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Model Definition
Figure 1 shows the actuators parts and dimensions as well as its position on top of a
substrate surface.
Upper surface
Substrate
240 m
Hot arms
3 m
2 m
Dimple
Cold arm
Anchors
This model uses the material properties listed in Table 1 for the Joule Heating Model
equations. The assumption of constant material properties means that the coupling
between physics phenomena is one way only: the electric current through the actuator
heats up the material, but the current itself is not affected by the temperature rise. By
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choosing the linearized resistivity option for the electrical conductivity (available in the
Joule Heating Model nodes settings window) and providing the associated material
properties you can turn this into a two-way coupling.
TABLE 1: MATERIAL DATA
PROPERTY
NAME
VALUE
Electrical conductivity
5104 S/m
Relative permeability
4.5
Thermal conductivity
40 W/(mK)
Density
2300 kg/m3
Cp
600 J/(kgK)
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
An electric potential is applied between the bases of the hot arms anchors. The cold
arm anchor and all other surfaces are electrically insulated.
Ground
Applied voltage
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The heat transfer coefficient is given by the thermal conductivity of air divided by the
distance to the surrounding surfaces for the system. This exercise uses different heat
transfer coefficients for the actuators upper and other surfaces.
Fixed temperature
Fixed temperature
Fixed temperature
Results
Figure 4 shows the temperature distribution on the actuators surface. The line graph
in Figure 5 provides more detailed information about the temperature along a single
edge facing the substrate plane.
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Figure 5: Temperature along the actuators longest edge facing the substrate.
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Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD
edit field.
3 Click OK.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
NAME
EXPRESSION
htc_s
0.04[W/(m*K)]/2[um]
htc_us
0.04[W/(m*K)]/100[um]
DV
5[V]
Applied voltage
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DESCRIPTION
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GEOMETRY 1
Import 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Thermal Actuator right-click Geometry 1 and
choose Import.
2 In the Import settings window, locate the Import section.
3 Click the Browse button.
4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
thermal_actuator.mphbin.
Explicit 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Thermal Actuator right-click Definitions and
choose Selections>Explicit.
2 Right-click Explicit 1 and choose Rename.
3 Go to the Rename Explicit dialog box and type Substrate Contact in the New name
edit field.
4 Click OK.
5 In the Explicit settings window, locate the Input Entities section.
6 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
7 Select Boundaries 10, 30, 50, 70, 76, and 82 only.
MATERIALS
Material 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Thermal Actuator right-click Materials and
choose Material.
By default, the first material you define applies to all domains.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
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PROPERTY
NAME
VALUE
Electric conductivity
sigma
5e4
Relative permittivity
epsilonr
4.5
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PROPERTY
NAME
VALUE
Thermal conductivity
40
Density
rho
2.3e3
Cp
600
JOULE HEATING
Ground 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Thermal Actuator>Joule Heating and choose
Electric Potential 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Joule Heating and choose the boundary
Heat Flux 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Joule Heating and choose the boundary
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Heat Flux 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Joule Heating and choose the boundary
Temperature 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Joule Heating and choose the boundary
Free Triangular 1
1 Right-click Thermal Actuator>Mesh 1 and choose Free Triangular.
2 In the Free Triangular settings window, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 From the Selection list, choose Substrate Contact.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
Swept 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose Swept.
2 In the Swept settings window, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domains 27 only.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
Free Triangular 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose More Operations>Free
Triangular.
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2 In the Free Triangular settings window, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 3 only.
5 Click the Build Selected button.
Swept 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose Swept.
2 In the settings window, click Build All.
STUDY 1
Temperature (jh)
The default plot group shows the temperature distribution on the surface (see
Figure 4).
Reproduce the plot in Figure 5 by following these steps:
1D Plot Group 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group.
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of the y-Axis Data section. From the menu, choose Joule Heating (Heat Transfer in
Solids)>Temperature (T).
5 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the x-Axis Data section. From
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