Thermal Analysis Using MSC SimXpert R3.2 Course Notes

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Thermal Analysis Using MSC SimXpert

SMX124 Course Notes
Part Number: SIMX*R3.2*Z*Z*Z*SM-SMX124-NT January 2009 Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation

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Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation
2
CONTENTS
Section Pages
1.0 Introduction to MSC SimXpert Thermal Analysis……………………………………………….. 1-1

2.0 Conduction………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-1
3.0 Convection………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-1
4.0 Transient Thermal Analysis……………………………………………..…………………………… 4-1
5.0 Radiation…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-1
6.0 SOL 400 Thermal Capability………………………………………………………………………….. 6-1
7.0 Thermal Analysis Theory……………………………………………………………………………… 7-1
3
4
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION TO
MSC SimXpert THERMAL
ANALYSIS
SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation S1-1
HEAT TRANSFER
● Should a Heat Transfer analysis be performed ?
● When the solution for the temperature field in a solid (or fluid) is
desired, and the temperature is not influenced by other fields, a heat
transfer analysis is appropriate.
vs
Coupled Fields

Thermal Field
MODES OF HEAT TRANSFER
● Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
● Conduction (through a material)
● Advection (energy carried in a fluid)
● Convection (to a fluid)
● Radiation (energy transfer through
● Natural (free) free space (no intervening medium)
● Forced from one surface to another)
● Ambient (to space)
● Enclosure (enclosed radiation
T2
system)
q q
12
T1 T1 q T2 T1 T2
Moving Fluid Removes Heat Moves IN q

2 
1
Heat From Solid Moving Fluid
T 1>T2 T 1>T2 T1>T2
qhAT qm
C p (T1 T2 ) qFA(T14 T24 )
Convection Advection Radiation
ANALYSIS TYPES
● Thermal problems can be categorized as
● Steady-state
● Steady-state analyses are concerned with state point solutions with
fixed boundary conditions
● Transient
● Transient analyses are characterized by solution evolution over time,
and in addition to energy exchange with the environment, involves
thermal energy storage
● Linear
● Properties; i.e. conductivity, convection coefficient.; do not change
with
● Temperature
● The boundary conditions do not involve
● Radiation

ANALYSIS TYPES (Cont.)
● Thermal problems can be categorized as (continued)
● Nonlinear
● Temperature dependent material properties.
● Conduction
● Convection
● Natural
● Forced
● Radiation boundary conditions.
● Ambient
● Enclosure
● Steady-state or transient solution.
● All nonlinear analyses necessarily involve solution iteration, error
estimation, and convergence criteria.

THERMAL MODEL ELEMENTS
● MSC SimXpert thermal elements
● 1D – conduction only in the direction of the centerline of the element
● 2D – conduction only through the mid-plane of the element
● 3D – conduction in all three directions
● Axi-symmetry
● Non-zero thermal gradient in the radial and axial directions
● Zero thermal gradient in the circumferential direction
● Special elements for conduction
● Special element for lumped thermal capacitance

THERMAL MODEL MATERIAL PROPERTIES
● Thermal materials
● Conduction
● Thermal conductivity
● Can be a function of temperature
● Transient model
● Specific heat (heat capacity per unit mass)
● Density
● Cannot be a function of temperature

THERMAL MODEL MATERIAL PROPERTIES
● Thermal materials
● Convection
● Natural (free)
● Heat transfer coefficient
● Can be a function of time
● h = function(Gr, Pr)
● Forced
● Constant coefficient
● h = function(Re, Pr)
● Radiation
● Surface absorptivity
● Surface emissivity
THERMAL MODEL BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
● Thermal boundary conditions
● Convection
● Natural (free)
● Forced (SimXpert R4.0)
● Radiation
● Ambient (to space)
● Enclosure
● Temperature
● Temperature - constant or time varying temperature for set of nodes
● “Initial conditions” for set of nodes
● Steady-state – initialization/starting temperature
● Transient – initial temperature
● MPC – multipoint constraint (constraint for set of nodal
temperatures)
THERMAL MODEL LOADS
● Thermal loads
● Heat flux
● Applied to surface, Normal Flux
● From a distant radiation source, Radiant Flux
● Can specify direction not normal to the surface
● Nodal heat
● Power input to a node
● Volumetric load
● Internal (to element) heat generation

STEADY-STATE EQUATION
● The familiar conduction heat transfer equation is
q 1 
T
T  
2
k  t
● The MD Nastran Thermal steady-state equation derived from this equation is
[ K ]{T } R
[ ]{T Tabs }4 {P} { N }
● This is a nonlinear matrix equation. It is solved using the Newton-Raphson
iteration scheme. In concert with the Newton-Raphson method, the following
options are provided to improve the efficiency of the iteration process.
● Tangential matrix update strategy
● Line search method
● Bisection of loads
● Quasi-Newton (BFGS) updates
● This equation, and its solution, are described in Section 7.

TRANSIENT EQUATION
q 1 
T
T  
2
k  t
● The MD Nastran Thermal transient equation derived from this equation is
[ B ]{T
} [ K ]{T } [ R]{T Tabs }4 {P} { N }
iteration scheme. In concert with the Newton-Raphson method, the
following options are provided to improve the efficiency of the iteration
process.
SECTION 2
CONDUCTION
WITH
ELEMENTS, MATERIALS,
CONSTRAINTS, LOADING

TOPICS ON CONDUCTION
● Laws affecting conduction
● Supported element topologies
● 1D, 2D, 3D, Axisymmetric
● Assemble element conduction matrices to form system matrix
● Create elements
● Material for conduction
● Isotropic (K)
● Orthotropic (Kxx, Kyy, Kzz)
● Anisotropic (Kxx, Kxy, Kxz, Kyy, Kyz, Kzz)
● Temperature independent or dependent
● Constraints and loads that can be applied to conduction elements
● Temperature (constant, spatial dependent, or time dependent)
● Heat flux to a surface: normal flux, radiant (vector) flux
● Nodal heat input
● Heat generation within conduction element
LAWS AFFECTING CONDUCTION
● Second law of thermodynamics
● Heat only flows from regions of high temperature to regions of low
temperature.
● Fourier’s Law (empirical)
● One dimension qkA( dT / dx)

T
● General k  
{q}

xi 
● First law of thermodynamics - conservation of energy
q 1 
T
T  
2
k  t
SUPPORTED ELEMENT TOPOLOGIES
● Element types
● The MD Nastran SOL 153 and SOL 159 elements are
isoparametric
1D 2D 3D Axisym
CBAR CQUAD4 CHEXA CTRIAX6
CBEAM CQUAD8 CPENTA
CBEND CTRIA3 CTETRA
CONROD CTRIA6
CROD
CTUBE

SUPPORTED ELEMENT TOPOLOGIES (Cont.)
● 1D element 12 11
33
34
● Isoparametric element with 1 dimension, (r) 12
1 2 35
r 13
r = -1 0 r=1
● Interpolation within element

2
T hi (r )Ti
i 1
h1 (1 r ) / 2 , h2 (1 r ) / 2
● Element conduction matrix
[k ](e j )  [ B]( j )T [ k ]( j ) [ B]( j ) dV ( j )

V( j)
● 1D element 12 11
33
● where
( j) 34
● [ k ]e = element j conduction matrix 12
( j)
● [ B ] = element j temperature gradient
35
interpolation matrix 13
( j)
● [k ] = element j thermal conductivities
● The integration is over the volume of element j
● An example is


[0] 




[0] 

  
[0] 


 ( j) 
 Ak 1 1 
[k ](e j ) 

[0] 
   
[0] 


1
L  1
 



[0] 




[0] 

  
[0] 



● 2D element 55
34 33
56
11 34
57
● Isoparametric element with 2 dimensions, (r,s) 12 35
2 s 13
1
s=1
0 r
3
s = -1 4
r = -1 r=1

4
T hi ( r , s)Ti
i
1
h1 (1 r )(1 s ) / 4 , h2 (1 r )(1 s) / 4

h3 (1 r )(1 s ) / 4 , h4 (1 r )(1 s) / 4
● 2D element 55
34 33
56
11 34
57
● Element conduction matrix 12 35
13
[k ](e j )  [ B]( j )T [k ]( j ) [ B ]( j ) dV ( j )
V ( j)

● 3D element
● Isoparametric element with 3 dimensions, (r,s,t)

8
T hi ( r , s, t )Ti
i 1
● Element conduction matrix
[k ](e j )  [ B]( j )T [k ]( j ) [ B ]( j ) dV ( j )
V ( j)

● Recommendations
● Use linear elements, unless have substantial curvature and desire to
minimize the number of elements
● If doing thermal analysis (calculate temperatures) to structural analysis
(stress analysis) mapping (loads are temperatures from thermal
analysis), it is best to use the same type of element that is to be used
for the structural analysis, e.g. Tet10, and not Tet4.
● Loads and boundary conditions do not affect which type of element
should be used
● Special Elements
● This category is for elements that are not finite elements, but of course
they can be used in modeling a thermal process. There are two types
of special elements. They are
● CELASi (scalar spring)
● Simple conduction element

● Special Elements (continued)
● CELASi (scalar spring) (continued)
● Used to model a one-dimensional conduction element with a thermal resistance.
● R= L/kA, where CELAS2 used inverse of R
● G=1/R = kA/L (Watt/ 0C, type of unit)
● DMI or DMIG (direct matrix input) -- complex component
● DMI
● For defining matrix data blocks.
[name ] [ X ij ]
● where the elements Xij may be real or complex (real and imaginary part). The
matrix is defined by a single header entry and one or more column entries. Only
one header is required. A column entry is required for each column with nonzero
elements.
● For more information see the MD Nastran Quick Reference Guide.

ASSEMBLE ELEMENT MATRICES
● Assemble all element conduction and other system
matrices
● Derive element conduction matrices
[k ]e
( j)
 [ B ] ( j )T
[ k ]( j ) [ B ]( j ) dV ( j )
V( j)
● Sum the element conduction matrices
[ K ] [ k ](e j )
j
● Create other necessary system matrices, and create the

conduction system matrix equation
[ K ]{T } {P}

ASSEMBLE ELEMENT MATRICES (Cont.)
● Summary of the steady-state finite element method
Represent continuous structure as a collection of

discrete elements connected by nodes Assemble loads into a global load vector {P}
Derive element conduction matrices from Apply boundary conditions to constrain the
material properties, element properties, and geometry model
Assemble all element conduction matrices into a Solve the matrix equation [K] {T} = {P} for
global conduction matrix [K] nodal temperature
Compute thermal flux from temperature results

CREATING 1D ELEMENTS
● 1D elements
● Create by meshing curve or edge
● Create a material property set
● Create an element property set
● Mesh a geometric curve with 1D
elements
● Select the curve for Curve to mesh,
CURVE/1
● Specify the element size, 1
● From the Model Browser tree select the
element property, PBAR_1

CREATING 1D ELEMENTS (Cont.)
● 1D elements (continued) ● 1D elements
● Create manually
● Create manually
● Specify the coordinates for the
two ends of the 1D element
● Select the Element Property under PID

● Specify (X1,X2,X3) for the cross-section
orientation vector

Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation S2-16 1
● 2D elements
● Create by meshing surface or face, method l
● Mesh a geometric surface with 2D elements
● Screen select the surface for Surface to mesh
● Specify the element size
● Specify Mapped for Mesh method
● From the Model Browser tree select the element
property PSHELL_1

● Create manually
● Create manually
● The four sets of coordinates
are (0,0,0), (1,0,0), (1,1,0),
and (0,1,0)
● Use the pick panel to define four

corner nodes
● The image of the CQUAD4
element created is

● 3D elements
● Create by meshing solid, method I
● Mesh a geometric solid with 3D elements
● Select the solid for Solid To mesh
● Specify the element size
● From the Model Browser tree select the
element property PSOLID_1

● Create manually
● Create manually
● The eight sets of coordinates
are (0,0,0), (1,0,0), (1,1,0),
(0,1,0), (0,0,1),…,(0,1,1)
● Use the pick panel to define

eight corner nodes ● The image of the CHEXA8
element created is

MATERIAL FOR CONDUCTION
● Thermal conductivity of solid material
● Isotropic
●K
● Temperature independent
● Temperature dependent
● Orthotropic
● Kxx, Kyy, Kzz
● Anisotropic
● Kxx, Kxy, Kxz, Kyy, Kyz, Kzz
● These material properties are for modeling conduction
● Steady-state
● Transient
MATERIAL FOR CONDUCTION (Cont.)
● In addition the following topics are covered for materials
● Required material properties to define a model
● Units
● Method of creation of materials
● Use of fields for material definition
● In the section on transient analysis the following topics are covered,

in addition to those for steady-state analysis
● Density
● Specific heat at constant pressure
● Lumped thermal capacitance

● Isotropic material
Isotropic material property.
● Access the material
property forms using the
Materials and Properties
tab, then the Material group.
● Select Isotropic.
● Enter the name, ID, and
description.
● Select Solid to define
thermal properties of solid
material.
● Enter the value for the
thermal conductivity.
● Click OK.
MATERIAL FOR CONDUCTION
(Cont.)
● Isotropic material (continued)
● Temperature dependent Isotropic material property
● For the Thermal Conductivity entry box click on the Pick… icon
● Select a temperature dependent table in the Model Browser tree
● Click OK

● Orthotropic and Anisotropic material
● Temperature independent or dependent.
● Access the material property forms using the Materials and Properties
tab, then the Material group.
● Select an Orthotropic or Anisotropic material, similar to that for Isotropic
material.

● Units
● The following table lists the units that correspond to the fields of the
Materials – Thermal (High Level Editor), or the fields of the
MatIsotropic and RadMat entries (Single Card Image ).

TEMPERATURE CONSTRAINTS
● Temperature constraints at node points
● Access the temperature constraint form using the LBCs tab, then the
LBC group
● The form Defaults For Temperature BC appears
● Its default setting is for a constant temperature at node points.
Enter the value for the temperature.
● Click Store, then click Exit

TEMPERATURE CONSTRAINTS (Cont.)
● Temperature constraints at node points
● Specify the application region using the Create Temperature pick
panel
● Select an entity type to screen pick, e.g. Nodes
● Screen pick the nodes to constrain their temperature
● Click Done, then click Exit

● MPC temperature constraints
Ak Tk 0
k
● Access the constraint form
using the LBCs tab, then the LBC
group
● The form Defaults For
MPC BC appears
● Change to the form
Defaults For MPC BC by
using an Entity Type pick
● DOF0 is for the DOF of the
dependent node
● WT0 is for the weighting
factor for DOF0
● DOFi is for the DOF of the i-th
independent node
● WTi is for the weighting factor
for DOFi
● Click Store, then click
Exit

● Specify the application region
using the Create MPC pick
panel
● Select an entity type to screen
pick, e.g. Nodes
● Screen pick the nodes
● First node picked is dependent
node (example, Node 25)
● Subsequent nodes picked are
independent nodes (example,
Node 50, 49, 24)
● Click Done
● In Multi-Point Constraint form
that appears click Create
INITIALIZATION TEMPERATURE
● Temperature initialization
● To perform nonlinear steady-state or transient analysis it is
necessary to specify initialization temperatures.
● Steady-state, must specify starting temperature (as opposed to
“initial temperature” that is needed for transient analysis) at all
the nodes.
● Transient, must specify the initial temperature at all the nodes.

INITIALIZATION TEMPERATURE (Cont.)
● Access the initialization temperature form using
the LBCs tab, then the LBC group.
● The form Defaults For TEMP_INIT BC
appears.
● Enter the value for the initial temperature.
● Click Store, then click Exit.

● Specify the application region using the Create
TEMP_INIT pick panel.
● Select an entity type to screen pick, e.g.
Nodes.
● Screen pick the nodes to specify their
initialization temperature.
● Click Done, then click Exit.

● For the nodes not included in the
specified application regions, their
temperatures are specified using
Analysis: Solver Control / General
Parameters / Properties / General
Solution Parameters / Default Init
Temperature

CASE STUDY: CONDUCTION THRU PLATE

● Create Material property

● Create Property

● Create surface
● Create two curves

● Create surface
● Create a surface using the curves

● Create surface

● Mesh the surface

● Apply temperature constraints


● Create an LBC Set

● Create SimXpert analysis file



● Run MD Nastran Thermal
● Display thermal results
● Attach .xdb file

● Display thermal fringe

LOADING
● Loads that can be applied to conduction elements
● Heat flux to a surface
● Normal flux (Nastran QHBDY or QBDYi)
● Heat Flux (power/area)
● Time scaling function
● Application region
● Heat into a node
● Nodal heat
● Heat generation in conduction elements
● Volumetric heat (Nastran QVOL)
● Power input per unit volume
● Power produced by heat conduction elements

LOADING (Cont.)
● Normal Flux
● Access the normal flux form using the LBCs tab, then the LBC group.
● The form Defaults For Normal Flux appears.
● Enter the value for the heat flux (power/area).

LOADING (Cont.)
● Normal Flux
using the Create Normal Flux
pick panel
pick, e.g. Nodes
● Screen pick the nodes to apply
the heat flux to

LOADING (Cont.)
● Heat generation
● Volumetric Heat
● Access the volumetric heat form using the LBCs tab, then the LBC
group.
● The form Defaults For Volumetric Heat BC appears.
● Enter the value for the power input per unit volume (power/volume)

LOADING (Cont.)
● Heat generation
● Volumetric Heat
● Specify the application region using the
Create Volumetric Heat pick panel
Elements
● Screen pick the elements to apply the
internal heat generation to

NOTE ON GEOMETRIC SURFACE ELEMENTS
● Heat flux or boundary condition surface elements
● To apply heat flux, convection, or radiation to a
conducting surface (2D element, e.g. CQUAD4)
or face (3D element, e.g. CHEXA) it is necessary
to apply them to a geometric surface, which in
turn is connected to conducting elements. The
geometric surface elements are named CHBDYE,
CHBDYG, or CHBDYP, or simply CHBDYi. This
is shown conceptually.
● The user does not explicitly create the CHBDYi
elements. They are created automatically by
(from within) SimXpert as a result of creating the
loads and boundary conditions.

LOADING (Cont.)
● The heat flow through the isoparametric elements is in the parametric
directions of the elements.
● 1D element
● Heat flow is only along the centerline of the element, not normal to the centerline
of the element
● 2D element
● Heat flow is only in the plane of the element, not normal to the plane of the
element
● 3D element
● Heat flow is in all three directions of the element
● Axisymmetric element
● Heat flow is only in the radial or centerline direction of the element, not in the
circumferential direction
● So, do not use an isoparametric element that does not have a parametric
coordinate in a direction that heat flow must be modeled
● The performance of linear finite elements, e.g. CQUAD4 element, is as good
as that of parabolic finite elements, e.g. CQUAD8 element, for 2D or 3D.
LBC Set
● Create an LBC set that combines the needed LBCs
● Access the loads and boundary condition set form using the
LBCs tab, then the LBC Set group.
● The form LBC Set appears.
● Select the two loads and boundary conditions
● Click OK

ANALYSIS SETUP
● The Analysis forms in the Model
tree browser are used to specify
the parameters for an analysis
● Model: Analysis
● Model: Analysis / Nastran Jobs
● Nastran Jobs : Create New Job

● Job Properties form

ANALYSIS SETUP (Cont.)
● General Parameters, etc.
● General Parameters: Properties

● General Solution Parameters
form

● Radiation Parameters: Properties
● Radiation Parameters form

● Cases: Add Common Case
● Common Case, Case Control

● Specify titles to be
above all subcases

● Common Case, Add Output
Requests

● Cases: Add Subcase
● Select the desired LBC Set

● Subcase Parameters: Properties
● NINC = number of equal

subdivisions of the load change
defined for the subcase for
Newton-Raphson methods.

● Matrix Update Method
● Automatic => the program
automatically selects the most
efficient strategy based on
convergence rates. At each step
the number of iterations required
for convergence is estimated.
The conduction matrix is updated
if 1) the estimated number of
iterations to converge exceeds
MAXITER, 2) the estimated time
required for convergence with the
current conduction matrix
exceeds the estimated time
required for convergence with
updated conduction, and 3) the
solution diverges.
● Semi-Automatic => the program
for each load increment 1)
performs a single iteration based
on the new load, 2) updates the
conduction matrix, and 3) follows
the normal Automatic approach.
● Controlled Iters => the program
updates the conduction matrix at
every KSTEPth iteration and on
convergence if KSTEP <=
MAXITER. However, if KSTEP >
MAXITER the conduction matrix
is never updated.

● Controlled Iters => note that the
Newton-Raphson iteration
strategy is used by selecting this
approach (Controlled Iters) and
KSTEP = 1, while the Modified
Newton-Raphson iteration
strategy is used by selecting this
approach (Controlled Iters) and
KSTEP = MAXITER.
● KSTEP => for Automatic and
Semi-Automatic methods the
conduction matrix is updated at
convergence if KSTEP is < the
number of iterations that were
required for convergence with the
current conduction.
● MAXITER => the number of
iterations for a load increment is
limited to MAXITER. If the solution
process does not converge in
MAXITER iterations the load
increment is bisected and the
analysis is repeated.
● Temperature Error, Yes or No
● EPSU = error tolerance for
temperature criterion
● Load Error, Yes or No
● EPSP = error tolerance for load
criterion
● Work Error, Yes or No
● EPSW = error tolerance for work
criterion
● Output File: Properties
● Output File Properties form

● Submit an analysis file to the solver
● ss_sample_problem: Run
● File name

● Choices for SOL type for steady-
state analysis.
● SOL153
● SOL600, 153

DISPLAY RESULTS
● Display thermal analysis results
● Attach an .XDB result file

DISPLAY RESULTS (Cont.)
● Access the results form using the
Results tab, then the Results group.
● Select the following
● Fringe
● Result Cases -- SC1: Non-linear: 100 % of L
● Result Type -- Temperatures
● Click Update Plot

● Display the temperature results as a fringe plot

EXERCISE
Perform Workshop 1 “PCB With Heat Flux and

Constant Temperature at Boundary” in your exercise
workbook.

SECTION 3
CONVECTION

HEAT TRANSFER VIA CONVECTION
● The transfer of energy (heat) between a solid boundary and a fluid
takes place by a combination of conduction and mass transport
● The fluid motion can be induced by two different processes.
● The fluid may be moved as a result of density differences due to a
temperature variation within the fluid. This type of heat transfer is called
free (or natural) convection.
● The fluid motion may be caused by an external source, such as a pump
or blower. This type of heat transfer is called forced convection.
● A simple representation of convection heat transfer is given by
surface to fluid hc A(Ts 

q T0 )
● where
.
● qsurface to fluid = rate of heat transfer by convection
● hc = convective heat transfer coefficient, or average unit thermal convective
conductance
HEAT TRANSFER VIA CONVECTION (Cont.)
● where
● A = heat transfer area
● Ts = surface temperature
● T0 = fluid temperature
● The convective heat transfer coefficient is actually a complicated
function
● Fluid flow
● Thermal properties of the fluid medium
● Geometry of the thermal system
● Its numerical value is in general not uniform over a surface
● Depends on the location where the fluid temperature T0 is specified
● Convective heat transfer is modeled with SimXpert using
empirically derived functions

● Free convection
hc L kf
Nu  hc Nu
kf L
A
surface to fluid Nu 
q k f (Ts T0 )
L
Nu f (Gr ) g (Pr)
● where
● Nu = Nusselt number (ratio of the temperature gradient in the fluid
at the surface to a reference temperature gradient)
● Gr = Grashof number (ratio of buoyant to viscous forces)
● Pr = Prandtl number
● The Reynolds number (Re) is not needed for free convection
● Forced convection
hc L kf
Nu  hc Nu
kf L
A
surface to fluid Nu 
q k f (Ts T0 )
L
Nu f (Re) g (Pr)
● where
● Nu = Nusselt number (ratio of the temperature gradient in the fluid
at the surface to a reference temperature gradient)
● Re = Reynolds number (ratio of inertia to viscous forces)
● Pr = Prandtl number

FREE CONVECTION
● Free convection
● Access the free convection form using the LBCs tab, then the LBC
group.
● The Defaults For Free Convection form appears
● Enter the value for the ambient temperature.

FREE CONVECTION (Cont.)
● Free convection
● Convection coefficient – constant coefficient
● ConvCoeff vs Time scaling function (for transient analysis click in
checkbox, and specify a time function using a table)
● Formula type – type of formula for free convection (more on
subsequent page)
● Reference temp location – location used to calculate the convection
film coefficient (more on subsequent page)
● Conv coeff exponent – free convection exponent

● Free convection
● ConvCoeff vs Temperature scaling function – free convection heat
transfer coefficient as a function of temperature

● Free convection
● Formula type – choices for type of formula
for free convection:
qH 
TCNTRLND 
(T TAMB ) EXPF (T TAMB )
qH 
TCNTRLND 
(T EXPF TAMB
EXPF
)
● The reference temperature is the average of element node point
temperatures (average) and the ambient point temperatures (average)
● The reference temperature is the surface temperature (average of
element node point temperatures)
● The reference temperature is the ambient temperature (average of
ambient point temperatures)

● Free convection
● Specify the application region using
the Create Free Convection pick
panel
● Select an entity type to screen pick,
e.g. Nodes
● Screen pick the nodes to apply the
free convection to

CASE STUDY: CONVECTION OFF PLATE


● Create Property

● Create surface

● Create surface

● Create surface



● Apply free convection boundary condition







EXERCISE
Perform Workshop 2 “Steady-state Analysis of Hex

Mesh with Free Convection and Internal Heat” in your
exercise workbook.

SECTION 4
TRANSIENT THERMAL ANALYSIS

TRANSIENT THERMAL MODELS
● The preceding sections (conduction and convection)
dealt with steady-state thermal models
● Before steady-state conditions can occur some time
must elapse after the heat transfer process is initiated
for the transient conditions to decay to zero

TRANSIENT THERMAL MODELS (Cont.)
● For some models steady-state
conditions will never be reached, e.g.
heating a brick

TRANSIENT EQUATION
q 1 
T
T  
2
k  t
● The MD Nastran Thermal transient equation derived from this equation is
[ B ]{T
} [ K ]{T } [ R]{T Tabs }4 {P} { N }
iteration scheme. In concert with the Newton-Raphson method, the
following options are provided to improve the efficiency of the iteration
process.
TRANSIENT TEMPERATURE CONSTRAINTS
● The Defaults For Temperature
BC form was shown for the
section on conduction
● The material given in the section
on conduction is repeated here
● The Temperature entry was used
to specify a constant
temperature
● The Temp vs Time scaling
function entry is discussed now

● Temperature at node point
constraints
● The constraints can be made
time dependent by clicking in
the Temp vs Time scaling
function check box
● Click on the box with the “…” to
the right
● Can select Select or Create to
specify the time dependent table
● Select the entry TABLED1_1
(this is a time dependent table
that must have been previously
created)
● Click OK
● Temperature at node point constraints
● Specify the application region using the Create Temperature
pick panel
● Select an entity type to screen pick, e.g. Nodes
● Screen pick the nodes to constrain their temperature

LOADING
● Loads that can be applied to conduction elements
● Normal Flux (Nastran QHBDY or QBDYi)
● Heat Flux (power/area)
● Heat generation in conduction elements
● Volumetric Heat (Nastran QVOL)
● Power input per unit volume
● Power produced by heat conduction elements

LOADING (Cont.)
● Normal Flux
● Access the normal flux form
using the LBCs tab, then the
LBC group.
● The form Defaults For Normal
Flux appears
● Enter a value for the heat flux
(power/area)
● The loading can be made time
dependent by clicking in the Flux
vs Time scaling function
checkbox
the right

LOADING (Cont.)
● Normal Flux
● Can select Select or Create
● Select TABLED1_1
● Click OK

LOADING (Cont.)
● Normal Flux
using the Create Normal Flux pick
panel
pick, e.g. Nodes
heat flux to

LOADING (Cont.)
● Volumetric Heat
● Access the volumetric heat form
using the LBCs tab, then the
LBC group.
● The form Defaults For Volumetric
Heat BC appears
● Enter the value for power input per
unit volume (power/volume)
● The loading can be made time
dependent by clicking in the
HeatGen vs Time scaling function
checkbox
the right

LOADING (Cont.)
● Volumetric Heat
● Select TABLED1_1
● Click OK

LOADING (Cont.)
● Volumetric Heat
● Specify the application region using the
Create Volumetric Heat pick panel
Elements
● Screen pick the elements to apply the
internal heat generation to

TRANSIENT CONVECTION CAPABILITY
● The Defaults For Free
Convection form was
shown for the section on
free convection
● There are two time
dependent function entries
● AmbTemp vs Time scaling
function – table used to define
the ambient temperature as a
function of time
● ConvCoeff vs Time scaling
function – table used to define
the convection coefficient as a
function of time

TRANSIENT CONVECTION CAPABILITY (Cont.)
● To use either of these
functions do the following
● Click in the check box for
one of the functions, e.g.
AmbTemp vs Time
● Click in the box with the
“…” to the right of the
function entry box
● Select Select
● If a table corresponding to
the function has not been
created prior to doing this a
message will be displayed.
● To use either of these functions do the following
● It is necessary to create the time dependent table first
● Access the time dependent table form using the Tables tab, then
the Tables group.

● To use either of these functions
do the following
● Now, AmbTemp vs Time has “1”
in its entry box

● To use either of these functions
do the following
using the Create Free Convection
pick panel
pick, e.g. Nodes
● Screen pick the nodes to apply
the free convection to

INITIALIZATION TEMPERATURE
● To perform nonlinear steady-state or transient analysis it is
necessary to specify initialization temperatures
● Steady-state – must specify starting temperature (as opposed to
“initial temperature” that is needed for transient analysis) at all
the nodes
● Transient – must specify the initial temperature at all the nodes

● Access the initialization temperature form using
the LBCs tab, then the LBC group.
● The form Defaults For TEMP_INIT BC
appears.
● Enter the value for the initial temperature.

● Specify the application region using the Create
TEMP_INIT pick panel.
Nodes.
● Screen pick the nodes to specify their
initialization temperature.
● Click Done, then click Exit.

● For the nodes not included in the
specified application regions, their
temperatures are specified using
Analysis: Solver Control / General
Parameters / Properties / General
Solution Parameters / Default Init
Temperature

CASE STUDY: TRAN CONV OFF PLATE


● Create Property

● Create surface

● Create surface

● Create surface



● Apply free convection
boundary condition
● See the next page for the
creation of the table

● Apply convection boundary condition







Time = 0.0 Time = 501.4 Time = 1000.6

● Display thermal chart

● Display thermal chart

ANALYSIS SETUP
Browser tree are used to specify
the parameters for an analysis
● Model: Analysis
● Model: Analysis / Nastran Jobs
● Nastran Jobs : Create New Job

● Job Properties form

● General Parameters, etc.
● General Parameters: Properties

● General Solution Parameters
form

● Radiation Parameters: Properties
● Radiation Parameters form

● Cases: Add Common Case
● Common Case, Case Control

● Specify titles to be
above all subcases

● Common Case, Add Output
Requests

● Cases: Add Subcase
● Select the desired LBC Set

● Subcase Parameters: Properties
● DT = initial time step size

● NDT = approximate number of
time steps
● Automatic => (ADAPT) the
program automatically adjusts
the incremental time and uses
bisection. During the bisection
process the conduction matrix
is updated every KSTEP
converged bisection solution.

● Semi-Automatic => same as
Automatic => (ADAPT)
● Controlled Iters => same as
Automatic => (ADAPT)
● KSTEP => the number of
converged bisection solutions from
a conduction matrix update to the
next conduction matrix update

● MAXITER => the number of
iterations for a time step is limited
to MAXITER. If MAXITER is
negative the analysis is terminated
when the divergence condition
occurs twice during the same time
step or the solution process
diverges for five consecutive time
steps. If MAXITER is positive the
program computes the best
solution and continues the analysis
until divergence occurs. If the
solution process does not
converge in MAXITER iterations it
is treated as divergent.
● Temperature Error, Yes or No
● EPSU = error tolerance for
temperature criterion
● Load Error, Yes or No
● EPSP = error tolerance for load
criterion
● Work Error, Yes or No
● EPSW = error tolerance for work
criterion

● Output File: Properties
● Output File Properties form

● Submit an analysis file to the solver
● transient_sample_prob: Run
● File name

● Choices for SOL type for transient
analysis.
● SOL159
● SOL600, 159

DISPLAY RESULTS
● Attach an .XDB result file

● Access the results form using the
Results tab, then the Results group.
● Set the following
● Fringe
● Result Cases, SC1: Time = 5.7
● Result Type, Temperatures
● Click Update Plot

● Display the temperature results as a fringe plot

● Access the results form using the Results tab, then
the Results group.
● Set the following
● Chart
● Result Cases, SC1: Time = 0. (thru) Time = 5.7
● Result Type, Temperatures
● Target Entities, Node 6431 (screen pick a node)
● Click Add Curves

● Display the temperature results
for a node (e.g. Node 6431) as
a function of time

EXERCISE
Perform Workshop 3 “Transient Analysis of Heating of

an Ice-Cream Block” in your exercise workbook.

SECTION 5
RADIATION

RADIATION CONCEPTS
● Thermal radiation
● Radiation at wavelengths () in the domain 0.1 m < < 100 m
● This domain includes all visible light (0.35 m < < 0.75 m),
portions of the ultraviolet light sub-domain (short wavelength),
and infrared light sub-domain (long wavelength)
● Total emissive power, E
● The total amount of radiation emitted by a body per unit area
and unit time
● Black body
● Body absorbs all radiation for all wavelengths
● Grey body
● Real bodies (grey bodies) emit radiation at a lower rate than
black bodies
RADIATION CONCEPTS (Cont.)
● Absorption, reflection, and transmission
● When radiation impinges on a body it is partially absorbed,

partially reflected, and partially transmitted.
1
● = absorptivity
● = reflectivity
● = transmissivity
● Kirchhoff’s law
● Body Bi G
● Bi, Ai, i, Ei
E E E B1
G 1 2  G
1 2  B2
● Emissivity (in general is a function

of T and )
E

Eb
● Grey body at thermal equilibrium

● Black body at thermal equilibrium
b b 1
● Planck’s law
Eb (8.0hc5 ) /( e ( hc ) /( kT ) 1)
● where
● h = Planck’s constant
● k = Boltzmann’s constant
● Stefan-Boltzmann equation

EbdT 4
Eb 
0
● where
● = Stefan-Boltzmann constant

● Net rate of radiant heat transfer between a surface and
its surroundings
qA (Tsurface
4
Tambient
4
)
● Net rate of radiant heat flow between two grey bodies

(surfaces)
qFG A (T14 T24 )
● where
● FG is the geometric view factor

● Net rate of heat flow by A2
dA2
radiation between two grey
bodies (surfaces) A1 and A2
nˆ r  nˆ
2
1

A1 dA1
4 4 cos  cos 2
q ( T T )   1 dA dA
12 1 2 2 1 2
A1 A2  r

● Viewfactor 1 cos i cos j
F 
Ai 
 dA dA
ij
Ai A j rij2 i j
● Reciprocity theorem AF A F
i ij j ji
● In general F F
ij ji

n
● Net radiation from Ai to other q
i , net Ai Fik ( Ebi Ebk )
k 1, k i
surfaces in enclosure n
● Sum of Fik for enclosure  Fik 
1
k 1, k i

RADIATION CAPABILITIES
● Ambient exchange
● Emissivity, 
● Constant, 0 <= <= 1
● Absorptivity, 
● Constant, 0 <= <= 1
● Time dependent viewfactor

RADIATION CAPABILITIES (Cont.)
● Applied heat flux from a distant source
● Heat Flux (Q0) (e.g. W/m2)
● Constant or time dependent
● Absorptivity
● Constant, time and/or temperature dependent
● Emissivity
● Constant or temperature dependent
● Radiation enclosures
● Temperature dependent emissivity (= 
)
● Diffuse surface view factor calculations with self and
3rd-body shadowing

RADIATION CAPABILITIES (Cont.)
● Radiation enclosures
● Adaptive view factor calculations with error estimation
● Net effective view factors
● Radiation matrix control
● Radiation enclosure control
● Multiple radiation enclosures

RADIATION TO SPACE (AMBIENT)
● Radiation to space (ambient)
● Access the rad to space form using the LBCs tab, then the LBC group.
● The Defaults For Rad to Space form appears
● Ambient temperature - constant ambient temperature
● AmbTemp vs Time scaling function – function used to define the ambient
temperature as a function of time

RADIATION TO SPACE (AMBIENT) (Cont.)
● Radiation to space
(ambient)
● View factor – view factor
between face and ambient
● ViewFact vs Time scaling
function – function used to
define the view factor as a
function of time
● Absorptivity – absorptivity,
0 <= <= 1
● Emissivity – emissivity,
0 <= <= 1
● Shell surface option
● FRONT
● BACK
● Radiation to space
(ambient)
● Detailed surface prop
definition – wavelength
and/or temperature
dependent surface
properties
● Can select Select or
Create
● First, create a
radiation material
property. Use the
Solver Card option.
● In the form Defaults
For Rad to Space
click on box with “…”.
● Select Select, then
select RadMat_1
the Create Rad to Space pick panel
e.g. Nodes
radiation to space them

● Rate of heat flow by radiation to space (ambient)
q e (Te4 Tamb

FAMB  4
)

CASE STUDY: NONDIRECTION SOLAR LOAD


● Create Property

● Create surface

● Create surface

● Create surface


● Create radiation to ambient

● Create uniform heat flux

● Create LBC Set

● Create Job Properties

● Specify General Solution Parameters values

● Specify Radiation Parameters values

● Create a subcase

● Specify desired output

● Specify Static Nonlinear Iterations parameter values

● Specify information and file type to be output

● Write SimXpert analysis file and run analysis

● Attach SimXpert analysis result file

● Plot temperature fringe

● Plot temperature fringe

EXERCISES
Perform Workshop 4 “Hex8 Mesh With Heat Flux,

Ambient Convection, and Ambient Radiation” in your
exercise workbook.

RADIATION IN ENCLOSURES
● Radiation in enclosures
● Access the enclosure radiation face
form using the LBCs tab, then the LBC
group.
● The Defaults For Encl Rad Face form
appears
● Shell surface option -- for specifying
what face the radiation is emitted from.
● Front
● Back
RADIATION IN ENCLOSURES (Cont.)
● Shading option -- for specifying
what is to be shaded or what is
to shade.
● None
● The face cannot shade or
be shaded by other faces
● Can shade
● The face can shade other
faces
● Can be shaded
● The face can be shaded by
other faces
● Both
● The face can shade and be
shaded by other faces

● Subelem mesh size (b-dir (beta
direction)) and (g-dir (gamma
direction)).
● Used for the calculation of view
factors by a finite difference or
contour integration technique.
They are used to specify how
fine a “grid” (not finite element
grids) for surface elements
(CHBDYi) for integration there
are to be in the b-dir and g-dir
direction.
Subelem (b-dir) = 2
Subelem (g-dir) = 4

● Absorptivity
● Constant, 0 <= <= 1
● Emissivity
● Constant, 0 <= <= 1
● Detailed surface prop definition
● Create a temperature dependent
table for Absorptivity and
Emissivity

● Click Modify
using the Create Encl Rad Face
pick panel
pick, e.g. Elements
● Screen pick the elements to
define the face

● Now, that the face(s) have been
defined, it is necessary to define
an enclosure(s) using the faces.
● Access the create radiation
enclosure form using the LBC
tab, then the LBC group.
● SHADOW -- control third-body
shading calculation during view
factor calculation.
● Yes
● No
● TAMB
● Temperature of ambient
environment that radiation is
lost to
● SCALE
● Enclosure view factor sum is
set equal to this if the sum >
1
● PRTPCH
● Control printing and punching
view factor to RADLST and
RADMTX entries.
● NFECI. Controls whether a
finite difference method or
contour integration is to be
used for calculating view
factors.
● Finite difference
● Contour integration
● Mixed method
● RMAX
● Subelement area factor.
When NFECI is set to “Mixed
method” the contour
integration method is used
only if As / drs RMAX
2
where As = area of
subelement s, and drs =
distance between subelement
r and subelement s.
● GITB
● Gaussian integration order to
be used for calculating net
effective view factors with
third –body shadowing.

● GIPS
● Gaussian integration order to
be used for calculating net
effective view factors with self
shadowing.
● ETOL
● Error estimate above which a
corrected view factor is
calculated using the semi-
analytic contour integration
method.
● ZTOL
● If calculated view factor is <
ZTOL it is set to zero.

● WTOL
● If amount of warpage of
surface element, CHBDYi, is
> WTOL the view factor Fii is
calculated using exact
method.
● NUMBCS
● Number of enclosure
radiation faces. After entering
the value, and clicking in the
cell just to the right of the
value, the form updates so
there are NUMBCS ERFace
cells.

● NUMBCS
● Double click in first ERFace
cell.
● Entity Selection form appears.
● Select an Encl Rad Face entity.
● Click OK.
● Repeat, by selecting the next
ERFace.
●…
● Click OK.
●…
● Click Create, then click Exit.

CASE STUDY: THREE RAD ENCLOSURES

● Import model of four 2D
elements
● Select file
multiple_enclosures.bdf
● Display the four 2D elements showing their node numbers

● Display the element normals
1 2 3
● Create three enclosures

● Create first enclosure
● Two faces for this enclosure



● First enclosure created and shown

● Create second enclosure



● Second enclosure created and shown

● Create third enclosure



● Third enclosure created and shown

● Fix the left element at 2000 0K

● Fix the left element at 2000 0K



● Create SimXpert analysis
file

file

file

file


● Execute MD Nastran Thermal analysis
● Attach the MD Nastran Thermal results file

● Display thermal results using a fringe plot

● Display thermal results using a fringe plot

EXERCISES
Perform Workshop 5 “Single Radiation Enclosure With

Five Faces” in your exercise workbook.

VECTOR FLUX FROM A DISTANT SOURCE
● Radiant Flux - heat flux
from a distant radiation
source
● Access the radiant flux form
using the LBCs tab, then the LBC
group
● The form Defaults For Radiant
Flux appears
● Heat Flux – thermal heat flux into
element face. It is positive for
heat flow into a surface.
● Flux vs Time function – function
used to define the flux as a
function of time

VECTOR FLUX FROM A DISTANT SRCE (Cont.)
● Radiant Flux - heat flux from a distant radiation source
● Temp of radiant source – temperature of source
● Local coord system for specifying the thermal vector flux
direction
● Local x-dir – direction cosine of flux relative to x-axis of local
coordinate system
● Local y-dir -- direction cosine of flux relative to y-axis of local
coordinate system
● Local z-dir -- direction cosine of flux relative to z-axis of local
coordinate system

● Radiant Flux - heat flux from a distant radiation source
● Absorptivity
● Constant, 0 <= <= 1
● Absorp vs Time scaling function
● function used to define absorptivity as a function of time
● Emissivity
● Constant, 0 <= <= 1
● Shell surface option
● FRONT or BACK
● Detailed surface prop definition
● Wavelength and/or temperature dependent surface properties

● Radiant Flux - heat flux from a
distant radiation source
the Create Radiant Flux pick panel
e.g. Nodes
vector heat flux to

EXERCISES
Perform Workshop 6 “Variable Directional Solar Load to

a Single Quad4 Element” in your exercise workbook.

SECTION 6
SOL 400 THERMAL CAPABILITY
VIA STRUCTURES WORKSPACE

THERMAL PROBLEMS VIA SOL 400
● Currently SOL 400 is accessed via the Structures
Workspace (SimXpert R3.2)
● It is similar to the Thermal Workspace
● The following briefly covers several topics
● Material properties
● Element properties
● Loads and boundary conditions
● SimXpert analysis file creation (Simulations)

● Materials
● Some of these apply to heat transfer

● Isotropic
● Orthotropic 2D, 2D Axi, and 3D
● Anisotropic 2D and 3D
● Radiation Band
● Radiation Mat

● Properties (element)
● Some of these apply to heat transfer

● 0D
● Spring (simple resistor) (PELAS)
● Damper (simple lumped heat capacity) (PDAMP)
● 1D
● Truss (PROD)
● Beam (simple, library, or arbitrary cross-section) (PBAR)
● Spring (simple resistor) (PELAS)
● Damper (simple lumped heat capacity) (PDAMP)
● Properties (element)
● 1D
● Tube (PTUBE)
● Bend (PBEND)
● 2D
● Shell (PSHELL)
● Layered composite (PCOMP)
● Plane strain composite
● 3D
● Solid (PSOLID)
● Solid composite (PCOMPLS)

● Loads and boundary conditions.
● Currently these are the available lbcs.

● Future releases of SimXpert (>R3.2) will include forced
convection.

● Specify the parameter values for a SimXpert thermal
analysis.

● Under DefaultLoadCase specify the analysis type as
nonlinear steady state heat transfer.

● Specify the parameter values for
Loadcase Control.

● Observe what LBCs are associated to Loads/Boundaries;
look at the set DefaultLbcSet.

● For a SimXpert chained
analysis (e.g. thermal to
structural) this is what a
Model Browser tree can look
like.

EXERCISE
Perform Workshop 7 “Concentric Spheres With

Radiation Between Them” in your exercise workbook.
Perform Workshop 8 “Transient Response of Power

Electronics” in your exercise workbook.
Perform Workshop 9 “Integrated Circuit Board Thermal

Stress Analysis” in your exercise workbook.

SECTION 7
THERMAL ANALYSIS THEORY OF
MSC SimXpert THERMAL
ANALYSIS

FORMULATIONS
● Thermal problems can be categorized as
● Steady-state
● Steady-state analyses are concerned with state point solutions with
constant/fixed boundary conditions
● Transient
● Transient analyses are characterized by solution evolution over time,
and in addition to energy exchange with the environment, involves
thermal energy storage
● Linear
● Properties; i.e. conductivity, convection coefficient; they do not
change with
● Temperature
● The boundary conditions do not involve
● Radiation

FORMULATIONS (Cont.)
● Thermal problems can be categorized as (continued)
● Nonlinear
● Temperature dependent material properties.
● Conduction
● Convection
● Natural
● Forced
● Radiation boundary conditions.
● Ambient
● Enclosure
● Steady-state or transient solution.
● All nonlinear analyses necessarily involve solution iteration, error
estimation, and convergence criteria.

STEADY-STATE FORMULATION STEPS
q 1 
T
T  
2
k  t
● A transition is made from this equation (strong form) to a variational
formulation (weak form). The matrix equation corresponding to the
variational formulation is
[ B ]{T
} [ K ]{T } {F }
● where, [B] and [K] are the heat capacity and conduction matrices
● {T} and {F} are the temperature and heat load vectors
● The MD Nastran Thermal steady-state equation derived from this
equation is
[ K ]{T } R
[ ]{T Tabs }4 {P} {N }
STEADY-STATE FORMULATION STEPS (Cont.)
● This is a nonlinear matrix equation. It is solved using the Newton-
Raphson iteration scheme. A residual load vector function is defined as
the difference between the applied thermal load vector and the thermal
load vector due to element temperature.
{R} ({P} {N}) ([K ]{T } [R]{T Tabs}4 )

● The residual load vector function is equal to zero for the solution
temperature vector. The task is to determine the solution temperatures.
The residual load vector function is approximated by its first-order
Taylor series expansion about the temperature vector from the i-th
iteration.
i

{R}
{R({T})}{R({T} )}  ({T }{T}i )
i

{T}
● The Taylor series expansion is evaluated at the temperatures for the
(i + 1)-th iteration, and set equal to zero.
i

{R} i1
{R({T} )} {R({T} )}  ({T} {T} ) {0}
i
1 i i

{T}
● From this the following equation is arrived at.
[ KT ] {T } {R}
i i i
● where
i 1
{T } {T }
i
{T } i
i

{N }
[ K T ] 
[ K ] 4[ R] {T Tabs } 
i i
 i

i 3
{T } 
● Note
{T }i1 {T }i {T }i
● This is an iterative process, not linear. Start with i = 0. Thus, the first
equation to be solved is
[KT ]0{T}0 {R}0
● From the solution to this equation the next temperature vector is
found from 1 0
{T} {T} {T}
0
● Next, use i = 1. The next equation to be solved is
[ K T ] {T } {R}
1 1 1
● From the solution to this equation the next temperature vector is

found from
{T }2 {T }1 {T }1
● This process is repeated until a converged solution is obtained, {T}m.
● Graphical representation of the solution process
● Expression (F) for the thermal load vector due to element
temperature
F [K ]{T} [ R]{T Tabs}4 F
P+N
1
1 KT 1
R1
KT 0
R0 F1
F0
T 0 T 1
SMX124, Section 7, January 2009 T0 T1 T2 Tm T
● Since matrix decomposition is time consuming, MD Nastran does not
update the left-hand side matrix at each iteration. The tangential matrix
is updated only when the solution fails to converge or the iteration
efficiency can be improved. However, the residual vector is updated at
each iteration.
● In concert with the Newton-Raphson method, the following options are
provided to improve the efficiency of the iteration.

STEADY-STATE CONVERGENCE
● Convergence of nonlinear
steady-state solution process
● The form, whos entries are used to
specify control of the nonlinear
steady-state solution process, is
repeated here for convenience. MD
Nastran parameter (alpha) names
are shown in the MSC SimXpert
GUI

STEADY-STATE CONVERGENCE (Cont.)
● Convergence of nonlinear steady-state solution process
● Iteration control
● The incremental and iterative solution processes are controlled by the
parameters specified under Static Nonlinear Iterations.
● For each subcase, load, and SPC temperature, changes are processed
incrementally with the number of subdivisions defined by the value of NINC.
F
P+N
One
Increment
f2(P + N)
One
Total Load Increment
f1(P + N)
One
Increment

T
● The incremental and iterative solution processes are controlled by the
parameters specified under Static Nonlinear Iterations.
● The Matrix Update Method field is used to specify the tangential matrix update
strategy. Three separate options may be selected.
● Automatic -- the program automatically selects the most efficient strategy based on
convergence rates. At each iteration, the number of steps (iterations) required to converge as
well as the computing time with and without matrix update are estimated. The tangential
matrix is updated if (a) the estimated number of iterations to converge exceeds MAXITER, (b)
the estimated time required for convergence with current matrix exceeds the estimated time
to converge with matrix update, or (c) the solution diverges. The tangential matrix is also
F updated on convergence if KSTEP is less than the number of steps required for convergence
with the current matrix.
j
a) Est # iters to converge > MAXITER,
# iters to
For iteration b) Est time to converge with current >
“j”
converge [ KT ] j updated if Est time to converge with update, or
estimated
c) Solution process diverges
T Automatic
● The Matrix Update Method field is used to specify the tangential matrix
update strategy. Three separate options may be selected.
● Semi-Automatic -- this option is identical to the AUTO option except that the
program updates the tangential matrix after the first iteration.
● Controlled Iters -- the program updates the tangential matrix at every KSTEPth
iteration and on convergence if KSTEP < MAXITER. However, the tangential matrix
is never updated if KSTEP > MAXITER. Note that the Newton-Raphson method is
obtained if KSTEP = 1, and the modified Newton-Raphson method is selected by
setting KSTEP = MAXITER.
F
j
For iteration
“j” [ KT ] j updated every KSTEPth iteration or at
convergence if KSTEP <= MAXITER
T Controlled Iters
● The number of iterations for a load increment is limited to MAXITER. If the solution
does not converge in MAXITER iterations, the current load increment is bisected and
the analysis for that increment is repeated.
F
P+N
f2(P + N)
f1(P + N)
T
● The divergence rate is defined as the ratio of energy error before and at the end of
the current iteration, i+1
● The divergence parameter for the i-th iteration, NDIVi , is incremented as follows
NDIVi1 NDIVi 1, for less severe error

NDIVi1 NDIVi 2 , for more severe error
● This computation is performed for all of the iterations of the current load increment
● The solution for the current load increment is taken as diverged when NDIVfinal >=
MAXDIV

● Iteration output
● For each iteration, the related output is printed under the following headings:
Parameters Description
ITERATIONS Iteration i
EUI Relative error for temperature
EPI Relative error for load
EWI Relative error for energy
LAMBDA Rate of convergence
DLMAG Absolute norm of the residual vector
FACTOR Final value for the line search parameters
E-FIRST Divergence rate, initial error before line search
E-FINAL Error at the end of the line search
NQNV Number of quasi-Newton vectors appended
NLS Number of line searches performed during the iteration
ENIC Expected number of iterations for convergence
NDV Number of occurrences of probable divergence during the iteration
MDV Number of occurrences of bisection conditions during the iteration

● Convergence criteria
● The convergence criteria are characterized by the dimensionless error
functions and the convergence tolerances. To ensure accuracy and
efficiency, multiple criteria with errors measured about temperatures,
loads, and energy are provided.
● Temperature error function
● Since the error in temperatures is not known, a contraction factor q is
introduced to formulate the temperature error function, which is defined as
|| T i 1 T i || || T i ||
q i i
 i1
|| T T || || T ||
1
● The final form of the temperature error function is obtained by introducing a

weighted normalization. The result is
q {| |}T {| T |}
EU 
1 q {| |}T {| T |}
● where the weighting function {is defined as the square root of the diagonal
terms of the tangent matrix.
● Load error function
● The load error function is defined as
{| R |} 
T
{| T |}
EP 
{| P|}T 
{| T |}
● where
{| P
|} {| Pld |} {| Pld |}
● where {Pld} is the applied thermal load at the previous load step, and {Pld} is the
incremental load.
● Energy error function

● The energy (or work) error function is defined as
{| R |}T {| T |}
EW 
{| P |}T 
{| T |}
● Using the error functions
● At every iteration, error functions are evaluated and the results printed in
the convergence table under the headings EUI, EPI, and EWI. The
convergence test is performed by comparing the value of the error
functions with the convergence tolerances, e.g.
● E U < EPSU ?
● E P < EPSP ?
● EW < EPSW ?
● where the value of EPSU, EPSP, and EPSW are tolerances specified in
the MSC SimXpert Subcase Parameters form. The solution has converged
if these tests are satisfied. Note that only those criteria selected by the user
(specified in the Convergence Criteria part of the form) are used to check
for convergence. The tolerances should not be too restrictive so that many
more iterations are performed than need to be, or too un-restrictive so that
there is poor accuracy. It is recommended that the default values be used
until better values are found through iteration experience.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STEADY-STATE
● Recommendations
● The following are recommendations, designed to aid the user.
● Highly nonlinear radiation problems
● It is advised to use NLPARM,ID,NINC,DT,KMETHOD,KSTEP,…; where NINC = 1,
KMETHOD = ITER, and KSTEP = 1. This will cause the tangent conduction matrix
to be calculated for each iteration.
● NLPARM settings for problems that do not involve a high-degree of nonlinear
radiation
● NLPARM,ID,NINC,DT,KMETHOD,KSTEP,MAXITER,…; where NINC = 1,
KMETHOD = AUTO, KSTEP = 5, and MAXITER = 25.
● Also, for some of these problems, the iterative solution is sensitive to the initial
temperature guess. It is recommended to overshoot (i.e., make a high initial guess)
the estimated solution temperature vector.

● Recommendations
● Incremental load
● Incremental loading reduces the imbalance of the equilibrium equation caused by
applied loads. The single-point constraints (temperature specified by SPC in the
Bulk Data) and the applied loads (specified by QHBDY, QBDYi, VECFLUX, and
QVOL) can be incremented. If the solution takes more iterations than the default
values of the maximum number of iterations allowed for convergence (MAXITER),
the increment size should be decreased. For linear problems, no incremental load
steps are required.
● At the beginning stages of a new analysis, it is recommended that the defaults be
used for all options. However, all the Error options (Temperature, Load, and Work)
may be selected to improve the efficiency of convergence. For problems with poor
convergence, the tolerances EPSU, EPSP, and EPSW can be increased within the
limits of reasonable accuracy.

● Recommendations
● For radiation problems that do not converge, and have an error code SFM 4551,
use the full Newton Raphson method so the conduction matrix will be updated
every iteration. This is done using NLPARM, ID, NINC, DT, KMETHOD, …, where
KMETHOD = FNT for SOL 400.
● SOL153
● The best method determined through experience is to use the “full” Newton-
Raphson method. This involves updating the conduction tangent matrix every
iteration. To do this use Matrix Update Method: Controlled Iters, Number of
Iterations per Update (KSTEP) = 1. Because the conduction tangent matrix is
calculated for each iteration it is necessary to have only one increment, NINC = 1.
● For problems that are not highly nonlinear it is acceptable to use Matrix Update
Method: Automatic.

TRANSIENT THERMAL ANALYSIS
● Transient analysis
● Models are similar to those for steady-state analysis, except must
also have
● Specific heat (heat capacity per unit mass)
● Density
● As needed
● Lumped thermal capacitance
● Dynamic transfer function
● The equation for the variation of temperature with time, as shown on
the following page, will have to be solved as for steady-state
analysis. Also, integrating the set of equations will require specifying
parameters, e.g. integration interval/step.

TRANSIENT FORMULATION STEPS
q 1 
T
T  
2
k  t
● A transition is made from this equation (strong form) to a variational
formulation (weak form). The matrix equation corresponding to the
variational formulation is
[ B ]{T
} [ K ]{T } {F }
● where, [B] and [K] are the heat capacity and conductivity matrices
● {T} and {F} are the temperature and heat load vectors
● The MD NASTRAN Thermal transient equation derived from this
equation is

[ B ]{T } [ K ]{T } [R ]{T Tabs } {P} { N }
4

TRANSIENT FORMULATION STEPS (Cont.)
● This is a nonlinear matrix equation. It is solved using the Newton-
Raphson iteration scheme. A residual load vector function is defined
as the difference between the applied thermal load vector and the
thermal load vector due to element temperature and temperature
rate.

{R (t )} ({P} {N }) ([ B ]{T } [ K ]{T } [R ]{T Tabs } )
4
● The residual load vector function, at a given time, is equal to zero for
the solution temperature vector at that time. The task is to determine
the solution temperatures and their rates. The residual load vector
function is approximated by its first-order Taylor series expansion
about the temperature vector from the i-th iteration, for the n+1 time
point (the solution is known for time point n).
i

{R}
{Rn1} {Rn 1}   ({Tn1} {Tn1}i )
i


{T }
n1
● The Taylor series expansion is evaluated at the temperatures for the
(i + 1)-th iteration, and set equal to zero.
i

{R}
{Rn1} {Rn1}   ({Tn1}i1 {Tn1}i ) {0}
i
1 i

{T}
n
1
● From this the following equation is arrived at.
~ i
[ K T ]n1 {Tn 1 }i {Rn 1}i
● where
{Tn1} {Tn1} {Tn1}
i i
1 i
● Note
{Tn 1}i 1 {Tn 1}i {Tn 1}i

● where (continued)
i
~ i 
({R}) 1 1
[ KT ]n1    [ B]n1 [ KT ]n1  [B]n [KT ]n
i i
{T} n
1 
t t
● and, where the approximation for the time derivative is given by
1 1 
{Tn1}  ({Tn 1} {Tn }) (1  ){Tn }
 i i

t 
● Another approximation used is

{ N }
[ KT ]n 
[ K ]n 4[ R ]n {Tn Tabs } 

3


{T } 
n

● The residual load vector function for the i-th iteration is given by
i 
{Rn1} ({Pn1} {Nn1} ) ([B] {Tn1} [ K ]n1{Tn1} 
i i
i i i
n1
[R] {Tn1 Tabs} )

i
n1
i4
● This process is the same as for the steady-state analysis, this is an

iterative process. Start with i = 0. Thus, the first equation to be solved
is
~ 0
[ KT ]n 1 {Tn 1} {Rn1}
0 0
● From the solution to this equation the next temperature vector is found
from
{Tn1}1 {Tn1}0 {Tn1}0
● Next, use i = 1. The next equation to be solved is
~ 1
[ K T ]n1 {Tn1}1 {Rn 1}1
● From the solution to this equation the next temperature vector is found
from
{Tn1}2 {Tn1}1 {Tn1}1
● This process is repeated until a converged solution is obtained,
{Tn+1}m.
● The process is repeated for the next time point, n+2. (tn+2 = tn+1 +
tn+1). Set {T n+2}0 = {Tn+1}m.

● Graphical representation of the solution process
● Expression (F) for the thermal load vector due to element
temperature and temperature rate
F [ B]{T
}[ K ]{T }[R]{T Tabs }4 F
P N
1
~
1 KT1 n 1
~ R1n1
KT0 n 1
R0 Fn11
n1
Fn01
Tn01 Tn11
SMX124, Section 7, January 2009 Tn01 ( Tnl ) Tn11 Tn21 Tnm1 T
● Since matrix decomposition is time consuming, MD NASTRAN does
not update the left-hand side matrix at each iteration. The tangential
matrix is updated only when the solution fails to converge or the
iteration efficiency can be improved. However, the residual vector is
updated at each iteration.
● In concert with the Newton-Raphson method, the following options are
provided to improve the efficiency of the iteration process:

FORMULATION STEP COMMENTS
● These options are specified under Analysis in SimXpert. In general, if
the solution process diverges, a line search algorithm, a bisection of
loads method, or the quasi-Newton update method are implemented in
an effort to improve the solution obtained. If the solution still fails to
converge using all the above methods, the tangential stiffness matrix
is updated, and the iteration is resumed. The user may refer to the MD
NASTRAN Handbook for Nonlinear Analysis for a detailed description
of the above mentioned algorithms.

TRANSIENT CONVERGENCE
● Convergence of nonlinear transient
solution process
● The form, whos entries are used to
specify control of the nonlinear
transient solution process, is repeated
here for convenience. MD NASTRAN
parameter (alpha) names are shown in
the MSC SimXpert GUI

TRANSIENT CONVERGENCE (Cont.)
● Convergence of nonlinear transient solution process
● Automatic time stepping
● An example of adjusting the time step
● MD NASTRAN estimates an optimal time step size, and the step size evolves based
on the convergence condition. The time step is doubled (tn+1 = 2tn) as {Tn} (= {T n} –
{Tn-1}) becomes small.
|| {Tn } ||
UTOL(default 0.1)
|| {T} ||max
● where || {T
} ||maxis the maximum value of the norms computed from the previous time
steps, and UTOL is a tolerance on the temperature increment specified in MSC
SimXpert.
● If the temperature increment exceeds the tolerance, a proper time step size can
be predicted from the following calculation, where n is the inverse of the
characteristic time.
{Tn }T [ KT ]{Tn }
n  n
{Tn }T {H n }
● Automatic time stepping
● The next time step is adjusted using
tn1 f (rn ) tn

● where f(r) is a scaling factor defined as follows
f (rn ) 0.25, rn 0.5 

RB
f (rn ) 0.5, 0.5 
RB rn RB
f (rn ) 1.0, RB rn 2.0
f (rn ) 2.0, 2.0 rn 3.0 / RB
f (rn ) 4.0, rn 3.0 / RB
● where
1 2 1 
rn  
 


 

MSTEP n 
t n 
● Integration and iteration control
● The initial time increment and the number of time steps are specified by
DT and NDT, respectively. So, the duration of the solution of the
problem is approximately NDT * DT. This time is approximate because
the time increment may be adjusted (increased or decreased) during
the solution of the problem, so that the number of time steps may not
be equal to NDT. However, the total solution time is close to NDT * DT.
Total time NDT 

DT

● During the bisection process (time step is bisected) the heat capacitance matrix
and tangential conduction matrix are updated every KSTEPth converged
bisection solution.
F
P+N
f2(P + N)
[ B ]in 1 update every KSTEPth
bisection solution
f1(P + N) [ K T ]in 1

● The number of iterations for a time step is limited to MAXITER. If MAXITER is
specified as negative, the analysis is terminated on the second divergence
condition during the same time step or when the solution diverges for five
consecutive time steps. If MAXITER is specified as positive, the program
computes the best solution and continues the analysis until divergence occurs
again. If the solution does not converge in MAXITER iterations, the process is
considered divergent. Either bisection or matrix update is activated when the
process diverges.
Number of iterations for

time step <= MAXITER
Process diverges => Bisection of time step or matrix update

● The convergence criteria are defined under Convergence Criteria. Two types of
things must be specified
● Error: Temperature, Load, Work
● Tolerance: Temperature (EPSU), Load (EPSP), Work (EPSW)
● The requested criteria (combination of Temperature Error (U), Load Error (P),
and Work Error (W)) are satisfied upon convergence. Note that at least two
iterations are required to check the temperature convergence criterion.
● If the bisection option is used, the time step is bisected upon divergence.
Otherwise, the left-hand side matrices are updated, and the computation for the
current time step is repeated.
● The BFGS update and the line search process are performed in the same way
as in steady state analysis.

● The number of bisections for a load increment is limited to |MAXBIS|. Different
actions are taken when the solution diverges, depending on the sign of MAXBIS.
If MAXBIS is positive and the solution does not converge after MAXBIS
bisections, the best solution is computed and the analysis is continued to the
next time step. If MAXBIS is negative and the solution does not converge in
|MAXBIS| bisections, the analysis is terminated.
● Iteration output
● At each iteration or time step, the related output data are printed

● Integration and Iteration control
● The divergence rate is defined as the ratio of energy error before and at the end of
the current iteration, i+1
● The divergence parameter for the i-th iteration, NDIVi , is incremented as follows
NDIVi 1 NDIVi 1 , for less severe error

NDIVi 1 NDIVi 2 , for more severe error
● This computation is performed for all of the iterations of the current time step
● The solution for the current time step is taken as diverged when NDIVfinal >=
MAXDIV

Parameters Description
TIME Cumulative time for the duration of the analysis.
ITER Iteration count for each time step.
DISP Relative error in terms of temperatures
LOAD Relative error in terms of loads
WORK Relative error in terms of work
LAMDBA(I) Rate of convergence
DLMAG Absolute norm of the residual vector
FACTOR Final value of the line search parameter.
E-FIRST Divergence rate, initial error before line search.
E-FINAL Error at the end of line search.
NQNV Number of quasi-Newton vectors appended.
NLS Number of line searches performed during the iteration.
ITR DIV Number of occurrences of divergence detected during the adaptive iteration.
MAT DIV Number of occurrences of bisection conditions during the iteration.
NO. BIS Number of bisections executed for the current time interval.
ADJUST Ratio of time step adjustment relative to DT.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRANSIENT
● Recommendations
● The following are recommendations designed to aid the user.
● Time step size
● To avoid inaccurate results or results from an unstable analysis, a proper initial time step
associated with the spatial mesh size is suggested. The selection criterion is
1 C
t |initial  (x) 2 p
n k
● where t| initial is the initial time step, n is the modification number of the time scale, x is the
mesh size (dimension of the smallest element), is the material density, Cp is the specific
heat at constant pressure, and k is the thermal conductivity. A suggested value for n is 10.
For highly nonlinear problems a small initial time step size is recommended.
● Numerical stability
● Numerical stability is controlled by the damping parameter . For linear problems = 0 (no
numerical damping) is adequate, but for nonlinear problems a larger value of may be
advisable. Increasing the value of improves numerical stability; however, the solution
accuracy can be reduced. The recommended range of values is from 0.0 to 0.1 (the default
value is 0.01). The numerical damping is specified using PARAM, NDAMP, (value of  

This is a Bulk Data PARAM entry.

● Recommendations
● Initial temperatures and boundary temperatures
● The specification of initial temperatures and boundary condition temperatures should
be consistent. For a given point, the initial temperature should be equal to the
boundary condition temperature at t = 0.
● At the beginning stages of a new analysis, it is recommended that the defaults be
used for all options. However, all three Error options (UPW) may be selected to
improve the efficiency of convergence. For nonlinear problems with time-varying
boundary conditions, the U Error option must be selected, because the large
conductance (internally generated) affects the calculations of the PW Error functions.
For problems with poor convergence, the tolerances EPSU, EPSP, and EPSW can
be increased within the limits of reasonable accuracy.
● When there is a time varying temperature boundary condition, e.g. time varying
ambient temperature, set the convergence criteria to just “U”. An example of this can
be seen for Example 7b of the exercises (Chapter 5) in the MD Nastran 2002 Thermal
Analysis User’s Guide.

● Recommendations
● Fixed time step
● If a fixed time step is desired, the adaptive time stepping can be deactivated by
clicking the checkbox for Fixed Time Steps.


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Thermal Analysis Using MSC SimXpert

Part Number: SIMX*R3.2*Z*Z*Z*SM-SMX124-NT January 2009 Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation

Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation

1.0 Introduction to MSC SimXpert Thermal Analysis……………………………………………….. 1-1

Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

Moving Fluid Removes Heat Moves IN q

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 1, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Interpolation within element

[k ](e j )  [ B]( j )T [ k ]( j ) [ B]( j ) dV ( j )

● Interpolation within element

h1 (1 r )(1 s ) / 4 , h2 (1 r )(1 s) / 4

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Isoparametric element with 3 dimensions, (r,s,t)

● Element conduction matrix

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Create other necessary system matrices, and create the

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

Represent continuous structure as a collection of

Compute thermal flux from temperature results

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Select the Element Property under PID

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Use the pick panel to define four

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Use the pick panel to define

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● In the section on transient analysis the following topics are covered,

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

● Create a surface using the curves

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

SMX124, Section 2, January 2009

Part Number: SIMXR3.2Z*ZZSM-SMX124-NT January 2009 Copyright 2009 MSC.Software Corporation