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Example 4: Block Containing Heating Element (Transient Analysis)


General

 

Analysis Space

Item

Settings

Analysis Space

3D

Model Unit

mm

 

Analysis Conditions

Item

Settings

Solver

Thermal Analysis [Watt]

Analysis Type

Transient Analysis

Options

N/A

 

The transient analysis tab is set up as follows. The number of calculation steps is 120. The timestep is 2 sec.

Therefore, the temperature distributions for 240 sec are solved.

Tabs

Setting Item

Settings

Transient Analysis

Table

Number

Calculation Steps

Output Interval

Timestep [s]

1

120

10

2.0

 

Initial Temperature

0 [deg]

Model

The same as the example 3. The body attributes, the material properties and the boundary conditions are the same as well.

A cylindrical heating element (Nichrome) is placed in the center of a glass-epoxy block.

The heat source is set in the body attribute. The ambient temperature is set to 0 [deg] in the external boundary condition.

Body Attributes and Materials

Body Number/Type

Body Attribute Name

Material Name

Mesh Size

0/Solid

VOL1

006_Glass_epoxy *

 

1/Solid

VOL2

109_Nichrome *

2

* Available from the material DB

 

The heat source of VOL2 is set up as follows.

Body Attribute Name

Tab

Settings

VOL2

Heat Source

10 [W]

Boundary Conditions

Boundary Condition Name/Topology

Tab

Boundary Condition Type

Settings

Outer Boundary Condition

Heat

Temperature

0 [deg]

 

To set Outer Boundary Condition, go to the [Model] tab
 


 

and click [Outer Boundary Condition] .

Results

A cross section's temperature distributions in 40 sec, 160 sec and 240 sec are shown below.

In 40 sec

 

In 120 sec

 

In 240 sec

 

The temperature vs. time is plotted for the center of the heating element.

The temperature is stabilizing at around 250 deg in 240 sec.