Applying thermal gradient in ANSYS Workbench

[bangell]

I have created a simple one-element model in ANSYS classic to compare to some theoretical results I have calculated. I have tried creating the same model in ANSYS Workbench, but I am having trouble getting the thermal gradient to work.

The model I am working with has 40 composite layers of the same material at various orientations. I have applied mechanical loading to the edges of the single shell element and a thermal gradient (delta_t) of 700 degrees Fahrenheit. I would think that you just have to set the reference temperature to 0 degrees and add a constant temperature of 700 degrees to the element. I am just not sure how to do this in Workbench.

Please let me know if you can help me model the thermal gradient in Workbench.


Thanks!

 

[cbrn]

Hi,
I don't understand if you experience difficulties with a thermal GRADIENT or with the reference temperature.
If you deal with gradients, I fear that you will have to put some Commands snippet in the Solution tree and define the gradient via APDL just like you would do in Ansys Classical.
If it's a matter of reference temperature, then it is placed in the "Analysis settings" tab. As far as I know (I don't do thermal analyses), the temperature load can very well be applied to one face only, but in a steady-state analysis this will be meaningless (in equilibrium, all the body will be at 700°F). If you want to calculate the temperature "slope" inside the various layers, then "force" the "external" face to be at 700°F while "force" the "internal" one to be at, say, 32°F.
Or am I missing something?

Regards

 

[bangell]

Yes, I am just wanting to set the reference temperature to zero while the entire body is at a constant 700 degrees F, therefore creating a delta_t = 700.

Thanks.