Siemens Star-CCM+ 12.06.011 he latest release of Siemens’ STAR-CCM+ software includes several new features to help product development organizations enhance and accelerate their ability to digitally simulate and understand how a product will perform in the real world using a digital twin–a precise virtual model of a product’s physical and performance characteristics, the company said in a news release. STAR-CCM+ version 12.06.011 introduces Ray Tracing, a capability that allows engineers to apply photo-realistic renderings to their design and simulation results, utilizing similar technology that is used to provide computer-generated imagery (CGI) special effects in movies and computer games. Image courtesy of Siemens. STAR-CCM+ version 12.06 introduces Ray Tracing, a capability that allows engineers to apply photo-realistic renderings to their design and simulation results. Image courtesy of Siemens. New analysis tools combined with enhanced visual realism enable STAR-CCM+ version 12.02 to help engineers unlock deeper meaning behind complex engineering simulations. Using features such as Adaptive Gridding and the ability to simulate reactions in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), users will be at the forefront of predictive engineering analytics, which increases design efficiency, reduces costs and produces higher quality, innovative designs. Developed by Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software business, STAR-CCM+ is part of the company’s Simcenter portfolio, a suite of simulation software and test solutions. “STAR-CCM+ version 12.06.011 is exclusively focused on making engineers more effective and enabling them to more quickly discover better designs, faster using predictive engineering technology,” said Jean-Claude Ercolanelli, senior vice president of Product Management at Siemens PLM Software. “These same engineers are also increasingly called upon to communicate their results across their organizations, to people who have little direct exposure to interpreting simulation results. Such a new functionality in STAR-CCM+ greatly facilitates this communication using Digital Twin simulation models that not only behave like their real-world counterparts, but also present a precise visual representation, promoting understanding and inspiring confidence.” STAR-CCM+ v12.06 also introduces Ray Tracing, a capability that allows engineers to apply photo-realistic renderings to their design and simulation results, using similar technology that is used to provide the computer-generated imagery (CGI) special effects in movies and computer games. This enhanced visualization capability is particularly useful when communicating the results of simulations to stakeholders outside of the core simulation community, the company said.