5.7. Example of a 2D Radiation Analysis Using the Radiosity Method (Command Method)

This section describes how to do a steady-state thermal radiation analysis of a conical fin using the radiosity solver method by issuing a sequence of commands, either while running in batch mode or by issuing the commands manually during an interactive session.

5.7.1. Problem Description

In this example, two circular annulus radiating to each other are considered. The outer surface of the inner annulus has an emissivity of 0.9. Its inner surface is maintained at a temperature of 1500°F. The inner surface of the outer annulus has an emissivity of 0.7, and its outer surface is maintained at a temperature of 100°F. The space temperature is maintained at 70°F.

Figure 5.8: Annulus

Annulus

5.7.2. Commands for Building and Solving the Model

The following sequence of commands builds and solves the finite element model. Text preceded by an exclamation mark (!) is comment text.

/TITLE,RADIATION BETWEEN CIRCULAR ANNULUS
! Example for 2D radiation analysis using the radiosity method
/PREP7  
CYL4,0,0,.5,0,.25,180          ! Circular annulus 1
CYL4,0.2,0,1,0,.75,180         ! Circular annulus 2
ET,1,PLANE55                   ! 2D thermal element
LSEL,S,LINE,,1   
SFL,ALL,RDSF,.9, ,1,           ! Radiation boundary condition on inner annulus
LSEL,S,LINE,,7
SFL,ALL,RDSF,.7, ,1,           ! Radiation boundary condition on outer annulus
LSEL,S,LINE,,3   
DL,ALL, ,TEMP,1500,1           ! Temperature on inner annulus
LSEL,S,LINE,,5   
DL,ALL, ,TEMP,100,1            ! Temperature on outer annulus
ALLSEL
STEF,0.119E-10                 ! Stefan-Boltzmann constant
TOFFST,460                     ! Temperature offset
RADOPT,,0.01,0,                ! Radiosity solver options
SPCTEMP,1,70                   ! Space temperature for enclosure 1
V2DOPT,0.0,0,0,                ! 2D view factor options
ESIZE,0.05,   
AMESH,ALL   
MP,KXX,1,.1                    ! Thermal Conductivity
FINISH
/SOLU  
TIME,1  
DELTIM,.5,.1,1
NEQIT,1000  
SOLVE 
FINISH
/POST1
ASEL,S,AREA,,1
NSLA,S,1
PRNSOL,TEMP
FINISH