1.7.3 Coupled thermal-electrical surface interaction

Product: ABAQUS/Standard  

Elements tested

DC2D4E    DC2D8E    DC3D8E    DC3D20E    DCAX4E    DCAX8E   

Features tested

*CONTACT PAIR

*GAP RADIATION

*GAP CONDUCTANCE

*GAP ELECTRICAL CONDUCTANCE

*GAP HEAT GENERATION

Problem description

A solid material is placed near a heat source whose temperature and electrical potential remain constant. Heat transfer across the gap between the solid body and the heat source can take place via gap conductance or gap radiation (thus, there are two tests for each element type). Electrical current is conducted between the two closely adjacent surfaces forming the gap. Half of the electrical energy resulting from this conductance is released as heat and is distributed equally to the two adjacent surfaces. No Joule heating occurs in the model as a result of electrical conduction; therefore, electrical energy does not act as an internal heat source within the continuum elements. For simplicity we initiate a unidirectional heat flow and current in the solid by applying a higher temperature and electrical potential to the face farthest from the heat source. The steady-state temperatures and electrical potentials of the solid face closest to the heat source are verified with the analytical solution.

Model:

Element size1 unit in each direction
Inner radius of axisymmetric solids10.0

Material:

Thermal conductivity in solid1.0
Electrical conductivity in solid1.0
Gap thermal conductance10.0
Gap electrical conductance10.0
Gap heat generation0.5
Radiation constants of surfaces5 × 10–10
Joule heat fraction0.0

Results and discussion

The steady-state temperatures and electrical potentials agree with the analytical, one-dimensional coupled thermal-electrical results.

Input files

Gap conductance tests:


ei22vsjc.inp

DC2D4E elements.

ei23vsjc.inp

DC2D8E elements.

ei34vsjc.inp

DC3D8E elements.

ei38vsjc.inp

DC3D20E elements.

eia2vsjc.inp

DCAX4E elements.

eia3vsjc.inp

DCAX8E elements.

Gap radiation tests:


ei22vsjr.inp

DC2D4E elements.

ei23vsjr.inp

DC2D8E elements.

ei34vsjr.inp

DC3D8E elements.

ei38vsjr.inp

DC3D20E elements.

eia2vsjr.inp

DCAX4E elements.

eia3vsjr.inp

DCAX8E elements.