Home / Examples / Thermal Analysis [Watt] / Example 3: Block Containing Heating Element (Steady-State Analysis)

Example 3: Block Containing Heating Element (Steady-State Analysis)

General

• A heating element is placed in the center of the block. The ambient temperature is constant.
   

• The temperature distribution and the heat flux vectors are solved.
   

• Unless specified in the list below, the default conditions will be applied.
   

• Obtain this session's project file. (Right-click and choose 'Save link as')




• Results will vary depending on Femtet version and the PC environment.

 

Analysis Space

Item	Settings
Analysis Space	3D
Model Unit	mm

 

Analysis Conditions

Item	Settings
Solver	Thermal Analysis [Watt]
Analysis Type	Steady-state Analysis
Options	N/A

Model

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

The heat quantity 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 quantity of VOL2 is set up as follows.

Body Attribute Name	Tab	Settings
VOL2	Heat Quantity	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 distribution is shown below.

The hottest point is the center of the heat source. The temperature is 266 [deg].

 

Shown below is the isosurface contour of the temperature distribution. [Shading] and [Translucency] are enabled.

The 3D temperature gradient is exhibited clearly around the heat source.