Thermal Analysis

Module 6
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-2
Thermal Analysis
In this chapter, we will briefly describe the procedure to do a
steady-state thermal analysis.
The purpose is two-fold:
To reiterate the typical analysis steps that were introduced in
Chapter 4.
To introduce you to thermal loads and boundary conditions.
Topics covered:
A. Overview
B. Procedure
C. Workshop
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-3
Thermal Analysis
A. Overview
Thermal analyses are used to determine the temperature
distribution, thermal gradient, heat flow, and other such
thermal quantities in a structure.
A thermal analysis can be steady-state or transient.
Steady-state implies that the loading conditions have settled
down to a steady level, with little or no time dependency.
Example: An iron that has already reached the desired
temperature setting.
Transient* implies conditions that are changing with time.
Example: A casting in the process of cooling down from molten
metal to solid.
* Not covered in this course
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-4
Thermal Analysis
...Overview
Thermal loading conditions can be:
Temperatures Regions of the model where temperatures are known.
Convections Surfaces where heat is transferred to (or from)
surroundings by means of convection. Input consists
of film coefficient h and bulk temperature of the
surrounding fluid T
b
.
Heat flux* Surfaces where the heat flow rate per unit area is
known.
Heat flow* Points where the heat flow rate is known.
Heat generation* Regions where the volumetric heat generation rate is
known.
Radiation* Surfaces where heat transfer occurs by means of
radiation. Input consists of emissivity, Stefan-
Boltzmann constant, and optionally, temperature at a
space node.
Adiabatic surfaces Perfectly insulated surfaces where no heat transfer
takes place.
* Not covered in this course
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-5
Thermal Analysis
B. Procedure
The procedure to do a steady-state thermal analysis is similar
to that for a static stress analysis:
Preprocessing
Geometry
Meshing
Solution
Loading
Solve
Postprocessing
Review results
Validate the solution
Setting GUI preferences (Main Menu > Preferences) to Thermal
may be helpful.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-6
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
Preprocessing
Geometry
Can either be created within ANSYS or imported.
Details of both methods will be covered later.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-7
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Preprocessing
Meshing
First define element attributes: element type, real constants,
and material properties.
Element type
The table below shows commonly used thermal element
types.
There is only one DOF per node: TEMP
2-D Solid 3-D Solid 3-D Shell Line Elements
Linear PLANE55

SOLID70

SHELL57

LINK31,32,33,34
Quadratic
PLANE77

PLANE35

SOLID90

SOLID87

Commonly used thermal element types

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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-8
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Preprocessing
Material properties
Minimum requirement is thermal conductivity, KXX.
Specific heat (C) will be needed if internal heat generation is to
be applied.
ANSYS-supplied material library (/ansys57/matlib) contains both
structural and thermal properties for a few common materials,
but we recommend that you create and use your own material
library.
Setting preferences to Thermal limits the Material Model GUI to
display only thermal properties.
Real constants
Primarily needed for shell and line elements.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-9
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Preprocessing
Then mesh the geometry.
Save the database.
Use the MeshTool to create the mesh. The default smart-size
level of 6 produces a good initial mesh.
This completes the preprocessing step. Solution is next.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-10
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
Solution
Loading
Prescribed Temperatures
DOF constraints for a thermal
analysis
Solution > -Loads-Apply >
Temperature
Or the D family of commands
(DA, DL, D)
Convections
These are surface loads
Solution > -Loads-Apply >
Convection
Or the SF family of commands
(SFA, SFL, SF, SFE)
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-11
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Solution
Adiabatic Surfaces
Perfectly insulated surfaces where no heat transfer takes
place.
This is the default condition, i.e, any surface with no boundary
conditions specified is automatically treated as an adiabatic
surface.
Other possible thermal loads:
heat flux (BTU / (hr-in2)
heat flow (BTU / hr)
heat generation (BTU / (hr-in3)
radiation (BTU / hr)
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-12
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Solution
Solve
First save the database.
Then issue SOLVE or click on Solution > -Solve- Current LS.
Results are written to the results file, jobname.rth, as well as to
the in-memory database.
This completes the solution step. Postprocessing is next.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-13
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
Postprocessing
Review Results
Typically consists of contour plots of temperature, thermal
gradient, and thermal flux.
General Postproc > Plot Results > Nodal Solu (or Element Solu)
Or use PLNSOL (or PLESOL)
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-14
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Postprocessing
A useful option for contour plots in 3-D solid models is
isosurfaces surfaces of constant value. Use the /CTYPE
command or Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Contours >
Contour Style.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-15
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
...Postprocessing
Validate the Solution
Are temperatures within the expected range?
You can generally guess the expected range based on
prescribed temperatures and convection boundaries.
Is the mesh adequate?
Just as in the case of stresses, you can plot the unaveraged
thermal gradients (element solution) and look for elements with
high gradients. These regions are candidates for mesh
refinement.
If there is a significant difference between the nodal (averaged)
and element (unaveraged) thermal gradients, the mesh may be
too coarse.
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Training Manual
J anuary 30, 2001
Inventory #001441
6-16
Thermal Analysis - Procedure
C. Workshop
Refer to your Workshop Supplement for instructions on:
W3. Axisymmetric Pipe with Fins