Defining the rate of heat generation

Use the Heat Generation command to specify the rate of heat generation (thermal energy) by selected elements or nodes.

Defining heat generation in the Nastran environment

In the Nastran environment, the options in the Heat Generation dialog box correspond to the Nastran QVOL bulk data entry.

Defining heat generation in the Abaqus environment

In the Abaqus environment, the options in the Heat Generation dialog box correspond to the Abaqus *DFLUX keyword. The software applies the load as a distributed body flux (flux per unit of volume).

For more information, see *DFLUX in the Abaqus Keywords Reference Manual.

Defining heat generation in the ANSYS environment

In the ANSYS environment, the options in the Heat Generation dialog box correspond to the ANSYS BF and BFE commands. When you export or solve your model:

• If you select Nodal or Nodal-Spatial from the Type list, the software includes the BF,,HGEN command in your input file. With these options, you can select the node or nodes (or existing point/mesh point location) on which to define the flux. You can also select an existing edge. If you select an edge, the software applies the heat flux to all nodes along that edge.

• If you select Element, Elemental, Element-Spatial or Elemental-Spatial from the Type list, the software includes the BFE,,HGEN command in your input file.

In ANSYS, sometimes you may need to apply a heat generation that your element type does not accept. In those cases, you can use surface effect elements to overlay the current mesh. When you solve your model, ANSYS automatically generates the surface effect elements in your input file. The surface effect elements serve as a conduit to apply the heat generation. In the Heat Flux dialog box, you can use the SURF151 or SURF152 options to create surface effect elements.

• SURF151 elements can be overlaid on 2D thermal solid elements, such as PLANE77 elements.

• SURF152 elements can be overlaid on 3D thermal solid elements, such as SOLID87 elements.

If you use surface effect elements to apply the heat generation, you can also use the FLUID116 options to connect the SURF151 or SURF152 elements to FLUID116 elements. In ANSYS, a FLUID116 element is a 3D element that can conduct heat and transmit fluid between its primary nodes. FLUID116 elements:

• Are used in coupled-thermal fluid analyses.

• Have two primary nodes and can have two additional optional nodes.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	An active Simulation file with Nastran, Abaqus, or ANSYS as the specified solver and Thermal as the specified Analysis Type
Command Finder	Heat Generation
Simulation Navigator	Right-click Loads→New Load→Heat Generation

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

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Defining the rate of heat generation, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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