Thermal contact properties

Thermal interaction at the surface of a body:

  • can be included in heat transfer problems (Uncoupled heat transfer analysis, Fully coupled thermal-stress analysis, Fully coupled thermal-electrical-structural analysis, and Coupled thermal-electrical analysis);

  • can involve conductive heat transfer between surfaces;

  • can involve radiative heat transfer between surfaces when the surfaces are separated by a narrow gap;

  • in Abaqus/Standard can involve convective heat flow across the boundary layer between a solid surface and a moving fluid;

  • can involve heat generated by frictional work in fully coupled thermomechanical or fully coupled thermal-electrical-structural simulations; and

  • in Abaqus/Standard can involve heat generated by an electrical current (Joule heating) in fully coupled thermal-electrical and fully coupled thermal-electrical-structural analyses.

General radiative heat transfer between surfaces is not discussed in this section. For information on modeling these types of problems in Abaqus/Standard, see Cavity Radiation in Abaqus/Standard. The thermal contact property models described here are for bodies in close proximity or in contact. For these problems gap radiation may be more efficient and robust than cavity radiation.

The following topics are discussed:

Related Topics
About contact interactions
User-defined interfacial constitutive behavior
In Other Guides
GAPCON
*GAP
*GAP CONDUCTANCE
*GAP HEAT GENERATION
*GAP RADIATION
*INTERFACE
*SURFACE INTERACTION
Creating interaction properties

ProductsAbaqus/StandardAbaqus/ExplicitAbaqus/CAE