J.

Cugnoni, LMAF / EPFL 2012

1.

Un-coupled: Known temperature field => mechanical

model (linear statics + th. expansion)

u el th ; th T ;
(C (u T )) f 0
2.

C el C (u T )

One way coupling: solve thermal problem =>

temperature field => solve mechanical problem

T
cp
( T ) s (C (u T )) f 0
t

3.

Fully coupled: solve at the same time temperature &

displacement field (includes mechanical dissipation)

T
( T ) s 0

t
(C (u T )) f 0

cp

Variables

Essential variable: Temperature field T

Natural variable: heat flux q

Material

Text

Conductivity
Density & specific heat cp if transient

Boundary conditions:

Temperature: Tsurf = f(t) if transient

Surface heat fluxes:
Imposed heat flux qsurf=f(t)
Convection: qsurf = h (T Text(t))

Volume heat source: s = f(t)

T, , , cp, s

Select Step = Heat transfer

Choose steady state or transient

If transient: set time period, set small initial increment, set
max T per increment (<1/10 of max T)

In Mesh:

select element type: Heat transfer, linear

Loading:

Need to impose at least one temp. (rigid body)

Adiabatic interface: leave free = no flux!
Flux = load, Temperature = BC
Convection: in interaction module, create Surface Film
condition, enter h and Text
If transient: define an amplitude curve (tool =>
amplitude), need to start at zero for t=0, smooth step is a
good choice

Select Step = Static General

Keep standard options

In Mesh:
select element type: Stress , Quadratic (standard option)

Loading:
Need to impose a temperature field. Either manually
(constant by region) or by importing thermal analysis
results. This is done in Load module by creating a
predefined field of Temperature.
If temperature is imposed manually, pick the regions and
assign a temperature and amplitude curve.
If temperature is imported from thermal analysis: pick a
region, choose a file and define the time range of the
temperature results to import.

Select Step = Coupled Temp-Displacement

Choose steady state or transient

If transient: set time period, set small initial increment,
set max T per increment (<1/10 of max T)

In Mesh:

select element type: Coupled Temp.-Displacement,

quadratic

Loading:

Need to impose at least one temp. & block 6 rigid body

motions
Adiabatic interface: leave free = no flux!
Flux = load, Temperature = BC
Convection: in interaction module, create Surface Film
condition, enter h and Text
If transient: define an amplitude curve (tool =>
amplitude), need to start at zero for t=0

Bi-material beam: Thermal switch

Coupled Thermo-mechanical problem

Transient analysis
Heat transfer & expansion properties
Heat transfer BC:

Temperature
Convection
Heat Flux
Time dependent boundary conditions

Block: clamped, T= 0C

Beam dimensions 60 x 5 x 1 mm
Invar, 0.5 mm
Convec
tio
q=h (T- n:
Text), h
= 100 W
/m2/K
Water

Prop.

Steel

Invar

Youngs
modulus

210 GPa

141 GPa

Poisson ratio

0.3

0.3

Th. Expansion

1e-5

1e-6

Density

7800 kg/m3

8000 kg/m3

Conductivity

30 W/m/K

10 W/m/K

Specific heat

1000 J/kg/K

500 J/kg/K

Steel, 0.5 mm
T water = f(time)
T=100C

T=0C

Time (s)

60