FEA implemented Thermal Lumped Parameter - Analysis
- Paper number
IAC-06-C2.7.04
- Author
Mr. Arne Sauer, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Traditionally for thermal analysis in space projects the "Thermal Lumped Parameter" - method is used. This method consists in modeling a physical system as network of nodes and capacities as well as a matrix of conductances. Modern programs like ESATAN and SINDA are based on this "TLP" - method. At the same time on the structural sector the Finite Element Analysis is very whidespread. A large selection of FEA - Preprocessors is available today (like PATRAN or HYPERMESH) which provide very sophisticated functions for modelling as well as processing imported CAD - models. Still the TLP - Method has certain advantages compared to pure FEA - Thermal Analysis, for instance implementation of thermal control hardware (heat pipes, fluid loops, etc.). The challenge is to combine the advantages of both methods: FEA and TLP. For this reason a workflow for FEA implemented Thermal Analysis has been made. This workflow includes the import and the processing of the model in the FE - Preprocessor, also preparing it to be suitable for existing converters (NAS2TAS - TASverter package from ESA) in order to convert the model from a FEM readable BDF - File to a ESARAD readable Geometry - File. Also the possibility to map back the temperatures to the FEA - Preprocessor was examined. The paper consists in the presentation of the determined workflow as well as a critical inspection of it.
- Abstract document