasks such as file-based coupling or use of external middleware software. The direct coupling between Star-CCM+ and Abaqus will bring fluid-structure-thermal calculations within the reach of all simulation engineers, making FSI a standard part of the engineering design process.

Aeroacoustic Modeling

In line with CD-adapco’s commitment to expand the aeroacoustic modeling capabilities of Star-CCM+, the new release includes far field propagation using the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings method. This method, coupled with the already extensive analysis tools, provides a complete feature set for aeroacoustic analysis in Star-CCM+, the company says.

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