*GAP CONDUCTANCE

Introduce heat conductance between interface surfaces.

This option is used to provide conductive heat transfer between closely adjacent (or contacting) surfaces. It must be used in conjunction with the SURFACE INTERACTION option or in an Abaqus/Standard analysis with the GAP option.

For coupled temperature-displacement gasket elements, this option must be used in conjunction with:

  • the MATERIAL option if the gasket behavior is defined by a material model, or
  • the GASKET BEHAVIOR option if the gasket behavior is defined by a gasket behavior model (using GASKET SECTION).

For coupled temperature-displacement cohesive elements, this option must be used in conjunction with the MATERIAL option.

This page discusses:

See Also
*GAP
*INTERFACE
*SURFACE INTERACTION
*GASKET BEHAVIOR
*MATERIAL
*GASKET SECTION
In Other Guides
Thermal Contact Properties
Defining a Thermal Interaction for a Gasket Element
GAPCON

ProductsAbaqus/StandardAbaqus/Explicit

TypeModel data in Abaqus/Standard; History data in Abaqus/Explicit

LevelPartPart instanceAssemblyModel in Abaqus/Standard; Step in Abaqus/Explicit

Optional parameters

DEPENDENCIES

Set this parameter equal to the number of field variables on which the gap conductance, k, depends.

PRESSURE

Include this parameter to indicate that k is a function of the contact pressure between the surfaces, p. Omit this parameter to define k as a function of the clearance, d, between the surfaces, or, for coupled temperature-displacement gasket elements, as a function of the closure, c, between the surfaces.

USER

This parameter applies only to Abaqus/Standard analyses.

Include this parameter to define k in user subroutine GAPCON. Using this parameter will cause the DEPENDENCIES and PRESSURE parameters and any data lines to be ignored.

Data lines to define the gap conductance (k) directly

First line

  1. Gap conductance or cohesive separation, k. (Units of JT−1L−2 θ−1.)

  2. Gap clearance, d; gap pressure, p; or closure, c (for coupled temperature-displacement gasket elements).

  3. Average temperature, θ¯.

  4. In an Abaqus/Standard analysis this data item corresponds to the average mass flow rate per unit area, |m˙|¯. In an Abaqus/Explicit analysis enter a blank field.

  5. Average value of the first field variable, f¯1.

  6. Average value of the second field variable, f¯2.

  7. Etc.

Repeat this data line as often as necessary to define the dependence of gap conductance on gap clearance, gap pressure, closure, average surface temperature, average mass flow rate, and any predefined field variables. At least two data lines must be specified for each combination of average surface temperature, average mass flow rate, and any predefined field variables. When gap conductance is defined as a function of clearance or closure, the value of the conductance drops to zero when the clearance or closure is greater than the value corresponding to the data point.

There are no data lines when the USER parameter is used. Instead, define the gap conductance in user subroutine GAPCON