Use Simcenter 3D files in an analysis

Practice the workflow for using Simcenter 3D files as you are analyzing a model.

Download and extract the part files.

Open the part file and set up user preferences

Open the part file and reset the dialog box settings.

  1. On the Resource bar, click the Roles tab.
  2. In the Roles palette, in the Content folder, select the Advanced role.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Choose File→Open and open heatsink/heatsink.prt.
  5. Choose File→Preferences→User Interface and on the Dialog and Precision page, reset the dialog box memory.

Create Simulation and FEM files

Create Simulation and FEM files.

  1. Choose Application tab→Simulation group→Pre/Post .
  2. In the Simulation Navigator, right-click heatsink.prt and choose New FEM and Simulation.
    The New FEM and Simulation dialog box lists the new files that are automatically created, as well as the optional idealized part file.
  3. In the Solver Environment group, from the Solver list, select appropriate solver, for example, Simcenter 3D Multiphysics, and from the Analysis Type list, select Thermal.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Create Solution.
  6. Click OK.
    The FEM file is now the displayed and work part. It is displayed in its own tabbed window.

Work with multiple tabbed windows

Change the window layout. The part that is saved to each file such as part, FEM, and Simulation is displayed in its own tabbed window. Idealized part is not opened in a tab by default.

  1. Click and hold on the tab for the FEM file and drag it towards the center of the graphics window to activate the docking controls. Place the cursor over the right arrow.
  2. Click and hold the tab for the Simulation file and drag it towards the center of the right window. Place the cursor over the bottom arrow of the docking controls to position the Simulation file window in the lower-right of the graphics window. Your view should look like the following image.
  3. Use the middle mouse button in each of the windows to rotate the model in that window. Each window is independent of the other windows.
  4. Choose Results tab→View Layout group→Synchronize Views to synchronize the orientation and zoom level of selected viewports.
  5. Select all windows and click .
  6. Try to rotate and zoom out the model.

Mesh the model

Mesh the model with a 3D tetrahedral mesh.

  1. Click the FEM file window to make it active.
    In the Simulation Navigator and Simulation File View, the FEM file is the displayed and work part.
  2. Choose Home tab→Mesh group→3D Tetrahedral .
  3. In the FEM file window, select the polygon body.
  4. In the Mesh Parameters group, in the Element Size box, enter 8.5 mm.
  5. In the Destination Collector group, click New Collector .
  6. In the Mesh Collector dialog box, click Create Physical .
  7. In the Properties group, click Choose material .
  8. From the type list, select Library Materials.
  9. In the Material List group, select Aluminum_2014.
  10. Click OK in all dialog boxes.

Add boundary conditions

Apply a thermal load, temperature constraint, initial conditions, and convection to environment boundary conditions.

  1. Click the Simulation file window to make it active.
    Notice that the mesh is now visible in the Simulation file window.
  2. In the Simulation Navigator, expand the heatsink_fem1.fem node and hide the 3D Collectors.
  3. Choose Home tab→Loads and Conditions group→Load Type→Thermal Loads .
  4. Select the shown face.
  5. In the Magnitude group, in the Heat Load box, type 10 W.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Choose Home tab→Loads and Conditions group→Constraint Type→Temperature .
  8. Select the shown face.
  9. In the Magnitude group, in the Temperature box, type 60 °C.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Choose Home tab→Loads and Conditions group→Constraint Type→Convection to Environment .
  12. In the Top border bar, set Type Filter to Polygon Face.
  13. Select the shown faces, except the face on which you applied the thermal load.
    Tip: To deselect the face, press Shift and select the face you want to exclude.

    87 faces are selected.

  14. In the Magnitude - Top group, in the Convection Coefficient box, type 15 W/(m2·°C).
  15. Click OK.
  16. Show the 3D Collectors again.

Open the idealized part

Open the idealized part.

  1. Click the part window to make it active.
  2. In the Simulation File View, right-click heatsink_fem1_i and choose Open in Window.
    A warning box is displayed. When the idealized part is created, it is a reference to the master part. To be able to work with the idealized part, we need to promote the body so that it is a linked copy that references the master part.
  3. Click OK.
    The idealized part is now the displayed and work part. In the graphics window, the idealized part tab is active, and the part tab is inactive.

Promote the idealized part and reposition the idealized part window

Promote the idealized part and reposition the idealized part window.

  1. Choose Home tab→Start group→Promote .
  2. In the graphics window, select the body.
  3. Click OK.
    The promoted copy is a linked copy that is dependent on the master part.
  4. Click and hold on the tab for the idealized part and drag it towards the left of the graphics window. Place the cursor over the bottom arrow of the widget to position the idealized part window in the lower left of the graphics window.
    Your graphics window should show four equal sized windows containing the master part, idealized part, FEM file, and Simulation file.

Modify the idealized part geometry

Modify the idealized part by removing a pocket. You are going to work in the idealized part window in the lower left of the graphics window to perform these steps.

  1. Choose Home tab→Synchronous Modeling group→Move .
  2. In the idealized part file window, select the five faces as shown.
  3. In the Distance box, type 30 mm and press Enter.
  4. Click OK.

Explore how changes affect other files

Explore how changes to the idealized part affect the other Simulation files.

  1. Click the FEM file window to make it active.
    The Information box lists the idealized part changes.
  2. Close the Information window.
  3. Choose Home tab→Context group→Update .
    You can see that the remeshed part reflects the modified idealized part.

  4. Click the Simulation file tab to activate it.
    The Simulation file has been updated to reflect the model changes. The boundary conditions are updated automatically when you update the mesh.
  5. Click the part tab to activate it.
    The master part has not been updated since idealized part changes do not propagate to the master part file.
You have completed this lab.