Thermal solver input cards

Input file format overview

In most cases, a single input file INPF is created as follows:

1. Build a thermal model using the thermal solver within your CAE software.
2. Set the runtime options to generate only the input file in the thermal analysis task.
3. Generate the input file for the thermal analysis.

This process generates the INPF file in the run directory. Once the input file is complete, you can solve the model by entering tmg at the operating system's command prompt where the input file is located and selecting TI for an interactive thermal solve.

You can also create the TMG data deck from scratch using any text editor or custom-written code that generates the correct TMG input file format. This method is recommended only for advanced users.

TMG's input deck in the INPF file consists of 10 different card types, separated by –1 delimiter cards. Only the first two card types and the ten –1 delimiter cards are mandatory.

Data deck format

Card 1 Title Card – Mandatory

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 2a Program Control Card – Mandatory

Card 2b Analyzer Control Card – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 3 Plot Card – Obsolete

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 4 Node Cards – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 5 Element Cards – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 6 View Factor & Thermal Coupling Cards – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 7 Element Merging Cards – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 8 Element Elimination Cards – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 9 Additional Model Parameter Cards – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Card 10 User–written subroutines for the Analyzer – Optional

–1 (Delimiter Card)

Input convention

The input follows a free-format structure, where data fields can be separated by spaces or commas. Data entries may either be mnemonic symbols or numerical values.

• Mnemonics can be a code, a symbolic variable, or a group name.
• Group names are mnemonic symbols representing groups of elements, defined using Card 9 NAME cards. They can be used in place of element numbers. The use of group names is strongly encouraged, as it improves the readability of both data input and output.
• Symbolic variables are mnemonic symbols that represent numerical values, defined with Card 9 VARIABLE cards. Whenever a symbolic variable is encountered in the data deck, its numerical value is substituted automatically.

Formatting rules:

• Delimiter cards and lines starting with mnemonic codes must start in column 1.
• No line can exceed 90 characters in length.

Expressions

Expressions enclosed in brackets can be used in place of numerical values on cards 4 through 9. Multiple levels of brackets are allowed, but the total length of the expression must not exceed 29 characters.

• The following operators are supported: +, –, /, *, and ** for exponentiation.
• There should be no spaces inside the brackets.

Comment cards and fields

Comment Cards can appear anywhere in the data stream after the Title Card. To be recognized as comments, these Cards must begin with the letter C or a dollar sign $ in the first column.

Comments can also be added directly on Data Cards by placing a dollar sign $ after the data, with the comment following it.

Code example

$ THIS IS A COMMENT CARD
 1,10.6,11,12.8
$ INPUT FORMAT EXAMPLE WITH COMMA SEPARATORS
1 10.6 11 12.8             $ SAME WITH BLANK SEPARATORS
401 1.0 2 (3*(5.2/2.8+1))  $ USE OF AN EXPRESSION
GENER 2 2 1 10 1 0 0 0 1 0
 $ MNEMONIC CODE
NAME XSISTOR 5
$ CARD 9 NAME CARD
VARIABLE %HEATIN .5
$ CARD 9 SYMBOLIC VARIABLE CARD
QNODE XSISTOR %HEATIN
$ SYMBOLIC VARIABLE & GROUP NAME
QNODE XSISTR2 (%HEATIN*.5)
$ SYMBOLIC VARIABLE IN AN EXPRESSION