INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTEMENT
MOTOR VEHICLE STREAM

FINITE ELEMENT METHOD PROJECT 2

“HEAT TRANSFER IN CYLINDERICAL FIN”

No. GROUP 6 MEMBERS ID No.

1 SALAMLAK KINDE FOT(R)1361/08
2 GEMEDA TAMENE FOT(R)0096/08
3 MISGANAW TIGABU FOT(R)1268/08
4 MULUGETA ADMASU FOT(R)1301/08
5 DAGNACHEW ASCHENAKI FOT(R)0851/08
6 BORU LEMI FOT(R)0834/08

Submitted to: Mr. Shumye G.

Submission date: 01-05-2012
 Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1
2. OBJECTIVE............................................................................................................................................2
2.1 MAIN OBJECTIVE..........................................................................................................................2
2.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE....................................................................................................................2
3. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION..............................................................................................................3
4. MANUAL CALCULATION..................................................................................................................4
5. SOFTWARE (ANSYS) OUTPUTS........................................................................................................7
6. COMPARISON BETWEEN MANUAL CALCULATION & ANSYS................................................20
7. CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................21
8. REFERENCE........................................................................................................................................22

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 1. INTRODUCTION

ANSYS (mechanical APDL) combines the explicit finite element program with the powerful
pre- and post-processing capabilities of the ANSYS program. The explicit method of solution
used by (mechanical APDL) provides fast solutions for short-time, large deformation dynamics,
quasi-static problems with large deformations and multiple nonlinearities, and complex
contact/impact problems. Using this integrated product, we can model our structure in ANSYS,
obtain the explicit dynamic solution using (mechanical APDL) and review results using the
standard ANSYS post processing tools.

We can also transfer geometry and results information between ANSYS and (mechanical APDL)
to perform sequential implicit-explicit / explicit-implicit analyses, such as those required for drop
test, spring back and other applications.

The ANSYS finite element solvers enable a breadth and depth of capabilities unmatched by
anyone in the world of computer-aided simulation. Thermal, Structural, Acoustic, Piezoelectric,
Electrostatic and Circuit Coupled Electromagnetics are just an example of what can be
simulated. Regardless of the type of simulation, each model is represented by a powerful
scripting language the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). APDL is the foundation
for all sophisticated features, many of which are not exposed in the Workbench Mechanical user
interface. It also offers many conveniences such as parameterization, macros, branching and
looping, and complex math operations. All these benefits are accessible within the ANSYS
Mechanical APDL user interface.

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 2. OBJECTIVE
2.1 MAIN OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the project is to solve a heat transfer analysis of cylindrical fin problem
using ANSYS mechanical APDL software.

2.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

The specific objective of this project is:
 To determine the temperature distribution along the fin.
 To compare the manual calculation and software results

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 3. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Determine the temperature distribution along the circular metal fin. The model of heat transfer is
convective which is responsible to transfer heat from source to the circular metal fin. In the other way
the metal conductivity will affect the temperature distribution over the surface of the element. The
following values are used for the analysis of the problem.

Fig 1 Cylindrical fin

 Base Temperature = 69 0C
 Ambient Temperature = 18 0C
 Convective heat transfer coefficient = 32 W/m2.0C
 Diameter = 14 cm
 Length = 26 cm
 Density = 9220 Kg/m3
 Specific heat capacity = 450 J/Kg.0C
 Thermal conductivity = 50 W/m.0C

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4. MANUAL CALCULATION

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 5. SOFTWARE (ANSYS) OUTPUTS

Step 1. Select File >clear and start new >do not read file >ok
Select File >change job name >enter new job name > cylindrical fin >ok

Step 2. Select File >change title >enter new title > cylindrical fin >ok

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 Step 3. ANSYS Main Menu > select Preferences >Thermal >ok

Step 4. Preprocessor > element type>Add/edit/delete, then select add > select solid > tet 10 node
87 > ok, finally close.

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Step 5: Preprocessor > material properties > material model > thermal > conductivity > isotropic
> enter the given conductivity > ok.

Step 6: Preprocessor > material properties > material model > thermal > specific heat > enter the
given specific heat > ok.

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Step 7: Preprocessor > material properties > material model > thermal > density > enter the
given density > ok.

Step 8: Preprocessor > material properties > material model > thermal > convection or film
coefficient > enter the given convection or film coefficient value > ok.

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Step 9: Preprocessor > modeling > create > volume > cylinder > solid cylinder > enter a given
radius and depth number > ok.

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Step 10: Preprocessor > meshing > mesh tool > on the smart size > fine 3 > mesh.

Step 11: Preprocessor > meshing > mesh tool > on the smart size > fine 3 > mesh > click object
> apply.

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Step 12: Solution > analysis type > new analysis > steady - state > ok.

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Step 13: Solution > define loads > apply > thermal >temperature > on areas > click the end of
the circle > apply > select temperature > enter a given value load temperature value (base
temperature) > ok.

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Step 14: Solution > define loads > apply > thermal > convection > on areas > full body touch >
apply > enter a given film coefficient and bulk temperature (ambient temperature) > ok.

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Step 15: Solution > define loads > apply > initial condition > define > select the object > apply >
temperature > enter base temperature > ok.

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Step 16: Solution > solve > current ls > ok > close.

Step 17: General post processor > plot results > counter plot > nodal solution > DOF solution >
nodal temperature > ok.

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Step 18: General post processor > plot results > counter plot > nodal solution > thermal gradient
> x component of thermal gradient > ok.

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Step 19: General post processor > list of results > nodal solution > DOF solution > nodal
temperature > ok.

Step 20: General post processor > list of results > reaction solution > heat flow > ok.

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 6. COMPARISON BETWEEN MANUAL CALCULATION & ANSYS

Manual calculation results:

 1 = 69 0C
 0
2 = 108.6975 C
 0
3 = 289.5897 C
 0
4 = 154.62 C

ANSYS calculation results:

 1 up to 4 = 58.524 0C
 0
5 up to 8 = 69.000 C
 0
9 up to 52 = 58.524 C
 53 up to 96 = 69.000 C
0

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 7. CONCLUSION

We have seen that in the above, the nodes in hand calculation have only 4 nodes
whereas from the ANSYS, the given fin have around 5949 nodes. So, there are
much more nodes on software than the hand calculation due to the difference in
temperature distribution. We can say that the software (mechanical APDL) is so
faster than the hand calculation. Since the software shows the temperature
distribution in many parts it is more accurate than the hand calculation, but more
complex than the manual calculation.

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 8. REFERENCE

1. Http://www.ansys.com/Introduction-to-ansys-mechanical-APDL
2. Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering, 3rd Edition by Tirupathi R. Chandrupatla & Ashok D.
Belegundu, Pearson Education, Inc.

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