Convection describes the heat transfer mechanism between a solid face and an adjacent moving fluid (or gas). It involves the combined effects of conduction and the moving fluid. Fluid particles act as carriers of thermal energy.
A solid loses thermal energy through a face with convection if the temperature of the face is higher than the bulk temperature. The solid gains thermal energy if the temperature of the face is lower than the bulk temperature.
To define a convection boundary condition in a thermal study:
In the COSMOS AnalysisManager tree, right-click Load/Restraint icon and select Convection.
-or-
Click Convection
on the COSMOSWorks Thermal Loads toolbar.
-or-
Click COSMOSWorks, Loads/Restraints, Convection.
The Convection PropertyManager appears.
In the graphics area, select the faces for which the convection boundary condition is to be defined.
Selected faces appear in the Selected Entities list box.
Set Units to the unit system you want to use to enter numerical values of the convection coefficient and bulk temperature.
Under Convection Coefficient, do the following:
Type a value for the Convection
Coefficient
.
Click Use
Time Curve
and then click Edit
to define
or import a time curve and associate the convection coefficient
with it. This option is available for transient thermal studies only.
-or-
Click Use
Temperature Curve
and then click Edit
to define
or import a temperature curve and associate the convection
coefficient with it.
Under Bulk Temperature, do the following:
Type a value for the Bulk
Temperature
.
Click Use
Time Curve
and then click Edit
to associate the bulk temperature with a time
curve. This option is available for transient thermal studies
only.
Click
.
To modify a convection boundary condition:
In the COSMOS AnaylsisManager tree, right-click the convection boundary condition you want to modify and click Edit Definition, or double-click the convection boundary condition.
The Convection PropertyManager appears.
Make the desired changes.
Click
.