Command reference help topics
Orbital Heating dialog box (SST)
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Controls which elements are included in the orbital simulation.Illuminate All Elements allows the solver to determine which elements are included.Illuminate Selected Elements allows you to limit the solver's search for elements to only the elements you select. You can select the top and bottom sides of elements separately. |
| Name | Lets you specify a name for the simulation object. |
| Destination Folder | |
| Simulation Object Container | Specifies the folder in the Simulation Navigator in which the boundary condition will be stored. The list includes the root container and existing folders that you created using the New Folder command. Examples of a root container include Load Container, Constraint Container, and Simulation Object Container. |
| Folder Manager | Displays a hierarchical listing of existing folders. To create a new folder, right-click any level of the hierarchy and choose New Folder. |
| Illuminated Region/Region Illuminated on Top Side/Region Illuminated on Bottom Side | |
| Select Object | Lets you select the geometry (or associated elements) to illuminate on the top and bottom sides.Element Selection Filtering lets you limit your element selection to the FE entity you select from the Filter Type list:0D Elements, 1D Elements, or 2D Elements lets you select only elements of that order.Element Edges lets you select 1D elements, the edges of 2D, or 3D elements.Element Faces lets you select 2D elements or the faces of 3D elements.Caution: You must select Element from the main selection Type Filter list to use the Element Selection Filtering options.Excluded lets you remove individual entities from within your selected object. |
| Stacked Smart Selector Methods | Opens the Smart Selector Methods dialog box where you can specify a progression of smart selection filters.For more information, see Smart Selector Methods dialog box. |
| Orbit Selection | |
| Orbit and Attitude Parameters | Lets you select an existing Orbit type modeling object to define the characteristics of the associated orbit, spacecraft attitude, calculation positions, and sun and planet characteristics.Select an existing Orbit type modeling object from the list or click Create Modeling Object to define a new modeling object.Click Edit to modify the specified modeling object. |
| Parameters | |
| Calculation Method | Controls how the software calculates the view factors.Deterministic uses the deterministic view factor method to calculate radiative heating. Specify an Element Subdivision value to balance view factor accuracy against calculation speed.Monte Carlo uses the Monte Carlo calculation method. |
| Element Subdivision | Available when Calculation Method is set to Deterministic.Balances view factor accuracy against calculation speed.Fixed granularitySets the granularity of the element subdivision for computing shadowed view factors. Select one of five levels of granularity numbered 0 to 5. A higher subdivision level yields more accurate radiative conductances, but the computation requires additional time. Use GlobalUses the global element subdivision that you specify for the Element Subdivision option on the Radiation Parameters page in the Solver Parameters dialog box.Based on Error CriterionDynamically estimates a subdivision level for each view factor, using the lowest subdivision level that satisfies the criterion. You specify a view factor error tolerance for computing shadowing checks in the Criterion Value box. |
| Monte Carlo Settings | Available when Calculation Method is set to Monte Carlo.Lets you choose a previously defined Monte Carlo Settings modeling object from the list or click Create Modeling Object to create a new one. |
| Include Faces of Solid Elements | For the Illuminate All Elements type:Select Include Faces of Solid Elements to model radiation from these surfaces.Clear the check box to have these surfaces ignored for radiation. |
| View | |
| Display | Opens the Orbit Visualizer where you can preview the defined orbit. Note: The Sun and planet vectors do not uniquely determine the spacecraft position. To accurately visualize the spacecraft's position in the Orbit Visualizer, provide the spacecraft's latitude and longitude coordinates for each Sun and planet vector pair. For more information, see Displaying the spacecraft in the Orbit Visualizer. |
| Information | Opens the Information window where the software displays a list of detailed information of all orbit parameters, including defaults, in a single, savable text file. |
| Card Name | Displays the name of the associated solver card. |
How do I
Set up an orbital heating simulation
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Orbital Heating
Understanding the Monte Carlo calculation method
Monte Carlo Settings
Look up more details
Using the Orbit Visualizer
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Orbital Heating dialog box (SST), Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series
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Source: https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/289054037/PL20200601120302950.advanced/id631901 · retrieved 2026-07-17