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Space thermal getting started
This getting started guide provides a comprehensive introduction to space thermal modeling using Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal (SST).
Defining thermal contacts
This lesson introduces thermal couplings and explains how conduction, convection, and radiation couplings are used to model heat transfer between unconnected or simplified regions of a model.
Demo video: Defining thermal contacts
This video focuses on how to define thermal contact boundary conditions, solve a thermal model, and evaluate heat transfer between connected components.

Knowledge base articles
Knowledge base articles provide concise, practical guidance for solving thermal, flow, multiphysics, space systems, and turbomachinery modeling challenges in Simcenter 3D.
Space thermal getting started
This getting started guide provides a comprehensive introduction to space thermal modeling using Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal (SST).
- Getting started with space systems thermal in Simcenter 3D
- Introducing the user interface
  This topic covers the user interface (UI) in Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal. You will learn how to navigate the modeling environment and how to efficiently use the available tools, menus, and commands to build, set up, and review your models.
- Simulation process
  This topic covers the typical simulation workflow used to perform thermal analyses.
- Preparing a geometry for meshing
  This topic introduces the geometry creation and preparation workflow used in Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal. You will learn how to create or import geometry, modify and repair it for analysis, create associative copies for CAE workflows, and idealize the geometry prior to meshing.
- Meshing a model
  This lesson introduces the core meshing workflow in Simcenter 3D Pre/Post, including element selection, mesh creation, mesh organization, and assignment of material and physical properties.
- Advanced meshing and assemblies
  This lesson covers advanced meshing techniques, including primitives-based modeling, mesh controls, mesh quality improvements, and assembly-level meshing workflows.
- Applying boundary conditions
  This topic covers boundary conditions, which define how heat is generated, transferred, and constrained within a model.
- Defining thermal contacts
  This lesson introduces thermal couplings and explains how conduction, convection, and radiation couplings are used to model heat transfer between unconnected or simplified regions of a model.
  - Demo video: Defining thermal contacts
    This video focuses on how to define thermal contact boundary conditions, solve a thermal model, and evaluate heat transfer between connected components.
  - Thermal coupling methods
    This article explains coupling methods that the thermal solver supports. You will learn element subdivision and projective intersection coupling methods, how to calculate overlapped area, understanding overlap projection direction, how to control coupling resolution, and visualize thermal coupling connections.
  - Create thermal coupling boundary conditions
    Practice defining thermal coupling boundary conditions between different bodies in a model.
  - Demo video: Comparing projective intersection and element subdivision coupling methods
    This video focuses on how projective intersection and element subdivision coupling methods create thermal connections between regions and how overlap projection direction influences the resulting element coupling.
  - Thermal coupling types
    The type of thermal coupling you define is determined by the geometry of the source and target regions you specify, as well as the type of heat transfer such as conduction, convection, and radiation. This article explains the different types of thermal coupling and provides guidance on where each type should be used.
  - Demo video: Selecting primary and secondary regions
    This video focuses on how primary and secondary region selection affects thermal-coupling behavior and heat-transfer results in a thermal model.
  - Perform a heat transfer analysis between a chip, PCB, and casing
    You will practice using different thermal-coupling types, and understand the options in the Thermal Coupling dialog box. You will also understand the role of primary and secondary regions selection in thermal couplings.
- Solving the model
  This lesson introduces the numerical solution techniques used by the thermal solver for steady-state and transient thermal analyses.
- Post-processing results
  This lesson introduces post-processing commands to help you review and evaluate simulation outcomes using visualization and data analysis.
- Radiation modeling methods and optical properties
  This lesson explains the two Radiation simulation object types and how each defines radiative enclosures and affects radiation calculation efficiency.
- Orbital modeling
  This lesson explains how to define orbit parameters and solar and celestial body characteristics to establish spacecraft position, orientation, and environmental conditions for space thermal analysis.
- Solar and planetary heating
  This lesson introduces solar and planetary heating, covering solar flux, atmospheric and ground effects, model orientation, and radiative heating for space and near-planet thermal analysis.
- Multilayer and thermal protection system modeling
  This lesson introduces multi-layer shell modeling to efficiently represent layered thermal structures, including thermal protection systems and insulation, using 2D meshes with through-thickness heat transfer.
- Material transformation
  This lesson introduces material transformation modeling, including phase change, ablation, charring, and thermo-optical property degradation, for simulating materials exposed to intense thermal environments.
- Articulation and motion modeling
  This lesson introduces articulation and motion modeling to capture the thermal effects of moving and rotating components, including their impact on view factors, heat loads, and radiation.
- Joule heating and thermal devices
  This lesson introduces Joule heating and thermal device modeling, covering coupled thermal–electrical simulation, electrical boundary conditions, and simplified modeling of Peltier coolers and heat pipes.
- 1D hydraulic network modeling
  This lesson introduces 1D hydraulic network modeling to simulate fluid flow, pressure losses, and convective heat transfer in duct systems using efficient one-dimensional elements.
- Mapping the results to another model
  This lesson introduces temperature result mapping between models and explains how to align source and target models for accurate data transfer.
- Customizing the thermal solver
  This lesson explains how to extend the thermal solver using user-written subroutines and plugin functions to model custom thermal behavior.
- Creating ESC models from PCB Exchange
  This lesson introduces the PCB Exchange application and explains how to import, validate, and prepare ECAD models for thermal and structural analysis.
- Electronics thermal management
  This lesson introduces electronics thermal management in space systems, focusing on heat dissipation mechanisms, cooling techniques, and thermal modeling of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic components.
- Apply your knowledge with scenario-based exercises
  These tutorials are based on realistic engineering scenarios and are designed to help you apply what you have learned throughout this guide.
Turbomachinery getting started
This getting started guide provides a comprehensive introduction to thermal modeling for turbomachinery applications using Simcenter 3D Thermal Multiphysics.

Demo video: Defining thermal contacts

This video focuses on how to define thermal contact boundary conditions, solve a thermal model, and evaluate heat transfer between connected components.

You will learn how to:

Define thermal coupling boundary conditions.
Create surface-to-surface thermal contacts.
Solve a model with thermal contacts.
Review temperature results to evaluate heat-transfer paths.