Transient Thermal Analysis

In this workshop, we will analyze the electrically heated base

typical of consumer steam irons like the one shown below.

Workshop 6.2 - Assumptions

Assumptions:

The heating element contacts and transfers heat to

the base using the pattern shown here

Upon initial startup a heat flux of 0.001 W/mm2 is

applied until a steady state is reached

Heating follows a 30 second step cycle of 0 to 0.003

W/mm2 after steady state is reached

The analysis will begin with the steady state solution

and proceed through the cyclic loading described
above

Workshop 6.2 - Start Page

From the launcher start Simulation.

Choose Geometry > From File . . .

and browse to the file Iron.x_t.

When DS starts, close the Template

menu by clicking the X in the corner
of the window.

Workshop 6.2 - Preprocessing

Change the part material to

Polyethylene:
1

1. Highlight Part1
2. In the Detail window Material field
Import . . .
3. Choose material Stainless Steel

3
4
4.

Set the working units to (mm,

kg, N, C, s, mV, mA) Tools >
Units menu choose

Workshop 6.2 - Environment

5. Select surface representing the heating
element on the face of the iron

6. RMB > Insert > Heat Flux.

7. Set Magnitude field to 0.001 W/mm2

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Environment

8.

9.

Select the bottom surface (opposite the heat

flux side) and 6 side surfaces of the iron (7
faces)
RMB > Insert > Convection

10. Change to Temperature Dependent

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12
10

11. Choose Import in the correlation field

12. Select Stagnant Air Vertical Planes1
13. Set ambient temperature to 20 deg. C

11
13

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Environment

14. Select the 2 surfaces surrounding the
heated surface

14

15. RMB > Insert > Convection

16. Change to Temperature Dependent

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16
18
17. Choose Import in the correlation field
18. Select Stagnant Air Vertical Planes
19. Set ambient temperature to 40 deg. C

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Workshop 6.2 - Solution

Add temperature and total heat flux results.

20. Highlight the Solution branch.

21. RMB > Insert > Thermal > Temperature, repeat
for total heat flux
20

21
22. Solve
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Workshop 6.2 - Results

A review of the results shows the

maximum steady state temperature is
approximately 51.7 degrees C

The worksheet view of the environment

shows that an energy balance has been
achieved

Convection1 + Convection2 5.2 W

Applied Load = 0.001W/mm2 * Area

Area 5276 mm

Workshop 6.2 Transient Solution

23. Highlight the Temperature result, RMB > Generate Transient
Environment with Initial Condition

23

The result is, the steady state

environment is duplicated and the
new branch automatically setup as a
thermal transient run

Notice the new branch contains an

initial condition branch and a
transient settings branch

Workshop 6.2 Transient Setup

24. Begin the transient setup by specifying an
end time of 180 seconds for the analysis in
the toolbar

24

25. Inspection of the initial condition details

shows no action is required. The steady
state (non-uniform) temperature result
from the Environment branch is mapped
to the transient branch

25

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Setup

26. Highlight Heat Flux in the Thermal Transient
branch

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27. In the heat flux detail change Define As to
Load History
28. In the History Data field choose New Load
History . . .

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28

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Setup

The Engineering Data application will open and a new Heat Flux vs.
Time chart/graph will be created

Enter the time and load data as shown on the next page

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Setup

29. Enter time and load information as described in the problem
statement

30 second increments

0.003 W/mm2 Heat Flux

29

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Setup

30. Highlight the Transient Settings branch
31. Toggle off all items but Heat Flux in the Visible and Active columns
of the Timeline Legend Control

30

Notice the automatic time

steps are based on the end
time:
Initial = ET/100, Min =
ET/1000, Max = ET/10
Leave time steps as default

31

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Setup

Toggling off all but the heat flux allows easier inspection of the timeline
chart in this case

Since the heat flux is the only load defined as a non-constant it will have
the only influence on the placement of the automatic step resets

Reset points

As expected, each
reset point coincides
with an inflection
point on the load
history

Workshop 6.2 - Transient Results

32. Solve the thermal transient
branch

32

When the solution is complete,

results can be reviewed just as
with steady state solutions

33. Highlight the quantity of interest

to plot

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. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Results

34. To review results from specific time points, LMB in the timeline chart to
locate the time of interest
35. RMB > Retrieve Results

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. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Results

Notice, when a new time point is selected in the

time line, the result detail is displayed in red
until the results matching the time selection are
retrieved

Plotting the Global Maximum temperature

from the Solution Information branch shows
the model has not reached a cyclic equilibrium

. . . Workshop 6.2 - Transient Results

Using the Probe Tool allows individual parts of the

model to be evaluated over time

Multiple Probes can be plotted on the same graph

Single Probe

Multiple Probes