Definition page

The Definition page displays the quantities of the correlated solution from which you can create design variables for the thermal correlation analysis when you select the Definition node in the main panel.

Design Variable Type
Type Specifies the quantity type to allow the solver to vary.

  • Parameters—Lists boundary condition parameters that are available in the correlated solution.
  • Expressions—Lists expressions that are available in the correlated solution.
  • Material Properties—Lists thermal conductivity and specific heat material properties for materials that are available in the correlated solution.
Filter Lets you filter the quantities displayed in the table for easier selection.

The filters are case-sensitive, and support wildcards. The default wildcard of * displays all entries in the list. For example, to filter the list to display every entry with a name starting with the letter "a," enter a* as the filter string.

Click Filter to display the filtered entities in the Design Variable Type table.
Design Variable Type table Lists the quantities available in the correlated solution based on the active filters and from which you can create design variables. Depending on the design variable type and method, you can select one or more quantities from the list to create design variables.

When Type is set to Parameters, the following columns are present:

  • Parameter—Displays the parameter name.
  • Units—Displays the parameter units.
  • Source Name—Displays the name of the boundary condition in which the parameter is defined.
  • Source Type—Displays the type of the boundary condition in which the parameter is defined.

When Type is set to Expressions, the following columns are present:

  • Expression—Displays the name of the expression.
  • Units—Displays the expression units.
  • Dimensionality—Displays the quantity type, such as heat flow rate or convection coefficient, of the expression.
  • Source—Displays the name of the boundary condition followed by the name of the parameter in which the expression is used.

When Type is set to Material Properties, the following columns are present:

  • Property—Displays the name of the material property.
  • Units—Displays the material property units you selected when defining the material.
  • Material Name—Displays the material name.
You can click any column heading to sort the list in ascending or descending alphabetical order.
Design Variable Definition
Design Variable Name Sets a unique name for the design variable. If you leave the Design Variable Name box blank, TMG Correlation assigns a default name based on the quantity you selected.
Design Variable Method Specifies the method to define the design variable for a thermal correlation analysis.

  • Substitution—Replaces the quantity by the design variable.
  • Multiplier—Multiplies the quantity by a design variable. One multiplier design variable can be applied on multiple quantities of same design variable type except for material properties.
Separate Design Variable per Selection Creates a separate design variable for each quantity selected in the Design Variable Type table.
Original Formula Displays the original value or formula of the selected quantity when only one quantity is selected in the Design Variable Type table.
New Formula Displays the design variable formula that replaces the original formula in the optimized solution during the thermal correlation analysis when only one quantity is selected in the Design Variable Type table.
Add Design Variable Adds the created design variable to the list of design variables for the current thermal correlation analysis.
Design Variables
Filter Lets you filter the design variables by the Type, Name, and Dimensionality.

The filters are case-sensitive, and support wildcards. The default wildcard of * displays all entries in the list. For example, to filter the list to display every entry with a name starting with the letter "a," enter a* as the filter string.

Click Filter to apply the filters and display the design variables in the design variables table.
Design Variables table Lists the design variables with the following information.

  • Name—Displays the name of the design variables.
  • Value—Displays the value of the design variables. With the substitution method, the design variable initial value is equal to the original quantity value. With the multiplier method, the design variable initial value is always 1.
  • Units—Displays the units of the design variables. With the substitution method, this corresponds to solution units and, if necessary, the substitution value is converted accordingly from the original quantity units to the solution units. With the multiplier method, the design variable units are always unitless.
  • Dimensionality—Displays the dimension of the design variables. With the substitution method, the design variable dimensions are equal to the original quantity dimensions. With the multiplier method, the design variable dimensions are always dimensionless.
  • Source—Displays the source of the design variables.

You can click any column heading to sort the list in ascending or descending alphabetical order or in ascending or descending numerical order.

When you right-click one or more design variable, the following commands appear:

  • Delete—Removes the selected design variables from the thermal correlation analysis.
  • Information—Opens the Information window that lists general information about the design variables in a text format, which you can export to a text file if necessary.