Disc-like objects in hierarchical hydrodynamical simulations: comparison with observations

We present results from a careful and detailed analysis of the structural a nd dynamical properties of a sample of 29 disc-like objects identified at z = 0 in three AP3M-SPH fully consistent cosmological simulations. These sim ulations are realizations of a CDM hierarchical model, in which an ineffici ent Schmidt-law-like algorithm to model the stellar formation process has b een implemented. We focus on properties that can be constrained with availa ble data from observations of spiral galaxies, namely the bulge and disc st ructural parameters and the rotation curves. Comparison with data from Broe ils, de Jong and Courteau gives satisfactory agreement, in contrast with pr evious findings using other codes. This suggests that the stellar formation implementation we have used has succeeded in forming compact bulges that s tabilize disc-like structures in the violent phases of their assembly, whil e in the quiescent phases the gas has cooled and collapsed in accord with t he Fall & Efstathiou standard model of disc formation.