Pre-Analysis

Equations

The governing equation for heat transfer rate for a rectangular bar as generalized by Fourier in 1807 is the following equation. In this equation k is the proportionality factor as a function of material and temperature, A is the cross-sectional area and L is the length of the bar.

Q̇ = kA*(TA-TB)/L = -kA*(TA-TB)/L = -kA(dT/dx)

The equation above can be written in terms of heat flux using the definition that heat flux is the amount of heat transfer per unit area. This one-dimensional form of Fourier’s law of heat conduction is found below.

q̇ = -k(dT/dx)

A few words on the  formatting on the following instructions:

1. Notes that require you to perform an action are colored in blue

2. General information will be colored in black, but do not require any action

3. Words that are bolded are labels for items found in ANSYS AIM

4. Most important notes will be colored in red

Start-Up

Now that we have the pre-calculations, we are ready begin simulating in ANSYS AIM. Open ANSYS AIM by going to Start > All Apps > ANSYS 18.1 > ANSYS AIM 18.1. Once you are at the starting page of AIM select the Thermal template in the top right corner as shown below.

You will be prompted by the Thermal Template to either Define new geometry, Import geometry file, or connect to active CAD session. Select define new geometry and press Next. 

For this problem we will be using a Steady/static calculation type so select it and press Finish. No addition physics are necessary. The Model Editor will launch automatically. In order to use the units given to us in the problem press the Project button in the top left corner and select Units > US Customary. 

Go to Step 2: Geometry

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