Thermal Analysis
The third module shifted focus from mechanics to heat transfer, showing how the FEM framework extends seamlessly into thermal problems. The emphasis was on conduction, convection, and combined boundary conditions
The projects covered:
1D heat conduction: modeling steady-state temperature distribution in multi-layer systems, with discontinuous material properties and mixed boundary conditions.
Convection boundaries: applying heat transfer coefficients at surfaces to simulate sinks and sources, and understanding how natural boundary conditions are enforced in FEM.
Matrix formulation: deriving element matrices for thermal conductivity, assembling the global system, and solving for nodal temperatures.
Verification: comparing computed temperature fields and heat fluxes against analytical solutions to validate the numerical setup.
Although structurally simpler than nonlinear mechanics, thermal analysis reinforced the importance of correct boundary conditions and mesh treatment. Small errors in defining convection or material interfaces could lead to large deviations in results.
This module broadened FEM applications beyond structural mechanics. It provided practical skills in simulating thermal systems, which are critical in real engineering contexts such as cooling of components, insulation design, or heat exchanger analysis.