Using Thermal Results to Create Loads and Boundary Conditions in NX

Quick Overview

This Tip & Trick shows how to use the results from a thermal simulation to create a temperature load in a structural simulation using fields. A contour of the resulting temperature load will be generated and compared to the thermal results.

The thermal model used for this example is a bracket submitted to a heat load, with temperature and convection boundary conditions. Figure 1 shows a contour of the temperature results from the NX Thermal/Flow analysis.


Figure 1

Steps

With the thermal model active and the temperature results posted, use the Identify Results command to list the nodal temperatures.


Figure 2

Under Pick, choose Box (All), then drag a box to select all the nodes. Then, choose Create Field as shown below.


Figure 3

Enter a name, select Temperature as the Dependent Domain and click OK.


Figure 4

Now, in the structural simulation, select File->Import->Simulation Entities. Choose the thermal simulation file, and under Import Entities, select Fields.


Figure 5

In the Simulation Navigator, under the active solution, right-click on the Temperatures node and select New Load Set -> Temperature Set. Leave the default temperature blank and click OK.

Right-click on the newly created Temperature Set and select New -> Temperature. Select all the nodes. Under Temperature, click on the equal sign, then Select Existing Field. Choose the Field previously imported and click OK.


Figure 7

In the Simulation Navigator, right-click on the newly created Temperature Load, choose Plot Contours and click OK. The temperature contour is now posted. Comparison with the original thermal results confirms that the temperature mapping was successful.


Figure 8

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