Lumped System Connector (Heat Transfer in Shells Interface)
Use this node to connect the distributed finite element model to a thermal network.
The average temperature on the selected edge can be prescribed at a node of the thermal network where an External Terminal feature of The Lumped Thermal System Interface is applied.
In return, the heat rate defined at the node of the thermal network is applied on the selected edge.
Edge Selection
Select the edges on which to apply the connector. The Restrict to layered edges check box makes the node applicable only if a layered material is defined on the edge. If a layered material (Material with Layer thickness specified, Single Layer Material, Layered Material Link, or Layered Material Stack) is available, its name is then displayed beside the edge index (for example, slmat1), otherwise the edge is marked as not applicable.
Note that when the Shell type is Nonlayered shell in the Shells Properties section of the parent interface, the Restrict to layered boundaries check box is not editable.
In addition, in 2D, edges are modeled as points and this section is named Point Selection, containing a Restrict to layered points check box.
Shell Properties
Different settings are available, depending on the settings in the Shell Properties section of the parent interface:
When the Shell type is Layered shell in the Shells Properties section of the parent interface, the same layered material is used in the Lumped System Connector node, but you can limit the contribution to individually selected layers by clearing the Use all layers check box. For a given Layered Material Link or Layered Material Stack, you get access to a list of check boxes for the selection of the individual layers.
When the Shell type is Nonlayered shell in the Shells Properties section of the parent interface, the Thickness is From physics interface in the Lumped System Connector node. You can change to User defined and override the interface setting with a specific value or expression for Lth.
You can visualize the selected layered materials and layers in each layered material by clicking the Layer Cross Section Preview and Layer 3D Preview buttons.
Terminal Inputs
Select an External Terminal feature in the Source list to define which node of the thermal network provides the heat rate Pext to be prescribed on the edge.
When the Isothermal terminal check box is not selected (default), the average temperature on the edge is constrained to the temperature at the terminal node of the thermal network. Select this check box to apply the constraint on the space-dependent temperature instead, which corresponds to a stronger constraint.
Location in User Interface
Context Menus
Ribbon
Physics tab with Heat Transfer in Shells selected: