Prepared by Dr.

Numan Behll BEKTA

COUPLED STRUCTURAL / THERMAL ANALYSIS

PREPROCESSING PHASE
THERMAL ENVIRONMENT
CRATING GEOMETRY, DEFINING ELEMENT TYPE,
DEFINING MATERIAL MODEL INCLUDE THERMAL PROPERTIES,
MESHING;
WRITE ENVIRONMENT AS THERMAL
CLEAR ENVIRONMENT

STRUCTURAL ENVIRONMENT
SWITCH ELEMNT TYPE,
DEFINING MATERIAL MODEL INCLUDE STRUCTURAL
PROPERTIES,
WRITE ENVIRONMENT AS STRUCT

SOLUTION PHASE
DEFINE ANALYSIS TYPE
READ THERMAL ENVIRONMENT
APPLY CONSTRAINTS
SOLVE
READ STRUCTURAL ENVIRONMENT
APPLY CONSTRAINTS
APPLY COUPLING CONSTRAINTS
INCLUDE THERMAL EFFECTS
SOLVE

POSTPROCESSING PHASE

Prepared by Dr.Numan Behll BEKTA

Coupled Structural / Thermal Analysis of A Long Cylinder

a= 0.03m, b= 0.09m, t= 0.01m

To=300K

Ti=473K

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Steel Disc

Thermal Conductivity: 60.5W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient: 12e-6/K
Modulus of Elasticity : 200000MPa
Environment Temperature: 300K

a
b
t

PREPROCESSING PHASE
Thermal Environment Create Geometry and Define Thermal Properties
1. Give example a title
Utility Menu>File>Change Title
2. Create geometry
Preprocessor>Modelling>Create>Regtangle>By 2 Coarners> X=0.03, Y=0, W=0.09,
H=0.01
3. Define the type of element
Preprocessor>Element Type>Add/Edit/Delete..
Select: Thermal mass Solid, Quad 4 Node55 , (Axisymmetric)
4. Define Element Material Properties
Preprocessor>Material Props>Material Models>Thermal>Conductivity>Isotropic
KXX:60.5
5. Define Mesh Size and Meshing
Preprocessor>Meshing>Size Cntrls>Manual Size>Areas>All Areas.. (SIZE=0.01)
Preprocessor>Meshing>Mesh>Areas>Pick All
6. Write Environment
Preprocessor>Physics>Environment>Write
Title Physics file title : Thermal and OK.

Prepared by Dr.Numan Behll BEKTA

7. Clear Environment
Preprocessor>Physics>Environment>Clear>OK
Structural Environment Define Physical Properties
1. Switch Element Type
Preprocessor>Element Type>Switch Elem Type
Choose Thermal to Struc from the scoll down list
2. Define Element Material Properties
Preprocessor>Material Props>Material Models>Structural>Linear>Eleatic>Isotropic
EX:200000
PRXY:0.3
Preprocessor>Material Props>Material Models>Structural>Thermal>Expansion
Coef>Secant Coef..>Isotropic
ALPX:12e-6
3. Write Environment
Preprocessor>Physics>Environment>Write
Title Physics file title : Struct and OK.

SOLUTION PHASE
1. Define Analysis Type
Solution>Analysis Type>New Analaysis>Static
2. Read in the Thermal Environment
Solution>Unabridged Menu
Solution>Physics>Environment>Read
Choose thermal and click OK.
(Read Physics file with Title: thermal)
3. Apply Constraints
Solution>Define Loads>Apply>Thermal>Temperature>On Lines
Set inner line 473 Kelvin and outer line 300 Kelvin

Prepared by Dr.Numan Behll BEKTA

4. Solve the System

Solution>Solve>Current LS
5. Close the Solution Menu
Mein Menu>Finish
6. Read in the Structural Environment
Solution>Physics>Environment>Read
Choose struct and click OK.
(Read Physics file with Title: struct)
7. Apply Constraints
Solution>Define Loads>Apply>Structural>Displacements>On Lines
(Fix bottom line in UY direction)
8. Apply Coupling Constrains
Preprocessor>Coupling/Ceng>Couple DOFs
(Choose nodes at iner line and fix them in UX direction, NSET=1 and OK, than nodes
at upper line and fix them in UY direction, NSET=1 and OK)
9. Include Thermal Effects
Solution>Define Loads>Apply>Structural>Temperature>From Therm Analy
Browse file.rth from rest of computer or directory..
10. Define Reference Temperature
Preprocessor>Loads>Define Loads>Settings>Reference Temp
(Fort his exaple set the reference temp to 300K )
11. Solve the System
Solution>Solve>Current LS

POSTPROCESSING PHASE
USE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO SEE RESULTS