17.6.2.22. Internal Heat Generation

Available for 3D simulations, and 2D simulations for Plane Stress and Axisymmetric behaviors only. For the required geometry settings for Plane Stress and Axisymmetric behaviors, see the 2D Analyses section of the Help.

Applies a uniform generation rate internal to a body. A positive heat generation acts into a body, adding energy to it. Heat generation is defined as energy per unit time per unit volume.

If you select multiple bodies when defining the heat generation, the same value gets applied to all selected bodies. If a body enlarges due to a change in CAD parameters, the total load applied to the body increases, but the heat generation remains constant.

Note:  For each load step, if an Imported Heat Generation load and an Internal Heat Generation load are applied on common geometry selections, the Imported Heat Generation load takes precedence. For additional rules when multiple load objects of the same type exist on common geometry selections, see Activating and Deactivating Loads.

This page includes the following sections:

Analysis Types

Internal Heat Generation is available for the following analysis types:

Dimensional Types

The supported dimensional types for the Internal Heat Generation boundary condition include:

  • 3D Simulation

  • 2D Simulation

Geometry Types

The supported geometry types for the Internal Heat Generation boundary condition include:

  • Solid

  • Surface/Shell

  • Wire Body/Line Body/Beam

Topology Selection Options

The supported topology selection options for Internal Heat Generation include:

  • Body

  • Element

Magnitude Options

The supported Magnitude options for Internal Heat Generation include the following:

  • Constant

  • Tabular (Time Varying)

  • Function (Time Varying)

Applying an Internal Heat Generation Boundary Condition

To apply Internal Heat Generation:

  1. On the Environment Context tab, click Heat>Internal Heat Generation. Alternatively, right-click the Environment tree object or in the Geometry window and select Insert>Internal Heat Generation.

  2. Define the Scoping Method as either Geometry Selection or Named Selection and then specify the geometry.

  3. Enter a Magnitude value.

Details Pane Properties

The selections available in the Details pane are described below.

CategoryProperty/Options/Description
Scope

Scoping Method: Options include:

  • Geometry Selection: Default setting, indicating that the boundary condition is applied to a geometry or geometries, which are chosen using a graphical selection tool.

    • Geometry: Visible when the Scoping Method is set to Geometry Selection. Displays the type of geometry (Body, Face, etc.) and the number of geometric entities (for example: 1 Body, 2 Edges) to which the boundary has been applied using the selection tools.

  • Named Selection: Indicates that the geometry selection is defined by a Named Selection.

    • Named Selection: Visible when the Scoping Method is set to Named Selection. This field provides a drop-down list of available user-defined Named Selections.

Definition

Type: Read-only field that displays boundary condition type - Internal Heat Generation.

Magnitude

Suppressed: Include (No - default) or exclude (Yes) the boundary condition.

Mechanical APDL References and Notes

The following Mechanical APDL commands, element types, and considerations are applicable for this boundary condition.

  • Heat Generation is applied using the BFE command.

  • Heat Generation (constant, tabular, and function) is always represented as a table in the input file.

API Reference

For specific scripting information, see the Internal Heat Generation section of the ACT API Reference Guide for specific scripting information.