Geometry Import and Clean-Up — Lesson 1

Achieving accurate results in CFD simulations begins with careful and precise geometry preparation—an essential step, especially for supersonic rockets subjected to extreme aerodynamic forces, shock waves, and high-temperature gradients. Proper preprocessing ensures the rocket's structure is clean, unified, and optimized for simulating high-speed flow dynamics with precision.

A key focus in this stage is creating void spaces, such as the nozzle region, which are critical for accurately modeling exhaust flow and thrust generation. Additionally, aligning the geometry with symmetry planes reduces computational effort while maintaining accuracy, enabling the solver to capture vital flow phenomena like shock structures, boundary layer formation, and wake effects behind the fins. By eliminating redundant components and organizing the geometry effectively, you pave the way for streamlined meshing and meaningful simulation results.

In this video, we’ll guide you through the preprocessing of rocket geometry using Ansys Discovery™ 3D product simulation software, transforming raw CAD files into simulation-ready models. You’ll learn to import the design, align nodes for symmetry, and inspect internal structures. Key tasks include converting shell bodies into solids, merging multiple parts into a unified component, creating nozzle void spaces, and cleaning up the object tree for an organized and efficient workflow.

Alternate video link.

Simulation Files
Download the input file here to follow the video step-by-step. Student teams can apply for a free research license here.