[sasanghomi]

Dear friends,

I am dealing with a conduction heat transfer problem and I need to specify different conductivity to the regions of my domain. The problem is that I do not want to separate the region into some domains (because the mesh generation becomes difficult). So, my question is that whether or not I can specify different conductivity values for different regions of a specific domain without separating the parts?
For instance, in OpenFOAM by using Cell set utility we can choose specific regions for one domain without cutting the domain.

Is there any solution for this problem?

Any suggestion is appreciated

[Gert-Jan]

If you don't want to split the geometry into different domains, because the geometry would become too difficult to mesh, then how do you think you can create the regions after the mesh is generated? Selecting individual mesh elements is even more difficult, very laborious and error prone. It sounds very unlogical and I don't see your point here. So, please explain what you want to do.

[ghorrocks]

You can define conductivity to be a function of just about anything. So you can make it a function of its location and that way model the variable conductivity without having the region defined in the mesh. But for complex shapes this is difficult and it becomes much easier to just define it as a region in the mesh.

[sasanghomi]

Dear Glenn Horrocks

Thank you so much for your response.
Could you tell me please that how I can set a function for conductivity values (according to position)?

Best Regards

[ghorrocks]

Set the thermal conductivity to:
if(x>10[m],10[W m^-1 K^-1],100[W m^-1 K^-1])

Or use a 1D or 3D interpolation function, or a fortran user function, or one of the many other CEL functions.

[Gert-Jan]

You can also use step functions like:


labda = 1[W/m/K]*Step(X)+3[W/m/K]*Step(-X)


giving a value of 3 if x<0 and 1 if x>0 (please check the correct syntax for 'Step' and 'x'. It is just an example out of my head). But if you can use such simple expressions, to describe the conductivity, then why not create separate domains. I still don't get it.



To me this looks like an X-Y-Problem.

[sasanghomi]

I am so thankful for your responses. The problem is that the geometry of my simulation is complicated. It is about winding of an electrical generator. Do you have any ideas that how I can get the function that describes positions of different parts in modelling software programs (Design modeler, Catia, etc.)? Is there any utility?

BR

[ghorrocks]

For a complex geometry the only way is to define a mesh region as Gert-Jan has been saying all along. Catia and DesginModeller can both do this sort of modification easily, and then you remesh it.

[sasanghomi]

Thank you so much. However, I found a solution that it is possible to consider a thin layer (with specific conductivity) as an insulation in the interface of two parts. So, it is not necessary to create different parts with small thicknesses.

Any Idea?

I appreciate your support.

[ghorrocks]

Yes, that is correct. It is often better to model thin layers as thermal resistance on an interface than to physically model the interface.