Contour plot of temperature gradient

[AstroJohnPE]

The temperature gradient -- delta Temperature/distance = dT/dL -- can be an important result for some situations, such as the manufacturing of telescope mirrors. In all situations, a large temperature gradient leads to high thermal stress which can be a concern of everyone. I wish the software would plot a color contour of the temperature gradient.

Note that a user can use the Custom results to plot dT/dL in some circumstances. This equation for conduction through a material, Q = (k*A/L)*dT, can be re-written as dT/L = (Q/A)*(1/k). The software already calculates Q/A and displays it as the "Heat Flux". The Custom result will display the temperature gradient IF the thermal conductivity is independent of temperature. When the material model is temperature dependent, a Custom result will not work because it cannot interpolate the input thermal conductivity at the calculated temperature of the element. I am not sure if the Custom result will work for an orthotropic material.

Since the Heat Flux Q/A is a vector result, the temperature gradient plot should also have all of the capabilities associated with this type of result; namely:

• Magnitude
• X component
• Y component
• Z component
• Vector Plot

John Holtz

Pittsburgh

[Sualp.Ozel]

SIMMECH-3742