This strain mode provides the highest degree of accuracy by predicting how thermal cycling affects strain accumulation at each location within a part. A "thermal ratcheting" algorithm assigns a base strain to each location within the part as it solidifies. Each time a location within the part is heated above a temperature threshold (approximately 40% of its absolute melting temperature) an increase in strain in that location occurs. If a location re-melts, the strain is reset to the base strain. The more times a location is heated above the threshold without melting, the higher the strain accumulates. Once the strain magnitude is calculated for each location within a part using the thermal ratcheting algorithm, that strain is passed to the Mechanics Solver and applied as an anisotropic strain based upon both local strain magnitude and local scan orientation. Because thermal strain requires a thermal prediction for every scan vector, this strain mode requires a much longer computational time. As in Assumed Strain and Scan Pattern simulations, you will need to calibrate for Strain Scaling Factor.

See Performing a Thermal Strain Simulation for procedures.