Defining Transient Heat Transfer Steps

A transient heat transfer step determines the dynamic distribution of temperatures in a body due to conduction and boundary radiation over a given time period. The response can be linear or nonlinear.

This task shows you how to:

See Also
About Transient Heat Transfer Steps

Define Transient Heat Transfer Steps Using Automatic Time Incrementation

  1. From the Procedures section of the action bar, click Transient Heat Transfer Step .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. In the Step Time field, enter the duration of the step.
  4. From the Incrementation type options, select Automatic.
  5. Adjust any of the following parameters:
    OptionDescription
    Initial time increment Initial time increment. This increment should be a reasonable suggestion for the initial increment size and the app will adjust it as necessary.
    Minimum time increment Minimum time increment allowed. By default, the minimum time increment is 10-5 seconds. If the Abaqus solvers need a smaller time increment than this value, the app terminates the analysis.
    Maximum time increment Maximum time increment allowed. By default, the maximum time increment is 1 second.
    Maximum number of increments Maximum number of increments in the step. By default, the maximum time increment is 100. If this number is exceeded, the app terminates the analysis.
    Maximum temperature change per increment Maximum temperature change allowed in an increment. The Abaqus solvers restrict the time step to ensure that this value is not exceeded at any node (except nodes whose temperature degree of freedom is constrained via boundary conditions, MPCs, etc.).
  6. Optional: Select Maximum temperature change rate for steady state to end the analysis if a steady state is reached prior to the end of the step time period.

    You must enter a value for the temperature change rate (temperature per time) used to define steady state.

  7. From the Matrix storage options under the Advanced section, specify one of the following options for the matrix storage and solution scheme:
    OptionDescription
    Default Uses a matrix storage and solution scheme chosen by the Abaqus solvers to store the stiffness matrix.
    Symmetric Uses the symmetric matrix storage and solution scheme to store the stiffness matrix.
    Unsymmetric Uses the unsymmetric matrix storage and solution scheme to store the stiffness matrix.

    For more information about these options, see Matrix Storage and Solution Scheme in Abaqus/Standard.

  8. Click OK.

Define Transient Heat Transfer Steps Using Fixed Time Incrementation

  1. From the Procedures section of the action bar, click Transient Heat Transfer Step .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. In the Step Time field, enter the duration of the step.
  4. From the Incrementation type options, select Fixed.
  5. In the Time increment field, enter the constant time increment size.
  6. From the Matrix storage options under the Advanced section, specify one of the following options for the matrix storage and solution scheme:
    OptionDescription
    Default Uses a matrix storage and solution scheme chosen by the Abaqus solvers to store the stiffness matrix.
    Symmetric Uses the symmetric matrix storage and solution scheme to store the stiffness matrix.
    Unsymmetric Uses the unsymmetric matrix storage and solution scheme to store the stiffness matrix.
  7. Click OK.