Abaqus Modeling current/voltage input through a metal object (electrical conductivity)

[studenteng12]

Hello,

I am a college student that just started learning Abaqus for a class project and I am having trouble with modeling current/voltage in a metal.
I am given a half spherical shell with a certain thickness, and we want to apply a voltage at one or multiple points (and different position on the metal) to see the voltage/current distribution throughout that metal. However, I find a lot of videos and tutorials on heat transfer analysis but not electrical conductance.

Can you please help me where I can find resources? or what part of Abaqus to use for that?

Thank you very much.

 

[FEA way]

Abaqus has limited capabilities for electromagnetic analyses since this software is designed primarily for structural mechanics. The following types of electromagnetic simulations are supported in Abaqus:
- piezoelectric
- electrical conduction
- magnetostatic
- electromagnetic

From what you say, you are interested in electrical conduction analyses. These are only possible in two configurations: coupled thermal-electrical and coupled thermal-electrical-structural. Since you don't need structural response, choose the first type. Temperature is not of your interest as well so you can perform uncoupled electrical conduction analysis. This is done by omitting thermal properties in material definition. Then only electrical degrees of freedom are activated in elements. Voltage can be applied in form of electrical potential boundary condition.

These procedures are described in the documentation: Analysis User's Guide --> Analysis Procedures, Solution, and Control --> Electromagnetic analysis --> Coupled thermal-electrical analysis

 

[IceBreakerSours]

Unfortunately, and as noted in the previous response, you have chosen a tool that isn't quite built for this class of problems. Sure, one can stand on one leg and make it work but is that a good use of your time? I do not know. Also, from the overall content in the post, and I could be mistaken, it does not sound like you have an EM or perhaps even FEA background and, if that is correct, I strongly recommend talking to a supervisor. Otherwise, odds are you will end up wasting a ton of time and other resources to generate a pretty picture and nothing more. That said, I hope I am mistaken.

*********************************************************
Are you new to this forum? If so, please read these FAQs:

http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=376

http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=1083