An evaluation of a translator for finite element data to resistor/capacitor data for the heat diffusion equation

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5951071

This paper evaluates a translator for finite element data to resistor/capacitor data (FEM/RC) for the numerical solution of heat diffusion problems. The translator involves the derivation of thermal resistors and capacitors, implicit in the heat balance formulation of the finite difference method. It uses a finite element mesh, which consists of nodes and elements and is implicit in the Galerkin finite element method (GFEM). This hybrid translation method, FEM/RC, has been incorporated in Q/TRAN, a new Q/TRAN, HEATING-6, and a research code employing GFEM on a purely mathematical, highly nonlinear steady-state conduction benchmark problem. The evaluation concludes that the FEM/RC technique has numerical characteristics that are consistent with comparable schemes for the benchmark problem. FEM/RC also accurately translates skewed meshes. Because FEM/RC generates resistors and capacitors, it appears to offer a more computationally efficient method than the classical GFEM. 9 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5951071
• Report Number(s): SAND-87-2023C; CONF-871207-13; ON: DE87013926
• Resource Relation: Conference: Symposium on technology of glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic to metal sealing, Boston, MA, USA, 13 Dec 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HEAT TRANSFER
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
Q CODES
ACCIDENTS
CASKS
EVALUATION
MESH GENERATION
THEORETICAL DATA
COMPUTER CODES
CONTAINERS
DATA
ENERGY TRANSFER
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
420204* - Engineering- Shipping Containers
990220 - Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs- (1987-1989)
420400 - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow