Applying Convection Heat Transfer Loads

1. Introduction

This example demonstrates how to apply a convection heat transfer load. The model shown in Figure 1
is a one-inch diameter rod. This model simulates free convection cool down of this rod from 500 to 0
degrees.

Z
Y

Figure 1. Rod Model

2. Material Definition

The rod is constructed of a material with temperature dependent thermal properties (shown in Table 1).
Because this is a heat transfer model, no other material properties are necessary.

Table 1: Temperature Dependent Material Properties

Temperature Conductivity Specific Heat
70. 0.0001466 0.1166
200. 0.000162 0.1214
400. 0.0001852 0.1288
600. 0.0002083 0.1362
800. 0.0002315 0.1435
1000. 0.0002508 0.1509
1200. 0.0002739 0.1583
1400. 0.0002951 0.1657
1600. 0.0003164 0.1731
1800. 0.0003376 0.1805
1
3. Applying Initial Conditions

The initial condition for any heat transfer problem is the starting temperature of the model. There are two
methods for applying this load. The first is to create a new load set, and apply a nodal temperature load
at every node in the model. The second method is to apply a body load, specifying a default
temperature. This can be done in the same load set as the convection load. The second method is
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Body Load Application of Initial Temperature

4. Applying Convection Loads

In this model a temperature dependent convection coefficient is used (Table 2). This is then applied to
all surfaces in the model.

To create the temperature function, in FEMAP go to Model – Function…. Give the function an
appropriate name and select 2..vs. Temperature for the Type. Enter the data as shown below being
sure to click More after each point. Click OK when all points are entered.

2
Table 2: Temperature Dependent Convection Coefficient
Temperature Coefficient
600. 0.000003877
800. 0.000003946
1000. 0.000003993
1200. 0.000004015
1400. 0.000004039
1600. 0.000004068
1800. 0.000004142
2000. 0.000004261
2200. 0.00000438
2400. 0.000004501

To apply the convection load to the circumference of the rod, choose Model – Load – Elemental from
the FEMAP main menu. When prompted to select which elements to apply the load, select all. Apply
the loads as show in Figure 3. The Coefficient Value is 1 because it is a multiplier of the values in the
table. The Temperature is set to 0, the ambient temperature.

Figure 3. Applying Convection Loads

Figure 4 shows the next step in this process, applying the loads to the element faces. Choose Adjacent
Faces as the Method, set the Tolerance to 60 (this allows the load to be automatically applied to the
entire circumference), and choose an Element Face on the outer surface of the rod.

3
Figure 4. Applying Loads to Element Faces

Repeat the above steps to apply the load to each end of the rod. Because the ends of the rod are flat,
there is no need to change the tolerance when applying the loads to adjacent faces. Figure 5 shows the
model with all the convection loads applied.

1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
Z 1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)1.(30)
1.(30)
Y 1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30)
1.(30) 1.(30)
X 1.(30)

Figure 5. Convection Loads on Model Surface

5. Running a Transient Heat Transfer Analysis

A transient heat transfer analysis is not necessary to find the final steady state temperature of the model.
However, a transient analysis generates intermediate outputs so the results can be plotted versus time.

Begin by choosing Analyze from the File menu. Choose a location and a name for your analysis file. At
the NASTRAN Analysis Control Window, shown in Figure 6, choose for the Analysis Type the
21..Transient Heat Transfer. Set the Loads / Constraints to the load set containing the convection
loads. Set the Initial Conditions to the same load set if it includes a body default temperature load
(described above), or to the load set containing the initial temperature nodal loads. Change the Number
of Time Steps to 200 and the Initial Time Increment to 100. This will generate output up to 20,000
seconds, allowing the temperature to reach steady state values. Finally uncheck Run Analysis; this is
4
necessary because FEMAP needs to alter the model in order to make post processing possible.

Figure 6. Analysis Control Settings

Click OK to export the model. FEMAP will now give an error message that no time dependent loads
have been applied, and that transient analysis has been selected. This will not affect this analysis run.
FEMAP will then prompt to save the model because of the addition of heat transfer specific elements;
click YES to save the model.

Open the model in the NEiNastran Editor, and click Run. When the model has completed running, use
the Import – Analysis Results command in the File menu to import the results.

6. Viewing the Results

The results can be viewed in the normal way with the post processing menu and the contour controls.
Additionally, X-Y plots can be generated to show results values at up to ten nodes. This is how the
results are shown in Figure 7.

5
 500.
477.1
454.2
431.3
408.4
385.5
362.6
339.7
316.8

293.9
271.1
248.2
225.3
202.4
179.5
156.6
133.7
0. 1675. 3350. 5025. 6700. 8375. 10050. 11725. 13400. 15075. 16750. 18425. 20100.
Set Value
1: TEMPERATURE , Node
2: TEMPERATURE , Node
3: TEMPERATURE , Node
4: TEMPERATURE , Node

Figure 7. Temperature vs. Time

To plot the results first identify the nodes of interest and note their ID’s. Then, choose XY vs. Set Value
from the View Select window, as shown in Figure 8. Then select XY Data, set the Output Set to the
first set, select the desired Output Vector, and enter the Node ID. Use the radio buttons on the left to
switch between curves. The set up of the first curve of Figure 7 is shown in Figure 9.

Figure 8. View Options to Plot Results Data

6
Figure 9. XY Curve Data

7. Additional Notes and Tricks

The FEMAP default for the time stepping is adaptive. This results in the not quite smooth curves shown
in Figure 7. To fix this problem simply change the TSTEPNL card in the .NAS file. FEMAP writes that
card as:

TSTEPNL 1 200 100. 1 ADAPT 10 UPW+

+ 0.001 0.001 1.E-7

To solve this problem, change the TSTEPNL card as follows:

TSTEPNL 1 200 100. 1 ADAPT 10 UPW+
+ 0.001 0.001 1.E-7 +
+ 0

The addition of the 0 in the ADJUST field causes NEiNastran to use a fixed time step. Figure 10 shows
the same plots using the second method. The curves are smoother, but not perfect. If exacting detail is
required adjust the initial time step to a smaller value; in this model it is set to 100sec.

7
 500.
477.1
454.2
431.3
408.4
385.5
362.6
339.7
316.7

293.8
270.9
248.
225.1
202.2
179.3
156.4
133.5
0. 1667. 3333. 5000. 6667. 8333. 10000. 11667. 13333. 15000. 16667. 18333. 20000.
Set Value
1: TEMPERATURE , Node
2: TEMPERATURE , Node
3: TEMPERATURE , Node
4: TEMPERATURE , Node

Figure 10: Temperature vs. Time with Fixed Time Steps

To quickly change the time that the model runs, edit the 3rd and 4th entries of the TSTEPNL card. The 3rd
one is the number of time steps, the 4th the initial increment. Multiply the two to get the total time.