Thermal analysis of SHELL132 layered structure radiation applied

[bubblingbeeble]

Hi,

I have created a panel, using SHELL132, of 3 layers. Having read a good number of posts on this forum, I tried using SURF152 to create surface elements. I have included an extra node, to which I applied a temperature.

So, structure created, SHELL132 properties applied and meshed. SURF152 elements created on top, with extra space node. Temperature applied to the space node only. I am working in SI units, so no offset temp. As it is a radiation problem, I have set to full Newton Rhapson method. Next stage *solve* - error, not all nodes have a temperature, recommends setting either temperature for the list of nodes or a uniform temperature. As I am modelling a panel for a satellite, I set a uniform temperature of 3K (representing deep space). Again - try *solve* - it runs, but any and every step and substep shows a temp of 3K for all nodes except the space node.

I think that setting a uniform temperature has caused the problem, I thought the uniform temperature was the ambient, is this correct? If it isnt, how can I either set an ambient temperature or an initial temperature for the non-space nodes of my model?

As an alternative to having a node radiating to the model, I also tried applying a heat flux on one surface (of 1400W/m^2, approximation of flux received at Earth from Sun). This gave me numerous error messages and warnings about an unconstrained model, which I dont really understand.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[HVSmith]

Sounds like you have most of the correct components to me... I'm relatively new to this too, but have been working on numerous radiation problems recently. I read somewhere (I can't currently find the reference) about radiation from surfaces to nodes and conversely from nodes to surfaces. I think the setup may be subtely different, I'm not sure. Flash3780 has posted some useful links in response to my posts but there's one I know of that I can't find right now, it's essentially the radiation manual - that might have some tips in there for you.

I'll have a think in the mean time, see if I can get radiation working "the other way around" to what I have conventionally been doing. I'll let you know - good luck in the mean time!