Solaria Thermal

Example Problems
These tutorials start extremely simple but they give you a good exposure to many of the fundamental
features in Solaria. The Solaria models at various stages of completion are supplied.

Example Problem #1: Simple Resistor Model

Set Units
Select Model>Units
Default units will be used: inches, Joules, seconds, lbs, C
Select the OK button
Generate two nodes for the ends of the resistor
Select Add>Nodes or the toolbar button
To generate node #1: Enter X=0 and Y=0 then select the Create button
To generate node #2: Enter X=0 and Y=5 then select the Create button
As an alternative method:
Select the button
Enter a value of 1.0 in the Displayed Decimal Places edit box
Move the mouse until X=0 and Y=0 then click the left mouse button
Move the mouse until X=0 and Y=5 then click the left mouse button
Select the OK button (in the Add node dialog)
Add the resistor between the nodes
Select Add>Resistor or the toolbar button
Hit the Add Property button
Hit the Add Material button
Select Aluminum 6061 T6 from the library
Hit the OK button
Enter 0.0625 in the Area edit box
Enter 1.0 in the Nodal Heat edit box
Enter Bar for the Property Name
Hit the OK button
Check Select First Node then select one of the nodes
Hit the Select button then select the other node
Hit the OK button
Define one of the nodes as a boundary node
Select Add>Boundary Node
Select Property 1 from the drop down list
Hit the Select button then select the bottom node
Select the OK button
Add heat to the other node
Select Add>Heat Load>Nodal
Select Property 1 from the drop down list
Hit the Select button then select the top node
Select the OK button
Solve the model: Steady State
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the OK button to accept default values
Select the Cancel button when model is done
Select Results>Data Display. Check Display Data, Node Temperature and Node Y location.
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The temperature where the 1 Watt heat load is should be 18.82 degrees. dT = Q * dX / (K * Area) =
(1.0W * 5.0 in)/(4.25W/(in-C) * 0.0625 in^2)
Select Edit>Copy and Move.
Check Move nodes.
Enter 2.0 for Y Distance
Hit the Select button then select the top node to move it 2.0 inches.
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the Solve button to accept default values
Select the Cancel button when model is done

You will notice that the temperature displayed on the screen automatically changes to 26.3 degrees
because the dX term went from 5.0 to 7.0 inches.

Example Problem #2: Simple Plate Model

Set Units
Select Model>Units
Define the units: inches, Joules, seconds, lbs, C
Select the OK button
Generate two nodes for the diagonal corners of the plates, using one of the two following methods
Select Add>Nodes or the toolbar button
To generate node #1: Enter X=0 and Y=0 then select the Create button
To generate node #2: Enter X=1 and Y=1 then select the Create button
As an alternative method:
Select the button
Enter a value of 1.0 in the Displayed Decimal Places edit box
Move the mouse until X=0 and Y=0 then click the left mouse button
Move the mouse until X=1 and Y=1 then click the left mouse button
Select the OK button (in the Add node dialog)
Add plate elements (5 x 5 matrix) and generate the material property
Select Add>Plate>Diagonal or the toolbar button
Check select Nodes then select the two nodes generated
Select the Add Property button
Select the Add Material button
Drop the Thermal Material Library list button and select Al Alloy 6061-T6
Enter 0.01 in the Thickness cell, then select OK
Enter 5 for X and Y Divisions
Select the Create button
Select the OK button
Select the toolbar button
The following is a second way to generate the plate elements
Select Add>Primitive
Select Plate under Primitive Type.
In the Sizing area, enter 5 for N Inc X and N Inc Y.
Select the Add Property button
Select the Add Material button
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 Drop the Thermal Material Library list button and select Aluminum 6061-T6
Enter 0.1 in the Thickness cell, then select OK
Notice the X End and Y End default to 1.0 so we dont have to change them.
Hit the Create button.
Select the OK button.
Equivalence the model to make sure all the elements are thermally connected
Select Solve>Equivalence and Compact or the toolbar
Select the Equivalence button then OK then Yes
Add heat to one of the nodes
Select Add>Heat Load>Nodal
Select the Add Property button
Enter Heat load for Property Name
Enter 2.5 for Nodal Heat
Select the OK button
Hit the select button then select the node at the upper right
corner using the mouse
Select the OK button
Define a boundary node
Select Add>Boundary Node
Select the Add Property button
Enter Boundary temperature for Property Name
Enter 25 for Temperature
Select the OK button
Hit the Select button then select the node at the lower left corner using the mouse
Select the OK button
Check Model
Select Solve>Check Model
Select the Check Model button to accept default values
Read comments and check for errors, warnings, etc
Select the Cancel Button
Solve the model: Steady State
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the Solve button to accept default values
Select the Cancel button when model is done
View the temperature contours
Select Results>Plot Contours or the toolbar button
Select OK

Your results should look similar to this

Add a uniform heat load across the top (add to remaining top nodes) To make the heat load
uniform, the two end nodes need half the power as the center four nodes because they have half the
associated edge length. Its important to understand how to correctly apply boundary conditions.
Select Add>Heat Load>Nodal

From the Property drop down list select the property Heat Load

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 Hit the Select button then select the node at the upper left corner using the mouse
Next change the Factor to 2 then select the four center top nodes
Select the OK button
Fix the temperatures across the bottom (define as boundary nodes)
Select Add>Boundary Node
From the Property drop down list select the property Boundary temperature
Hit the Select button then box in the bottom nodes
Select the OK button
Solve the model: Steady State
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the Solve button to accept default values
Select the Cancel button when model is done
View temperatures
Select Results>Plot Contours or the toolbar button
Select OK
Save File
Select File>Save Model As and save the model at this point (SimplePlate.smd)
This model will be used again in other labs

Example Problem #3: Defining Anisotropic Properties

Save the file from Example #2 as a new name

File>Save Model As and save model as Anisotropic.smd

Create Anisotropic Material on a different coordinate system than the Global

by defining a local coordinate system which is at 45 from the Global system.
Select Model>Coordinate System>Define
Check Select Nodes then select the lower left most node
Select the node diagonally across from that node on the same Plate
to define the x-axis
Select the node to the right of the first node selected to define the y-axis
Enter a Name of 45 Degrees
Select Create then OK button
Select Model>Materials
Select the material of the Plate elements
Uncheck the Isotropic Conductivity checkbox
Select 45 Degrees from the Coordinate System drop
down list
Enter a Y Conductivity of 1.0
Hit OK
Solve the model: Steady State
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar
button
Select the OK button to accept default values
Select the Cancel button when model is done

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View temperatures
Select Results>Plot Contours or the toolbar button
Select OK
File and Close Anisotropic.smd
File>Save Model As
File>Exit

Example Problem #4: Transient Response of the Plate

Open the existing plate model (SimplePlate.smd) and save the file as a new name.
Select File>Save Model As and save model as PlateTransient.smd.
Solve the model: Transient analysis for 2 seconds, printing every 0.1 second.
Set initial temperatures to 25.0. Make sure that the materials being used include specific heat and
density for transient simulations. If Al Alloy 6061-T6 was selected from the library, then they are.
Select Solve>Transient>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the first row then hit Edit
Enter 0.1 for Interval (print interval) and 2 for End Time (Temperatures will
be printed to disk every 1 second for 60 seconds)
In the Results File Name edit box enter plate.out
Well take the rest of the default settings
Select the Solve button
Select the Cancel button when Done
Plot a graph of the temperature results
Select Results>Plot Transient Results or the toolbar button
Hit the small button to the right of the Results file name box then select the file plate.out just
generated then select the Open button
Hit the Select button then box in the right side nodes then hit the OK
button
Select File>Exit to close the plot
File PlateTransient.smd
Select File>Save Model As, enter the name Plate Transient then hit the Save
button
This model will be used again

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 Example Problem #5: Transient Response of Plate with Pulsed Heat Load

Save the file as a new name

File>Save Model As and Save model as PulsedHeatLoad.smd
Remove some of the existing heat loads
Select Edit>Delete or hit the toolbar button
Hit the toolbar button to turn on centroids.
Hit the Select button then box in the top left five nodes making sure
NOT to go beyond the dots in the center of the Plate elements. This
will ensure that you dont delete them too. If you do then just hit the
Undo button and try again.
Hit the OK button
Define pulse
Select Model>Array data>Add and Edit
Enter Heat pulse for a description
Hit the Add Row four times
Select the first row then hit the Edit Selected button
Enter 0.0 for X Value and 1.0 for Y Value
Repeat for:
Row 2: 20.0 for X Value and 1.0 for Y Value
Row 3: 20.0 for X Value and 0.0 for Y Value
Row 4: 40.0 for X Value and 0.0 for Y Value
Select the Periodic radio button for the Independent Variable
Hit the Save button then select the OK button
Option 1
Select Information>Property
Hit the Edit button then click on the Heat Load property
Option 2
Select Model>Property
In the Property Select drop down, select the Heat Load property

Drop the Array drop down list to the right of the Nodal Heat edit box and select the Heat Pulse
array
Change the nodal heat load value to 20 Watts
Select the OK button then the Close button
Select Solve>Transient>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the first row then hit Edit
Enter 1.0 for Interval (print interval) and 120 for End Time (Temperatures will be printed to disk
every 1 second for 120 seconds)
In the Results File Name edit box enter pulse.out
Change the Initial Temperature to the boundary temperature of 25
Hit the Solve button
Hit the Cancel button when Done
Plot the results

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 Example Problem #6: Transient Response of the Plate with Convection

Open Existing Transient Plate Model (PlateTransient.smd)

Add Ambient Node

Select Edit>Copy and Move or the toolbar button
Enter 0.5 in the dZ edit box
Hit the Select button then select the lower most corner node
Hit the toolbar to rotate the model so you can see the new node.
Note that the Boundary Node attribute for the node was also copied.
Hit the OK button
Add convection from the plate to the Ambient Node
Select Add>>Convection or the toolbar button
Check Select Ambient Node then select the boundary node just added
Hit the Add Property button
Enter a heat transfer coefficient value of 0.1W/(sq in-C )
Enter a Property name of Convection
Hit the Property Save button
Select the OK button
Hit the Select button then box in the entire model
Select the OK button
Remove the Boundary Nodes from the Plate
Select Edit>Delete or hit the toolbar button
Hit the Toggle (off) button then check Boundary Node
In the Delete dialog, leave the Filter dialog up, hit the Select
button then box in the Boundary Nodes on the Plate. Dont delete
the Ambient Node
Hit the OK button
Check Model
Select Solve>Check Model
Select the Check Model button to accept default values
Read comments and check for errors
Select the Cancel Button

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Solve the model: Transient Analysis
Select Solve>Transient>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Select the Edit button
Change the end time to 60 seconds
In the Initial Temperature edit box enter 25 degrees
Select the Solve button
Select the Cancel button when Done
Plot the results as done above

Example Problem #7: Plate Model with Convection and Radiation

Add Radiation to the plates and input radiation properties under Property #1
Select Edit>Copy and Move or the toolbar button
Enter 0.2 in the dX edit box
Hit the toolbar button to see what the X, Y and Z directions are
Hit the Select button then select the convection ambient node
Hit the OK button
Select Add>Radiation>Node-Surface or the toolbar button
Check select environment node then select the node just generated
Select the property for the Plate (Property #1) from the drop down list
Hit the select button then box in all the Plate elements
Hit the OK button
Select Model>Property and select the Plate property, number 1
Enter a View Factor of 1.0
Hit the Edit Material button
Enter an emissivity of 0.8 then hit OK three times
Check Model
Select Solve>Check Model
Select the Check Model button to accept default values
Read comments and check for errors
Select the Cancel Button
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Hit the Solve button
Select the Cancel button when model is done
Select Results>Solution Data
Hit the Calculate Data button then box in the convection and radiation ambient nodes
This lets you know how much of the 25 Watts input is lost by convection and radiation.

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 Example Problem #8: Thermostat Controlled Plate
Set Units
Select Model>Units
Check units
Default units will be used: inches, Joules, seconds, lbs, C
Select the OK button
Add Proportional Thermostat
Select Add>Thermostat
Property Pull down menu select Heat Load
Type Pull down menu select Nodal Heat
Method select Proportional
High Temp 150.00 0.00
Low Temp 145.00 1.00
Hit the Select button then select any node on the plate, this is the
Thermostat sense point
Hit OK
Solve for steady state temperatures
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Accept the defaults and just hit the Solve button
Note the value for the heat load. 25 Watts was applied which is controlled
by the thermostat. The actual heat applied to the model is 13 Watts. If you
change the convective heat transfer coefficient value will change, as will
the resultant temperatures. If enough heat is applied then the resultant
temperature will be between the thermostat set points of 145 and 150
degrees.

Select Information>Element or hit the toolbar button

Hit the Select button then select the thermostat sense
node. Note that the temperature is 147.4.
Hit the Close button

Solve the model for transient temperatures

Select Solve>Transient>Finite Diff or the toolbar
button
Set the Interval to 0.5 and End Time to 10 seconds
In the Initial Temperature edit box enter 25 degrees
Select the Solve button
Select the Cancel button when Done
Plot a graph of the results
Select Results>Plot Transient Results or the toolbar
button
Hit the small button to the right of the Results file name box then select the file just generated then
select the Open button
Hit the Select button then select the thermostat sense node
Select File>Exit to close the plot

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Modify Thermostat to On/Off type
Select Modify>Thermostat
Select thermostat sense node or select it from the
drop down list
Change the Method to On/Off
Hit the Save button
Select OK
Run Transient Analysis
Select Solve>Transient>Finite Diff or the toolbar
button
Change the Interval to 2 and End Time to 600
seconds
Change the Initial Temperature to 140 degrees
Hit the Solve button
Plot a graph of the results
Note that there isnt a steady state solution with an On/Off
type temperature controller.

Example Problem #9: Radome Model

Method 1 There is always more than one way to build a model. This way
of creating the radome uses the feature to create basic primitive features in
Solaria.

Well build the radome in two parts, the half sphere at the top and then the
base cylinder.
Select Add>Primitive or toolbar button.
Select the Sphere radio button
Enter 9 for N inc Q, 18 for N Inc F, 5.0
for R Fix and 90 for Q End (Hit the Help
button for definitions)
Hit the Add Property button
o Enter 0.2 for Thickness
o Enter Radome Walls for the name
o Hit the Add Material button
o Select Al honeycomb 3.2 pcf
o Hit the OK button then again in
the Property dialog
Hit the Create button
Select the Cylinder radio button

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 Enter 10 for N Inc Z, 18 for N Inc F, 5.0 for R Fix and 10 for Z End.
Enter -5 (negative) for the Z Center location
Hit the Create button
Your model should look that shown. If it doesnt, hit the Undo button, correct a value then hit
Create again

Hit the OK button

Check to make sure that all the elements are connected
Select View>Toggle>Transparent then select View>Toggle>Outline Edge
Green lines (the color is defined in Settings>OpenGL>Display) are drawn along the edge of
elements that are not touching others. This will happen if adjacent elements dont share nodes. In
this case, unless IntelliMesh is used, there will be no heat transfer between the elements.
Equivalence and Compact the model
Select Solve>Equivalence and Compact or hit the toolbar button.
Hit the Equivalence button then hit Yes in the next dialog
Hit Ok then Yes in the next dialog
Your model should now look like the one to the right

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Method 2 This method defines nodes that define the shape, this could be any cross section profile.
The nodes will then be revolved around an axis of rotation to create Plate elements.

Generate a node at the center of the dome and one at the radius
Select Add>Node or the toolbar button
Hit the Create button to add a node at 0, 0, 0
Change the Y Location to 5 then hit the Create button
Alternatively:
Check Select location with mouse then hit the XY button
Enter a value 1 for the Displayed Decimal Places
Move the mouse until X Coordinate =0 and Y Coordinate=0 then click the left mouse button
Move the mouse until X Coordinate =0 and Y Coordinate =5 then click the left mouse button
Select the OK button (in the Add node window)
Copy the nodes
Select Edit>Copy and Rotate or hit the toolbar button
Select the Rotate about Z axis radio button
Check Select Rotation Axis then select the node at 0,0,0 (lower most node)
Enter 10 for Rotation angle increment
Enter 9 for Number of copies
Hit the Select button then select the node at 0,5,0 (the top node)
Select the OK button
Select the toolbar button
Select Edit>Copy and Move or the toolbar button
Enter 1 for dY
Enter 10 for the Number of Copies
Hit the Select button then select the bottom node
Select the toolbar button

Select Add>Plates>Revolve Nodes

To rotate around the Y axis, select the Y radio button
Check Select Rotation Axis then select the node at 0,0,0
Hit the Add Property button
Enter 0.2 for Thickness
Enter Radome Walls for the name
Hit the Add Material button
Select Al honeycomb 3.2 pcf
Hit the OK button then again in the Property dialog
Enter 20 for the Rotation angle increment
Enter 18 for the Number of rotation increments
Check Select Nodes for revolution into Plate then select the nodes in
order from bottom to top
Select the Create button
Select the OK button
Notice that the Outline Edge is now only at the seam. Therefore you must
again Equivalence the model to connect the elements at the seam.
Select Solve>Equivalence and Compact or hit the toolbar button.
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 Hit the Equivalence button then hit Yes in the next dialog
Hit Ok then Yes in the next dialog
Your model should now look like the one to the right

Select the toolbar button

Add Brick elements to the outside of the Plate elements

Before projecting or extruding Plate elements, make sure the surface normal direction for all are going the
same direction
Select Settings>General
Check 2D Normals (They are all pointing outwards, this is the positive direction)
Uncheck 2D Normals then hit OK
Select Add>Brick>Project Surfaces
Enter a Thickness of 0.3 inches
Select the Add Property button
o Select the Add Thermal Material button, enter a thermal conductivity of
0.1
o Enter a Thermal Material and Property name of Insulation
Hit the Select button then box in all the Plate elements
Hit the OK button
If you still have the Outline feature on, you will see that the model again needs to be equivalenced
Select Solve>Equivalence and Compact or hit the toolbar button.
Hit the Equivalence button then hit Yes in the next dialog
Hit Ok then Yes in the next dialog
Your model should now look like the one to the right
Add convection to the outside of the radome
Generate a node to represent the ambient
Select Edit>Copy and Move or the toolbar button
Enter 5.0 in the dZ edit box
Hit the Select button then select any node at the bottom left side of the model
Hit the toolbar button
Hit the OK button
Select Add>>Convection or the toolbar button
Check Select Ambient Node then select the boundary node just added
Hit the Add Property button
Enter a heat transfer coefficient value of 0.1W/(sq in-C )
Enter a Property name of Convection
Hit the Property Save button
Select the OK button
Check Select Adjacent
Hit the toolbar button and box an area at the upper right part of the model

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 Enter 30 degrees for Adjacent angle
Hit the Select button and select any outside surface of the model
Hit the Get Adjacent button. The count should now read 684.
Hit the OK button
View just the convection surfaces
Select Settings>Element Visibility
Hit the Toggle(off) button then check only Convection
Select Settings>General
Check Surface Couplings
Uncheck Surface Couplings
Hit the OK button
Hit Toggle(on) then hit the Close button

Define the convection node as a boundary node Solar source node

Select Add>Boundary Node
Hit the Add Property button
Enter a temperature of 25C
Enter Ambient Temperature for the Property Name
Hit the Ok button
Hit the Select button then select the convection node
Hit the OK button
Add a solar heat load to the surface of the insulation
Add a node to define the direction to the sun

Select Edit>Copy and Move or the toolbar button

Enter 20.0 in the dY edit box
Hit the toolbar button and box an area at the upper right part of the model
Hit the Select button then select any node in this area
Hit the toolbar button
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 Hit the OK button
Select Add>Heat Load>Surface
Check Select Vector Node and select the node just generated
Select the Add Property button
Enter a Surface Heat load of 0.5
Enter a name of solar heat load
Select the OK button
Check the Adjacent checkbox
Enter an Angle of 30 degrees
Select a Brick face as was done for adding convection
Select the Add Adjacent button
Select the OK button
Lines are drawn from the surface to the heat source node
Solve the model: Steady State
Select Solve>Steady State>Finite Diff or the toolbar button
Uncheck Use Current Temperatures and enter 25C
Select the OK button
Select the Cancel button when model is done
View temperatures
Select Results>Plot Contours or the toolbar button
Select Settings>Element Visibility
Hit the Toggle(off) button then check only Brick
Select Settings>General and uncheck Wire frame then check Hidden Line or hit the
and toolbar buttons
Move the sun

Select Edit>Copy and Move or hit the toolbar button

Enter Y = 20 and Z = -20
Check Move nodes
Hit the Select button then select the sun node
Hit the OK button
Re-solve the model and view temperatures

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Create temperature plot cuts

Select View>Clipping Planes

Check the Side X cut
Move the slider back and forth
Rotate the model around
Try other cuts at the same time
Uncheck Render cutting plane indicators to remove the red box
Select Close when youre done

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