{"id":1023,"date":"2018-10-24T07:41:52","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T14:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.plm.automation.siemens.com\/t5\/Simcenter-Blog\/Simcenter-STAR-CCM-v13-06-Finding-the-differences-that-make-a\/ba-p\/534762"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:08:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:08:54","slug":"simcenter-star-ccm-v13-06-finding-the-differences-that-make-a-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/simcenter-star-ccm-v13-06-finding-the-differences-that-make-a-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Simcenter STAR-CCM+ v13.06: Finding the differences that make a difference\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can you see the differences between each of the three images in the picture below? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A320_3bl_v1306_k019s@330RPM_Pressure@blades_underneath_logo.png\"<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backing up a bit, you\u2019re looking at the\u00a0pressure\u00a0contours on the bottom of an impeller in a mixing tank. Each image corresponds to a different operational condition. Looking from left to right, you see\u00a0the\u00a0steady state\u00a0results for 270 rpm, 300 rpm and 330 rpm respectively, from three separate simulations. \u201cSmall multiples, whether tabular or pictorial, move to the heart of visual reasoning \u2013 to see, distinguish, choose<\/span><\/em>.\u201d notes Eduard Tufte (1995, p. 33)[1]<\/strong> in one of his seminal books on visualizing information. So, we can \u201csee\u201d differences with this method of visual interrogation. When it comes to choosing a better design or an advantageous operating condition, here\u2019s the real question: In what ways do these differences matter? To answer that question, we need to combine both visual and numerical perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Simcenter STAR-CCM+ v13.06, we\u2019re enabling that combined perspective by leveraging our mature mapper technology, giving us a powerful method to store data within simulation (sim) files. You\u2019ve been able to load, map volume-based simulation history<\/em> (simh<\/strong>) results and store them in your sim files for some time now. Yet, a good rule for productive data analysis is to always work with the smallest amount of data needed to make decisions. What\u2019s new and exciting is our ability to load, map and store surface-based simulation history<\/em> (simh<\/strong>) results. Not only will this save you disk space and lower your resource requirements for postprocessing, you’ll be able to quantify differences for a wide range of comparative scenarios. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look again at these three operational conditions. First, we’ll choose 300 rpm as our baseline .sim file. Now, if we were to store and save the pressure in a simh file for the entire mixing tank, it would be ~515MB. Instead, we’ll create simh file snapshots for the high and low rpm operating conditions, storing only the pressure <\/strong>at just the impeller boundary surfaces<\/strong>. These simh snapshot files are very small, ~1.5MB each. Compared to the volume-based simh file<\/em>, a surface-based simh file<\/em> is ~340X<\/span><\/strong> times smaller!<\/strong> <\/span>After mapping the boundary surface simh files, we now have simple Field Functions to reference these other operating condition pressure results within our 300rpm baseline sim file. Referring back to the starting picture at the top of this story, we were able to generate that image, showing all three operating conditions, in the same scene, from one<\/u> baseline .sim file, using just one Simcenter STAR-CCM+ license. Visually informative and convenient for sure, but we still need a critical evaluation. Are these differences significant?     <\/span>  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n