Chapter 6 Transient Thermal Analysis

ANSYS Mechanical Heat Transfer

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Transient Thermal Analysis

Chapter Contents
A. B. C. D. E. Transient Theory Time Stepping Transient Loading Transient Post Processing Workshop

Training Manual

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Transient Thermal Analysis

A. Transient Theory

Training Manual

Like steady-state analyses, transient analyses may be linear or nonlinear. If nonlinear, the same preprocessing considerations apply as with steady-state nonlinear analysis (described in Chapter 5). The most significant difference between steady-state and transient analyses lies in the Loading and Solution procedures. We will focus on these procedures after a brief presentation of the numerical methods employed during transient thermal analysis.

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Transient Thermal Analysis

. . . Transient Theory

Training Manual

Recall the governing equation for thermal analysis of a linear system written in matrix form. The inclusion of the heat storage term differentiates transient systems from steady-state systems:

& }+ [K ]{T } = {Q} [C ]{T

Heat Storage Term = (Specific Heat Matrix) x (Time Derivative of Temperature)

In a transient analysis, loads may vary with time . . .

& }+ [K ]{T } = {Q(t )} [C ]{T

. . . or, in the case of a nonlinear transient analysis, time AND temperature:

& }+ [K (T )]{T } = {Q(T , t )} [C (T )]{T

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Transient Thermal Analysis

. . . Transient Theory

Training Manual

When the response of a system over time is required due to loads and/or boundary conditions change over time, a Transient Analysis is performed.

Time-Varying Loads

Time-Varying Response

Thermal energy storage effects are now included. Time has physical meaning.

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. . . Transient Theory
Material Property Considerations for Transient Analyses:

Training Manual

In addition to thermal conductivity (k), density () and specific heat (c ) material properties must be specified for entities which can conduct and store thermal energy These material properties are used to calculate the heat storage characteristics of each element which are then combined in the Specific Heat Matrix [C]

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Transient Thermal Analysis

B. Time Stepping

Training Manual

The temperature of a linear thermal system changes continuously from instant to instant: T

When performing a thermal transient analysis, a time integration procedure is used to obtain solutions to the system equations at discrete points in time. The change in time between solutions is called the integration time step (ITS).
T
t

t tn tn+1 tn+2

Generally, the smaller the ITS, the more accurate the solution becomes.
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Transient Thermal Analysis

. . . Time Stepping

Training Manual

Selection of a reasonable time step size is important because of its impact on solution accuracy and stability:
If the time step size is too small, then solution oscillations may occur which could result in temperatures which are not physically meaningful (e.g. thermal undershoot) If the time step is too large, then temperature gradients will not be adequately captured

One approach is to specify a relatively conservative initial time step and allow Automatic Time Stepping to increase the time step as needed The guidelines on the following slides are presented as a way to approximate a reasonable initial time step size for use with Automatic Time Stepping

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. . . Time Stepping

Training Manual

A reasonable time step size for thermal transient analyses can be approximated using the Fourier modulus: 4 * K * t Fo = Where:
t x K C is ITS time step is the average element length is the average thermal conductivity is average density is average specific heat

* C *(x) 2

x 2 * * c A suggested minimum integration time step (ITS): t = 4* K

When t is 100 times the ITS suggestion, a warning appears:

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Transient Thermal Analysis

. . . Time Stepping

Training Manual

To help evaluate the accuracy of the time integration algorithm, ANSYS computes and reports some helpful quantities after every solution: The Response Eigenvalue represents the dominant system eigenvalue for the most recent time step solution (reported in Solution information)
If the Eigenvalue is small, a larger time step is used and vice versa

The Oscillation Limit is a dimensionless quantity that is simply the product of the Response Eigenvalue and the current time step size (reported in Solution information)
It is typically desirable to maintain the oscillation limit below 0.5 to insure that the transient response of the system is being adequately characterized

See next page

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Transient Thermal Analysis

. . . Time Stepping
Time step metrics can be viewed in the Solution Information.
By default, the Automatic Time Stepping (ATS) feature bases time step prediction on the Oscillation Limit. ATS seeks to maintain the Oscillation Limit below 0.5 within a tolerance, and will adjust the ITS to satisfy this criterion.

Training Manual

Notice how ATS gradually reduces the ITS based on the Oscillation Limit. This sample was taken from the ANSYS Output Window during a nonlinear transient analysis.

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C. Transient Loading

Training Manual

While loads can be applied as constants in transient analyses, often they vary with time In Mechanical, thermal loads can be defined as constants, tables or functions Recall that in chapter 3 we outlined non-constant loading. Here we will illustrate using specific examples

Table Loads

Function Loads

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. . . Transient Loading
Example 1: the heating coil experiences joule heating as power is cycled on and off at 1 second intervals
Notice in the table a small time increment is used to ramp the load on and off quickly, simulating a step function Each new time point must increase in value

Training Manual

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Transient Thermal Analysis

. . . Transient Loading
Example 2: the same heating coil undergoes sinusoidal loading according to the function (0.1+(0.1*sin(180*time)))
Notice the table is populated by evaluating the function at 200 equally spaced time points

Training Manual

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Transient Thermal Analysis

D. Transient Post Processing

Training Manual

Post processing transient results is done by requesting results from particular time points
RMB on the graph or table at the desired time point and choose Retrieve This Result OR Enter the desired time in the details for a result and RMB Retrieve This Result

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. . . Transient Post Processing

Often the desired quantity is the result variation over time at a point rather than a contour of the overall model A graph is useful in displaying results vs. time Here a temperature probe is scoped to a local coordinate system and the temperature variation is plotted in the graph area

Training Manual

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Workshop 6 Soldering Iron

ANSYS Mechanical Heat Transfer

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