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Thermal

In many cases it is useful to consider the effect of thermal loading on a structure. Thermal loads can have two effects. A uniform temperature change causes the member or element to expand axially but induces no bending. However, the thermal gradient options define a linearly varying strain through the thickness of the member or element so resulting in both in-plane expansion and bending.

Thermal loads can be applied to 2D members or elements. When loads are applied to members, they will be automatically expanded to load the appropriate finite elements.

Definition​

Name

The name is only used as a convenient way of identifying a load (optional).

Entity type

This specifies whether a list of members or elements will be used to define which entities the load will be applied onto.

In sculpt: The entity type is set to either members or elements based on what is in the current selection set.

Entity list

This specifies a list of 2D members or elements to which the thermal loads apply using any one of the forms detailed in our entry on lists. The list may be a single item.

In sculpt: The entity list is set to the 2D members or elements in the current selection set. The entity list cannot be edited in the dialog.

Load case

The load case in which the thermal load applies. The load case gives a way of grouping load effects together.

Type

The user has a choice of the type of loading applied to the member or elements.

  • Uniform – uniform load applied over the whole of the member or element
  • Gradient in local z – load which varies through the thickness of the members or elements, but not across the surface of the member or element
  • General – load which varies over the whole element. This option is only available when the entity type is set to element.

Uniform temperature

The temperature rise relative to the background temperature applied to the whole member or element.

Temperature at position

For temperature gradients the temperature profile is defined by two values, the temperature at the top and bottom surfaces. For general temperatures the temperature is defined at the top and bottom surface for each corner of the element.