Chapter 1: Analyzing Thermal Phenomena

A thermal analysis calculates the temperature distribution and related thermal quantities in a system or component. Typical thermal quantities of interest are:

  • The temperature distributions

  • The amount of heat lost or gained

  • Thermal gradients

  • Thermal fluxes.

Thermal simulations play an important role in the design of many engineering applications, including internal combustion engines, turbines, heat exchangers, piping systems, and electronic components. In many cases, engineers follow a thermal analysis with a stress analysis to calculate thermal stresses (that is, stresses caused by thermal expansions or contractions).

A thermal reinforcing analysis is also available. For more information, see Reinforcing and Direct Element Embedding in the Structural Analysis Guide.