ES403 Mini-Project

Due: Thursday, October 27, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the project is to use finite difference and finite element to solve for the twodimensional heat conduction in a fin.
PROBLEM STATEMENT:

= 30

= 25

= 1

= 100
= 10
= 100

Using both the finite difference method and finite element (ANSYS) numerical methods solve for the
following:
(a) Temperature distribution in the fin (provide color contour diagrams) for both the finite
difference and finite element solution.
(b) Temperature distribution along the top (or bottom surface since the top and bottom will be
the same due to symmetry) (present T vs x graphs) for both the finite difference and finite
element solution.
Further, use the one-dimensional analytical solution to solve for the following:
(c) Temperature distribution as a function of x (T vs x graph).
GRADING AND SUBMISSION:
Total: 100 points
Grading rubric follows in the Technical Report section.
Reports must be submitted online in Canvas before Friday, October 23 @ 11:59 p.m. All late
assignments will receive a 0. If you anticipate problems completing and uploading the assignment
before the due date and time, please notify me in advance.

TECHNICAL REPORT:
A quality technical report using college-level writing and figures is expected.
Required information that needs to be included in the report:
Problem Statement (5 points)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Schematic diagram of the problem (You can plagiarize the diagram in this handout).
Governing equations: conservation of energy equation.
Boundary conditions.
Material properties.

Numerical and Analytical Methods (10 points)

1. Finite-difference equations used (for both internal and boundary nodes) and description of
numerical method used for finite-difference. For example, if using an iterative method to solve,
include description (i.e., Gauss-Seidel). If using Excel, then note. In the appendix, please include
numerical code or screenshots of Excel spreadsheets. Include element size (x = y (size)) that
was chosen for finite-difference mesh.
2. Please indicate that ANSYS was used to solve for the finite-element portion. Indicate the ANSYS
mesh size (number of elements or number of nodes) and include the ANSYS log file in the
appendix.
3. Equation(s) used to obtain the analytical solution. For the analytical solution assume that that
the width of the fin W = 1 m so that Ac = 0.01 m2.
Results and Discussion (60 points)
1. Temperature contour diagram obtained using finite-difference method. (10 points)
2. Temperature contour diagram obtained using finite-element method. (10 points)
3. Temperature as a function of x along the top (or bottom) surface obtained using finitedifference method. (10 points)
4. Temperature as a function of x along the top (or bottom) surface obtained using the finiteelement method. (10 points)
5. Temperature as a function of x using one-dimensional analytical methods. (10 points)
6. Discussion of results. (10 points)
Appendix (10 points)
1. Finite-difference code or screenshots of Excel spreadsheet.
2. ANSYS log file.
Figures: Quality figures are important in communicating engineering results. Poorly presented figures
are worthless. Figures must have figure captions. They must also have both axes labeled with
corresponding units. (15 points)

Extra Credit
1. Mesh independence study (up to 20 points extra credit)
a. Mesh independence study may be conducted for either the finite-difference method (10
points extra credit), the finite-element method (10 points extra credit), or both (20
points extra credit).
b. Create another section in the report titled Mesh Independence Study.
c. Mesh independence study must be done correctly to receive extra points.
2. Investigation of different numerical schemes (i.e. Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel, etc.).
3. Exceptional report
Working in Groups
You may work in groups for the finite-difference portion of the project. However, the following rules
apply:
1. Each person must write their own report.
2. You may work on finite-difference code together and help each other out with ANSYS, but each
person must run their own ANSYS simulation. Persons in the same group may share finitedifference code, but they will have different ANSYS log files.
3. If you choose to work in groups, you must clearly identify all team members in the report, even
if they are in another section of ES403.
Any violation of the above rules will be regarded as academic dishonesty.

POOR QUALITY FIGURES

Chart Title
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

10

10

Temp
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

POOR QUALITY FIGURES

90
80
70

Temp

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

10

10

Axis Title

Fig 1. Temperature.
90
80
70

Temp

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

Position

Fig. 1. Temperature vs position.

Temperature (oC)

GOOD QUALITY FIGURE

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

4
6
Distance x (m)

10

Fig. 1. Temperature vs distance along the bottom of the fin.

Characteristics of good quality figures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Descriptive figure caption no figure titles.

Each axis is clearly labeled with units.
Minimal whitespace on figure.
Readable (size-wise) labels and numbers.
Use only professional-looking colors where appropriate. (See figure with black background and
neon blue line as an example of inappropriate.)
6. Numerical solutions are considered continuous and data points should be connected with a
smooth line.