Thermal Loads and Restraints

Thermal loads and restraints, except for temperature which is also used in structural studies, are only accessible for thermal studies.

For steady state thermal studies with a heat source, a mechanism for heat dissipation must be defined. Otherwise, analysis stops because the temperatures increase without bound. Transient thermal studies that run for a relatively short period of time do not require a heat dissipation mechanism.

The following types of loads and restraints are available for thermal studies:

  • Temperature (prescribed temperatures)
  • Convection
  • Heat Flux
  • Heat Power
  • Radiation