Chapter 8

Radiation Heat Transfer

Chapter Overview Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• General Characteristics of Radiation
• Radiation Theory
• ANSYS Solution Methodology
• Methods of Modeling Radiation in ANSYS
– Surface Effect Elements
– Link Elements
– Radiation Matrix Utility
– Radiosity Solver Method
• Example Using the Radiation Matrix Utility - Thermal Analysis
of a Heat Sink
– Hidden Method Solution
– Non-Hidden Method Solution

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General Characteristics Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Radiation Heat Transfer is a mode of energy transfer where
the energy is transported via electromagnetic waves.
Thermal radiation covers the portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum from 0.1 to 100 mm. This includes a portion of the
ultraviolet spectrum, all visible and all infrared wavelengths.
• Unlike other modes of heat transfer which require a
conducting medium, radiation is most efficient in a vacuum
(e.g., outer space).
• For semitransparent bodies (e.g., glass), radiation is a
volumetric phenomenon since emissions can escape from
within bodies.
• For opaque bodies, radiation is essentially a surface
phenomena since nearly all internal emissions are absorbed
within the body.
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General Characteristics (continued) Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• ANSYS is capable of simulating radiation between opaque bodies,
so we will limit our discussion to radiation as a surface
phenomenon.
• Radiation heat transfer between two surfaces is proportional to the
difference of their surface absolute temperatures raised to the
fourth power:

Qi  j  (Ti 4  T j4 )

• Consequently, radiation analysis is nonlinear and requires an

iterative solution.

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Surface Emission and Irradiation Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Real surfaces emit radiation to other surfaces (emission) and
receive emissions from other surfaces (irradiation). When we
perform an analysis involving radiation, we are concerned
with the net effect of emission and irradiation.
• Real surfaces emit and receive radiation at various
wavelengths (spectral distribution) and preferentially with
respect to direction (directional distribution). These
characteristics also change with temperature.
Emissive Power

Wavelength Direction Distribution

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Diffuse or Spectral Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Surfaces can be idealized as either diffuse or spectral reflectors. A
diffuse reflector will reflect radiation uniformly with regard to
direction, regardless of the orientation of the incident radiation:

Diffuse Surface

• A spectral surface will reflect incident radiation in a specific

direction much like a mirror would reflect a beam of light:

q q

Spectral Surface
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Diffuse or Spectral (continued) Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Likewise, surfaces can be idealized as either diffuse or
spectral emitters.
• No real surface is truly diffuse or spectral. Surfaces with dull
finishes tend towards diffuse and highly polished surfaces
tend toward spectral.
• To simplify calculations, properties describing the radiative
behavior of surfaces can be averaged across all wavelengths
and directions. Only averaged properties (designated total,
hemispherical) will be referred to in the following discussion.
Consequently, there will effectively be no differentiation
between diffuse and spectral surfaces.

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 Absorption and Reflection Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• For an opaque medium subject to irradiation of a given intensity, G ,
some of the incident radiation energy will be reflected away from
the surface and some will be absorbed by the medium:

G
Incident radiation Gref
Energy reflected

Gabs
Energy absorbed

• The total, hemispherical absorptivity, , of

a surface relates its tendency to absorb
conservati on of energy requires :
incident radiation.
   1
• The total, hemispherical reflectivity, , of a
surface relates its tendency to reflect
incident radiation.
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Emissivity and Emissive Power Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Likewise, the total, hemispherical emissivity, , of a surface relates
its ability to emit thermal radiation energy in all directions at all
wavelengths. This is a dimensionless quantity.
• The total power (in flux units) emitted by a surface across all
wavelengths and directions is given by the Stefan-Boltzmann Law:
q
E  T 4
A
Where :
E  total emissive power
A  area of surface
  total, hemispheri cal emissivity of surface
  Stefan - Boltzmann constant
T  absolute temperatu re of surface

NOTE: Absolute temperature in English is expressed in degrees Rankine (°R) which is offset from degrees
Fahrenheit (°F) by 460°. In SI units, the absolute temperature is expressed in degrees Kelvin (°K) , which is offset
from degrees Celsius (°C) by 273°. The offset temperature may be defined with the TOFFST command.
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Radiosity Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• The Total Radiosity, J, is expressed in flux units and simply
represents a combination of the energy emitted and energy
reflected from a surface (i.e., total energy leaving surface):

J
Gref Radiosity
Energy
reflected Ge
G Emissive
Incident radiation Power

• Since ANSYS does not directly account for surface reflectivity, the
radiosity and emissivity are assumed to be equivalent (E=J).
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Blackbodies Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• A blackbody is an idealized surface that is used to
characterize real surfaces by comparison.
• Here are a list of characteristics of blackbodies:
– blackbodies absorb all incident radiation (i.e., no reflection),
regardless of wavelength and direction.
– blackbodies are perfect emitters. For a given wavelength and
temperature, no surface can emit more energy than a black
body.
– A blackbody is a perfectly diffuse emitter; emissions are
uniform in all directions.
– Consequently, for a blackbody: B = B = 1.

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Gray Surfaces Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Real surfaces are called gray surfaces because they do not behave as
blackbodies.
• The total, hemispherical emissivity of a gray surface at temperature T is
defined as follows:

E (T )
 (T ) 
Eb (T )
Where :
E  total, hemispheri cal emissive power of gray surface
Eb  total, hemispheri cal emissive power for a blackbody

• Consequently, for a gray body ( < 1) always.

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ANSYS and Radiation Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Summary of important assumptions regarding ANSYS
implementation of radiation:
– ANSYS considers radiation to be a surface phenomenon and
is therefore suitable for modeling opaque surfaces.
– ANSYS does not directly account for reflectivity of surfaces. It
effectively assumes that the absorptivity and emissivity of a
surface are equal (  ) . Consequently, only the emissivity
property needs to be defined in an ANSYS radiation analysis.
– ANSYS does not automatically account for the directional
dependence of emissivity, nor does it allow emissivity to be
defined with wavelength dependence. Emissivity can be
defined as a function of temperature for some elements.
– Any medium which separates radiating surfaces is considered
to be non-participating (i.e., it does not absorb or emit energy)
with regard to computation of the radiation energy exchange.
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Multiple Surfaces Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Up to this point we have spoken of only individual radiating
surfaces. However, when studying real problems, we will
need to consider the interaction of multiple radiating
surfaces.
• The more surfaces we consider, the messier our problem
gets:

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Form Factor Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Before we can compute the radiant heat energy exchange
between surfaces, we need to introduce the concept of Form
Factor (a.k.a. view factor, shape factor, configuration factor).
• A form factor is defined with reference to two surfaces (i and
j) which radiate to each other. It is the fraction of the emitted
radiation from one surface (i) which is incident upon another
surface (j):

Radiant energy received by surface j from surface i

Fij 
Radiant energy emitted by i

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Form Factor (continued) Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• The form factor for two surfaces is a function of
area, orientation, and distance.

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Form Factor (continued) Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• For a system of n surfaces, a form factor matrix
can be assembled containing n2 terms:
 F11 F12  F1n 
F F22  F2 n 
F    21
nxn     
 
 Fn1 Fn 2 Fnn 
• All of the energy emitted from any one surface
must be conserved:
Fi1  Fi 2  ........Fin  1

• Also, reciprocity requires: Ai Fij  A j F ji

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Radiation Heat Transfer Between Two
Training Manual
Surfaces

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• To compute the heat transfer from one surface (i) to another (j),
we use the reciprocity relationship and the Stefan-Boltzmann
Law to write:

Qi  j  Ai Fij (Ti 4  T j4 )

• The equation can be rewritten and terms factored as follows:

Qi  j  K (Ti4  Tj4 ) where , K  Ai Fij
Qi  j  K (Ti2  Tj2 )(Ti  Tj )(Ti  Tj )
Qi  j  K (Ti  Tj ) where , K  is a function of T 3

• Since K’ is a function of T3, the equation cannot be solved

directly but instead requires an iterative solution.

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ANSYS Solution Method Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• ANSYS employs a similar process to solve multiple surface
radiation problems in matrix form:

K T  Q where, K  is a function of T 3

• Developing the system of matrix equations for multiple

surface problems requires a more involved procedure than
the simplistic factoring approach presented on the previous
slide.
• Radiation is a highly nonlinear phenomenon requiring use of
the Newton-Raphson iterative solution procedure. See
Chapter 4 for more information about nonlinear analysis
techniques.
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Modeling Radiation in ANSYS Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• There are four methods available in ANSYS to model
radiation effects:
– Surface Effect Elements
• SURF151/SURF152 elements; used for radiation between a
surface and a point or between a surface and the
atmosphere.
– Radiation Link Element
• LINK31; used for radiation between pairs of nodes.
– Radiation Matrix (superelement)
• used for generalized radiation problems involving two or
more surfaces.
– Radiosity Solver Method
• used for 2-d and large 3d radiation problems (available for all
thermal element types)

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Modeling Radiation
Using Surface Effect Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Surface Effect Elements
• Used to model radiation between a surface and a point or between a
surface and the atmosphere.
• The form factors must be known, but usually are not known.
• SURF151 is used for 2D surfaces and SURF152 for 3D surfaces.
(
qr  A T 4  T04 )
Where :
qr  radiation heat flow
A  surface area
  emissivity of the surface
  Stefan - Boltzmann constant
T  surface temperature
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Modeling Radiation

Using Surface Effect Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Boundary Condition, SURF151
• Overlay SURF151 elements on the model where radiating surfaces
exist.
• Specify an extra node away from the base SURF151 elements. (Note:
The extra node may belong to an element on another radiation
surface in the model or may be isolated, with an imposed
temperature constraint.)
• Material property:
EMIS ( )

• Real constants:
FORMF ( Fij )
SBCONST(Stefan  Boltzmann constant,  )

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Modeling Radiation

Using Surface Effect Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

SURF151 element options
1. Set Extra node for radiation to Include (K5).

2. Set Radiation form fact calculation (K9).

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Modeling Radiation
Using Surface Effect Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

3D Boundary Condition, SURF152
• Overlay SURF152 elements on the model where radiating surfaces
exist.
• Specify an extra node away from the base SURF152 elements. (Note:
The extra node may belong to an element on another radiation
surface in the model or may be isolated, with an imposed
temperature constraint.)
• Material property:
EMIS( )  Can be defined as function of temperature

• Real constants:
FORMF ( Fij )  not needed if ANSYS keyoption is set
SBCONST (Stefan  Boltzmann constant ,  )

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Modeling Radiation
Using Surface Effect Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

SURF152 element options
1. Include extra node for radiation (K5).
2. Request form fact calculation if extra node is point source. If form
factor is known, input via real constant (K9).

If requested, ANSYS
calculates form factor
for each integration
point to be cos().
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Modeling Radiation

Using Link Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Radiation Between Two Nodes
• The LINK31 element may be used for simple problems involving
radiation between two points or several pairs of points.
• Use LINK31 if the form factors are known.

(
q1 2   A1 F12T14  A2 F21T24 )
Where :
q1 2  radiation heat flow from node1 to node 2
A1 , A2  surface areas associated with nodes1 and 2
F21  form factor
Note : Fij represents the fraction of the total radiant energy
emitted by node i that is incident on node j.
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Modeling Radiation
Using Link Elements Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Radiation Link Element, LINK31
– Location of remote node can be arbitrary or connected to
another element.
– Material Property: EMIS ( )

AREA( Ai )
– Real Constant:
FORMF ( Fij )
SBCONST(Stefan  Boltzmann constant,  )

– A temperature-dependent emissivity may be specified for this

element.

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Modeling Radiation
Using the Radiation Matrix Utility Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Radiation Matrix Utility
• Use when the form factors are not known.
• Generates the form factors, Fij, for arbitrarily oriented surfaces.
• Used for radiation interchanged between surfaces.
• May be used for a closed or open system.
• This method can be very computationally intensive and may require
a relatively large amount of CPU time and disk space (particularly
when using the HIDDEN method).
• Does not allow temperature-dependent emissivities.

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Using the Radiation Matrix Utility Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Radiation Matrix Utility
• Implements the radiant energy interchange equation:

  ji  1  i  1
( )
N N

   Fji 
    Qi    ji  Fji Ti4

i 1  i   i   Ai i 1

Where :
N  number of radiating surfaces
 ji  1 when j  i
Kronecker Delta  
 ji  0 when j  i
Ti  absolute temperature of surface i
Qi  net heat flow rate into or out of surface i

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HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Radiation Matrix Utility
• The Radiation Matrix Utility calculates a matrix, [Kts], which represents
radiation effects between two or more surfaces. It includes calculated
form factors for the various surfaces involved:

K T  Q
ts 4

• The matrix is then used as a superelement (MATRIX50) in a thermal

analysis to calculate the temperature solution.

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Radiation Matrix Utility
• During solution, the equations are linearized (see Slides 8-17,18) for
iterative solution with a linear equation solver:

K T   Q
• While [K’] is a function of {T}, [Kts] is not. Therefore, the radiation
matrix does not need to be recomputed each iteration.
Unfortunately, this means that temperature-dependent emissivity is
not permitted.

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Using the Radiation Matrix Utility Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• There are three main steps involved in using the radiation
matrix utility to model radiation. They are:
1. Define the radiating surface(s).
2. Generate the radiation matrix.
3. Use the radiation matrix in the thermal analysis.

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Modeling Radiation

Using the Radiation Matrix Utility Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Step 1: Defining the Radiating Surfaces
1. Build the model to be used for the thermal analysis.
2. On all radiating surfaces, overlay a mesh of:
– LINK32 elements on 2D radiating surfaces
– SHELL57 elements on 3D radiating surfaces.

Important Notes:
• The overlaying LINK32 or SHELL57 mesh should match the
underlying solid element in geometry (2D/3D) and order (linear-
mesh of the model).
• If different emissivities exist on the radiation surfaces, be sure to
assign different material properties to the appropriate surfaces.

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Important Notes (continued):

• The overlaying mesh must have the proper orientation.

• For LINK32 elements, the positive Y-direction of the
element coordinate system must point in the viewing
direction (direction of radiation).
• For SHELL57 elements, the positive Z-direction of the
element coordinate system must be facing the viewing
direction (direction of radiation).
• Element orientation depends upon the method of creation. For
example, if lines are meshed with LINK32 the orientation comes
from the direction of the line being meshed.
• Turn on plotting on element coordinate system symbols to
check orientation graphically.

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Step 1: Defining the Radiating Surfaces (continued)
3. Define a node (space node) which will absorb any radiant
energy not received by the other surfaces.
– The location of the space node is arbitrary.
– A space node is required for an open system.
– For a closed system a space node is not recommended
– The space node may belong to an element or may be isolated
with an imposed temperature constraint.

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Modeling Radiation
Using the Radiation Matrix Utility Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Step 2: Generating the Radiation Matrix
• Enter the radiation matrix utility by selecting:
Main Menu>>Radiation Opt

• Select all the nodes and elements making up the radiating

surfaces(s) including the space node (if defined).

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Step 2: Generating the Radiation Matrix (continued)
1. Define the emissivity of the radiating surface(s). The emissivity
value defaults to 1.

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2. Define the Stefan-Boltzmann constant value for the proper units
being used in the thermal analysis
(default is 0.119e-10 BTU/hr • in² • R4).
3. Specify whether the analysis is 2D, 3D axisymmetric or 3D
(default is 3D).
4. Specify the space node for radiant energy not absorbed by other
surfaces.

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5. Specify whether the viewing procedure uses the HIDDEN or NON-
HIDDEN method (defaults to HIDDEN).
– The HIDDEN method should be used if any of the radiating surfaces
are blocked in the direct line of vision of other surfaces.
– The NON-HIDDEN method makes all surfaces visible to each other.

6. Set the number of rays on the HIDDEN method. Increasing the

number of rays increases accuracy of the form factor calculations
(default is 20).

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HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

7. Turn on the print key (if desired) to see form factors printed for
verification purposes.
8. Write out the radiation matrix to filename.sub to be used as a
MATRIX50 superelement in the thermal analysis phase.

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9. Re-select all of the other nodes and elements in the thermal
model.
10. The radiation matrix is now available to be used as a
superelement in the thermal analysis.

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Step 3: Using the Radiation Matrix
1. Re-enter the preprocessor.
2. Define a new element type as MATRIX50. Change keyoption K1 for
a radiation substructure.

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Step 3: Using the Radiation Matrix (continued)
3. Select the superelement as the active element type for meshing.
(Define attributes).
4. Define the superelement by specifying the filename written out in
the radiation matrix utility.
5. Delete or un-select the elements making up the overlaid mesh on
the radiating surface(s).
6. Define the temperature offset for the absolute scale.
7. Enter Solution and define the thermal boundary conditions on the
space node and run the solution.

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Using the Radiosity Solver Method Training Manual

HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

Radiosity Solver Method:
• Radiation applied as surface effect using SFx family of
commands
• Generates form factors, Fij, for arbitrarily oriented surfaces.
• May be used for a closed or open system (space node or
space temperature options).
• Always uses the HIDDEN method.
• Allows temperature-dependent emissivities.

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• Procedure:
– Define radiating surfaces
– Specify radiosity options (if applicable)
– Specify open enclosure options (if applicable)
– Specify offset temperature and Stefan-Boltzmann constant
– Specify view factor options (if applicable)
– Define load options

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HEAT TRANSFER 5.7

• Defining Radiating Surfaces
– SFx commands from: Main_Menu>Solution>Apply>-Thermal-
Radiation>
– Pick desired areas, nodes or elements

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• Specify emissivity and enclosure number.

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Using the Radiosity Solver Method Training Manual

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• Radiosity Solver Options
– RADOPT, FLUXRELX, FLUXTOL, SOLVER, MAXITER, TOLER, OVERRLEX
– There are 2 solvers available when using the radiosity method,
Iterative (default) and Direct solvers. These solvers are
independent of any of ANSYS solvers of the same name (i.e.
sparse direct, PCG, etc.).
• Iterative solver is preferred. Direct solver is robust but costly for
large problems (0=iterative, 1=direct).
• If iterative solver is converging but runs out of iterations, direct
solver is automatically activated (default is 1000 iterations).
• Flux relaxation (FLUXRELX), can be increased if the problem is NOT
radiation dominant, to speed up the solution (default = 0.1)
• Flux tolerance (FLUXTOL) affects radiation solution tolerance.
Decreasing this value increases accuracy (default = 0.1). May require
more iterations (MAXITER) if greater accuracy is desired.

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• Radiosity Solver Options (continued)
– TOLER value relates to the iterative solver tolerance. Default is
0.1 which is fine for most problems. Decreasing this value
increases the solver accuracy.
– OVERRLEX controls over relaxation in the iterative solver.
Increasing this value can speed up solution on very large
problems by reducing the number of iterations required to
converge. Try increasing values from 0.1 (default) up to 1 for
very large problems.

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• Emissivity:
– Can be constant or temperature dependent.
– To specify temperature dependent emissivity, reference a
material table number using a negative number.
– For example using the SF command where a material table N is
defined (i.e. MP, N, EMIS, values), use:
• SF, surface_nodes, RDSF, -N

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• Enclosure Numbers
– Sets of surfaces identified by common enclosure numbers are
assumed to “see” one another (i.e. view factors are calculated
among the members of that set).
– Multiple enclosure numbers may be defined within the same
model.

Note: The term “enclosure” is used for surface identification only.

It has no reference to open or closed radiating systems. Thus,
open radiating systems are identified using enclosure numbers in
the same way as closed systems.

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Open vs. Closed Enclosure systems
• Closed systems do not use or require space nodes or
temperatures.
• The presence of an open system is determined by the view
factor calculation and requires the definition of a space
temperature. This can be done using a space node or by
defining a space temperature.
– Space temperature defined without using space node:
SPCTEMP, enclosure number, temperature
– Space temperature defined using space node:
SPCNOD, enclosure number, node number
Note: Each open enclosure is associated with one space node or
temperature. Multiple enclosure, open systems may employ multiple
space node or temperature definitions, however each enclosure must be
associated with only one.
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• View factor considerations:
– VFOPT, opt controls when and if view factors are written (the
default is jobname.vf in the working directory).
• VFOPT, off (default), computes and writes view factors only
upon the first SOLVE. Subsequent solutions re-use the
original view factors
• VFOPT, new computes new view factors for each load step.
This option is useful for situations involving changing
geometry (NLGEOM, ON) or radiating surfaces or sources
that move.
– HEMIOPT command (radiation options) controls the resolution
of the view factor calculation. The default value is 10 which is
good for most problems.
• May be advantageous to increase HEMIOPT to 50-100 when
the underlying elements are very coarse.

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• Running a “quasi-static” radiation problem (QSOPT, ON)
– Solution method is used for problems where radiation is the
dominant form of heat transfer and/or the model is
unconstrained (no temp DOF fixed).
– Basically, this is a transient solution (ANTYPE, TRANS) which is
run to steady state. No need to issue the TIME command.

• QSOPT, ON procedure:
– Make sure density and specific heat are specified (these values
need not be exact but should be representative)
– ANTYPE, TRANS
– QSOPT, ON
– If TIME is not specified (it need not be) it defaults to 1
– If steady state is not reached, time is doubled and solution
continues
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• QSOPT, ON (additional notes):
– Time step sizes controlled by AUTOTS
– If user specifies time, solution proceeds until this time is
reached. If the solution has not reached steady state, the user’s
time is doubled and the solution continues.
– Can be activated in the final load step of multiple load step
problems to run solution to steady state (note: set KBC, 1 to
step final loads).
– OPNCONTROL is used to test for steady state. The default
behavior compares the last 3 solutions and considers
temperature changes of 0.1 or less as converged.
– Increasing the number of equilibrium iterations can help avoid
unnecessary bisection during solution (NEQIT).

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• QSOPT, ON (about time):
– As mentioned, density () and specific heat (c) should be
specified when performing a quasi-static analysis. If conditions
at steady state are the only results of interest, these material
property values are arbitrary.
– A higher “diffusivity” (diffusivity = k/( * c)) will generally
decrease solution times. Thus, adjusting density and specific
heat to increase this value can be helpful.
– NOTE: when using arbitrary material properties to optimize
quasi-static solutions, time is not representative of reality. The
steady state solution is, however, valid.
– If realistic material properties for density and specific heat are
used, the time when steady state is reached (as well as
intermediate times) are valid.

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Problem Description:
Case 1 - The base of an aluminum heat sink (1/2 symmetry used) is
subjected to a heat flux load. Fins are cooled via convection to air.
Case 2 - Radiation effects are added to Case 1 by using a Radiation
Matrix created using the hidden method.
Case 3 - Radiation effects are added to Case 1 by using a Radiation
Matrix created using the non-hidden method.

ANSYS input files for

Case 2 and Case 3 are
provided in Appendix B

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Model Dimensions:

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Guidelines:
• The heat sink material is aluminum, with a constant KXX = 8.5
BTU/hr-in-°F.
• Use BIN units to complete the analysis.
• Use a constant value of h for all fin convection surfaces.
• Apply convection using SURF151 elements with the extra
node option.
• End surfaces of sink
are adiabatic. Adiabatic

Adiabatic
Heat Flux on Base Surface
Note: Not all menus and steps are detailed in the following pages.
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Thermal Loads:
• Heat flux into the base = 17 BTU/hr-in2.
• Air temperature above the heat sink is 90 F.
• Film coefficient on fin surfaces is 0.01 BTU/hr-in2-°F.
• Surfaces with no loads are adiabatic.
Additional Assumptions:
• This is an open system, so radiation not absorbed by fin
surfaces will go to the space node.
• Radiation occurs only along the fin surfaces (not adiabatic
surfaces).

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Basic Procedure
CASE 1- Thermal Analysis of Heat Sink (no radiation).
Note: Use of scalar
• Define scalar parameters as follows: parameters is not
required. It is
demonstrated
base = .150, hgt = 1.0, ttop = 0.05, tbot = .150, fspc = .4 only as one of many
possible methods of
• Manually define eight keypoints and three areas. generating geometry

• Reflect the geometry as required to generate the model.

• Mesh the model using quad PLANE55 elements.
• Mesh the exterior fin surfaces using SURF151 elements with the
extra node option.
• Apply heat flux, convection and temperature loads.
• Run an initial solution without radiation effects.

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• Define element types PLANE55 and SURF151, set keyoptions.

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• Define material properties; only KXX is required.

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• Define parameters and use to create keypoint geometry.

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• Plot of keypoints. The eight keypoints created can be used
for generation of three areas, and then area pattern.

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• Areas generated using initial set of keypoints.

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• Areas after first reflection operation.

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• Areas after final reflection operation, plotted with colors and
numbers turned on.

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• Element plot: PLANE55 quad shaped elements.

Note: A global
element size of 0.045
inches was used.

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• Lines for surface element meshing and convection loading.

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• Isolate nodes
attached to lines
for surface effect
element
generation.
• Use *get command
to get maximum
node number in
model, assign
name “nn” to this
value.
• Create the “extra
node”; assign node
number “nn+1”.

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• Set default attributes to type 2, SURF151 and generate
elements with extra node specified.

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• Plot of SURF151 elements with extra node.

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• Plot of applied loads and boundary conditions: convection
and temperature on extra node.

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• Plot of applied loads and boundary conditions: heat flux.

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• Solve current load step. This solution includes only heat flux
and convection loads, radiation will be applied next.

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• Check results.
– List the reaction solution. Compare with input heat value.

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• Compare with input heat ……

17 BTU/hr-in2 * 2.2 in2 = 37.4 BTU/hr

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• Plot temperature distribution in heat sink.

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CASE 2- Include radiation effects; Radiation Matrix-Hidden Method.
• Enter the preprocessor.
• Define new element type, LINK32.
• Isolate nodes on radiating surfaces.
• Create LINK32 elements, check orientation.
• Define the space node.
• Use the Radiation Matrix Utility to generate the radiation matrix,
radheat.sub.

Note: Not all menus and steps are detailed in the following pages.

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CASE 2 (cont.) Radiation Matrix-Hidden Method.
• Re-enter the preprocessor.
• Define new element type, MATRIX50.
• Create radiation elements by reading in matrix file radheat.sub.
• Apply temperature to space node.
• Re-run the solution.

Note: Not all menus and steps are detailed in the following pages.

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• Re-enter the preprocessor. Define element type 3, LINK32.

Before meshing, set meshing

attributes to TYPE=3.

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• Isolate nodes on
radiating
surfaces for
creation of
superimposed
LINK32 elements.
• Create LINK32
elements using
ESURF
command.
• Create space
node, assign Note: We could have used the existing extra-node for surface
node number effect elements as the space node. By using two nodes we
can separate effects and evaluate relative contributions of
“nn+2”. convection and radiation more easily.

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Check orientation of
overlaying mesh…
• Turn on element
coordinate system
plotting to check
orientation of element
normals.
• Element normal direction
is important since it
defines the direction of
incident/emitted radiation
(viewing direction).

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• Plot of LINK32 elements with element coordinate system
plotting turned on.

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• Begin Radiation Matrix definition.

• First, define emissivities..

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• Define “Other Settings”
– Stefan-Boltzmann constant; match units to analysis.
– Type of geometry; 2D for this problem.
– Specify node number of space node.

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• Write radiation matrix.
– Select Hidden method for this problem.
– Specify number of sampling zones (default is 20).
– Specify name of matrix file to be created.

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• Re-enter the Preprocessor.
• Define superelement, MATRIX50 and set keyoptions.

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• Set element attributes to TYPE= 4
• Create radiation elements by reading in superelement from
matrix file. Specify the filename used.

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• Delete or un-select LINK32 elements before running solution.
• Enter the Solution processor.
• Specify analysis option settings.
• Specify appropriate value of TOFFST, 460 for this example.
• Apply temperature constraint to the space node, 90  F.

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• Re-run the solution.
• Now radiation effects will be included,
making the problem non-linear.

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• Enter the Postprocessor and review results.
– Note the contribution of radiation vs. that of convection:
• Node 813 (nn+1) “extra node” for SURF151 elements with
convection loads.
• Node 814 (nn+2) space node for radiation solution.

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• Temperature distribution in heat sink with radiation effects
included.

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Basic Procedure
CASE 3- Includes radiation effects - Non-Hidden Method.
• Resume the database heatsink.db. (Note: The same underlying
mesh used for generation of the radiation matrix for the Hidden
method may be used for the Non-Hidden method.)
• Select the lines making up “bay 1” and the nodes and elements
attached to these lines. Also select the space node.
• Enter the Radiation Matrix Utility and specify the emissivity, Stefan-
Boltzmann constant, type of geometry and space node as was done
for the Hidden method.

Note: Not all menus and steps are detailed in the following pages.

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CASE 3- Includes radiation effects - Non-Hidden Method.
• Select the NON-HIDDEN method for this analysis.
• Write out the radiation matrix to a file called bay1.
• Repeat for all six bays and the group of fin tip surfaces, generating
seven total radiation matrix files.
• Re-solve the analysis.

Note: Not all menus and steps are detailed in the following pages.

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• This figure identifies radiating surfaces to be included in
radiation matrices created using the NON-HIDDEN method.

Bay 1 Bay 2 Bay 3 Bay 4 Bay 5 Bay 6

Fin tip surfaces

(circled in figure)
should be treated
as a single
radiation matrix.

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• Showing graphical picking of lines in bay 1.

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• After selecting lines in bay 1, select attached nodes and
elements, as well as the space node.

Note: This selection process must be completed for each of the seven bays when using
the NON-HIDDEN method. The non-hidden method can be considered valid for this
example since the surfaces in each bay are only visible to each other.
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• Checking settings for radiation matrix, and specifying
number of space node.

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• Specifying name of matrix file and NON-HIDDEN method..

• Repeat these steps until all seven files have been written, one
for each bay and one for all tip surfaces together.

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• After defining new element type, MATRIX50, create radiation
elements using each of the seven files created in the
previous steps.
• Re-run the solution, and compare results.

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• Temperature distribution in heat sink, NON-HIDDEN Method.
Compare with HIDDEN solution temperatures; they should be
identical:

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• Reaction solution listing for NON-HIDDEN solution.
Compare this with previous HIDDEN solution to verify that
there is no disagreement:

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