STAR-Works : Mainstream CAD with CFD

CD adapco Group Marketing

At the SolidWorks Conference 2002, Las Vegas, the CD adapco Group announces the release of a new product, STAR-Works, which for the first time fully integrates a leading Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code with a no-compromise intuitive CAD front end. As the name implies, SolidWorks combines the best in class features of STAR-CD and SolidWorks. It aims to meet the demand of engineers for a single CAD and CFD solution to speed product development, cut costs and improve product quality.

SolidWorks is well established as the market leader in desktop solid modelling offering unmatched performance, value, leadership in innovation and the largest community of users. No other CAD system allows you to get product design work done as quickly and accurately (see www.solidworks.com).

STAR-CD is recognised for its powers and capabilities as a multipurpose industrial CFD code, arguably it is the technology leader for CFD. The code offers unrivalled ability to handle complex geometries, a wide range of physical models, and fast, accurate solver technology (see www.cd-adapco.com).

Synergy between CAD and CFD means 2 + 2 = 5!

The tight integration of CFD with CAD in the STAR-Works bundle offers a powerful combination of easy entry into "simple" flow simulation with unlimited headroom to access the most advanced CFD when needed. Engineers who are familiar with CAD will find adding CFD to existing models easy and intuitive, since boundary conditions and fluid properties, etc, are simply entered within the familiar SolidWorks GUI environment.

But here's the difference! Unlike other CFD tools previously released by major CAD companies, the story does not stop here! The full functionality of STAR-CD, with automatic meshing, is there in the background and can be turned to when needed. So, with STAR-Works you can develop your models and your CFD expertise at an ideal pace, secure in the knowledge that you can access unlimited CFD technology.

Here's how STAR-Works works:

The first step is familiar to anyone who has used a 3D CAD system. In STAR-Works, you build your model using the powerful parametric tools available in SolidWorks. This model can be used later for all downstream functions such as prototyping and manufacturing.

Having built the model you simply click on a single button to create surface mesh. This can be left to the fully automatic default or you can have complete control over the mesh size globally or locally.

Boundary conditions are applied direct to the model faces, then the volume mesh required for the CFD calculation is created automatically - again with a simple click of a button. STAR-Works meshes are tetrahedral with the option of having near surface prismatic layers. The set-up is visualised in the SolidWorks environment.

Appropriate physics and material properties are selected from a built-in database. The CFD calculation is then run either on a single processor or it can take advantage of dual or quad processor machines. Finally, the results are post-processed in the STAR-Works easy to use integrated post-processing environment. For advanced post-processing such as animation, particle tracking, data graphs and additional plotting options it will open STAR-CD's own visualisation tool, PROSTAR.

At this stage the main work has been done and the design space can be explored. Working within the SolidWorks configuration manager, you can test different geometries or different flow conditions on the same model or as a combination of both.

With STAR-Works, flow solutions have never been simpler!