Thermo-mechanical Finite Element Analysis
ADINA TMC is used to solve coupled thermo-mechanical problems in solids and structures, and fluid-structure interactions. The program can handle fully coupled problems where the thermal solution affects the structural solution and the structural solution also affects the thermal solution. As well, ADINA TMC can handle one-way coupling where only one of the two physics fields affects the other.
The following mechanical to thermal coupling effects can be included:
- Internal heat generation due to plastic deformations or viscous effects
- Heat transfer between contacting bodies
- Heat generation due to friction
The following thermal to mechanical coupling effects can be included:
- Thermal expansion
- Temperature-dependent mechanical properties
- Temperature gradients in shells
Examples
Three examples with thermo-mechanical coupling are shown below.
Disk Brake
The first example involves the coupled analysis of brake systems. These can be strongly coupled problems with heat transfer due to contact between the disk/rotor and the pads, extensive heat generation caused by friction, temperature-dependent mechanical and thermal properties (the brake components experience a considerable temperature change during braking). For more details, see the ADINA News on Thermo-Mechanical Coupled Analysis of an Automotive Disk Brake. Note that a simpler brake configuration was also presented in another ADINA News.
Thermo-mechanical analysis of a disk brake
Fluid-Structure Interaction simulation of a two-dimensional gear pump
Thermal FSI of an Exhaust Manifold
The second example is an exhaust manifold which was reported in the ADINA News of June 15, 2007. This example couples structural, thermal, and fluid fields and requires ADINA FSI to run. The temperature distribution in the manifold is shown below.
Rubber CV-joint Boot
The Three-Network material model is used with the 3D-shell element to model a rubber CV-joint boot. This model includes self-contact and temperature effects in a fully-coupled thermomechanical analysis.
Some other examples of the applications of ADINA in problems involving Thermo-Mechanical Coupling (TMC) or Thermal-Mechanical and Fluid Coupling are presented in the following ADINA News:
- Thermo-Mechanical Coupling (TMC) Analysis of a Rubber Pad
- Fully Coupled Thermal FSI Analysis in Turbulent Flow
- Fully Coupled Thermal FSI Analysis
- Benchmarking Thermal FSI Capabilities
- Mesh Gluing in Thermo-Mechanical Solutions
- Thermo-mechanical Modeling of Friction Welding
- Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Composite Shells
- TFSI Analysis of a Plate-frame Heat Exchanger
ADINA TMC is also used for coupled problems involving other physics equations similar in nature to the heat transfer equation, namely electric fields and porous fluid flow. Hence, it is suitable for piezoelectric analysis and poroelastic/soil consolidation analysis.
Some Applications of ADINA TMC in Industry
- Automotive systems
- Metal forming
- Welding processes
- MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)
- Pressure vessels
- Piezoelectric sensors/actuators
- Soil consolidation
For other multiphysics problems, see multiphysics capabilities of ADINA.