Tunalover
Mechanical
- Mar 28, 2002
- 1,179
Guys:
I just need a sanity check on these assertions. Most FEA codes claiming prowess in heat transfer analysis of problems with convection (e.g. ANSYS Workbench) require you to assign convection coefficients (h) to all wetted surfaces. But to know what "h" values to use is almost always a WAG at best? And the convection coefficient h, especially over large surfaces, is not at all constant?
Don't CFD codes based on the Finite Volume Method (where convection coefficients are not even mentioned because the domain includes the fluid) do away with that nasty guesswork and error created by choosing what "h's" to use? Does it then make sense that such FEA codes should NOT be used for heat transfer problems with convection? It seems to me that these FEA programs if used to solve problems with convection will be giving guesses for results since the convection coefficient(s) are guesses from the get go? Then is it safe to say that these FEA codes should only be used for problems without convection?
Just wondering because I've always believed this stuff but never had an educated audience (like here) provide validation. TIA for your remarks.
Tunalover
Electro-Mechanical Product Development
UMD 1984
UCF 1993
I just need a sanity check on these assertions. Most FEA codes claiming prowess in heat transfer analysis of problems with convection (e.g. ANSYS Workbench) require you to assign convection coefficients (h) to all wetted surfaces. But to know what "h" values to use is almost always a WAG at best? And the convection coefficient h, especially over large surfaces, is not at all constant?
Don't CFD codes based on the Finite Volume Method (where convection coefficients are not even mentioned because the domain includes the fluid) do away with that nasty guesswork and error created by choosing what "h's" to use? Does it then make sense that such FEA codes should NOT be used for heat transfer problems with convection? It seems to me that these FEA programs if used to solve problems with convection will be giving guesses for results since the convection coefficient(s) are guesses from the get go? Then is it safe to say that these FEA codes should only be used for problems without convection?
Just wondering because I've always believed this stuff but never had an educated audience (like here) provide validation. TIA for your remarks.
Tunalover
Electro-Mechanical Product Development
UMD 1984
UCF 1993