Getting Started with Icepak

  Release 2021 R2
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Getting Started with Icepak

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 Getting Started with Icepak

Conventions Used in this Guide

Please take a moment to review how instructions and other useful information are presented in this
documentation.
l Procedures are presented as numbered lists. A single bullet indicates that the procedure
has only one step.
l Bold type is used for the following:
o Keyboard entries that should be typed in their entirety exactly as shown. For example,
“copy file1” means you must type the word copy, then type a space, and then type
file1.
o On-screen prompts and messages, names of options and text boxes, and menu com-
mands. Menu commands are often separated by greater than signs (>). For example,
“click HFSS > Excitations > Assign > Wave Port.”
o Labeled keys on the computer keyboard. For example, “Press Enter” means to press
the key labeled Enter.
l Italic type is used for the following:
o Emphasis.
o The titles of publications.
o Keyboard entries when a name or a variable must be typed in place of the words in ital-
ics. For example, “copy filename” means you must type the word copy, then type a
space, and then type the name of the file.
l The plus sign (+) is used between keyboard keys to indicate that you should press the keys
at the same time. For example, “Press Shift+F1” means to press the Shift key and, while
holding it down, press the F1 key also. You should always depress the modifier key or keys
first (for example, Shift, Ctrl, Alt, or Ctrl+Shift), continue to hold it/them down, and then press
the last key in the instruction.

Accessing Commands: Ribbons, menu bars, and shortcut menus are three methods that can be
used to see what commands are available in the application.
l The Ribbon occupies the rectangular area at the top of the application window and contains
multiple tabs. Each tab has relevant commands that are organized, grouped, and labeled.
An example of a typical user interaction is as follows:

"Click Draw > Line"

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Getting Started with Icepak

This instruction means that you should click the Line command on the Draw ribbon tab. An
image of the command icon, or a partial view of the ribbon, is often included with the instruc-
tion.

l The menu bar (located above the ribbon) is a group of the main commands of an application
arranged by category such File, Edit, View, Project, etc. An example of a typical user inter-
action is as follows:

"On the File menu, click the Open Examples command" means you can click the File menu
and then click Open Examples to launch the dialog box.

l Another alternative is to use the shortcut menu that appears when you click the right-mouse
button. An example of a typical user interaction is as follows:

“Right-click and select Assign Excitation> Wave Port” means when you click the right-
mouse button with an object face selected, you can execute the excitation commands from
the shortcut menu (and the corresponding sub-menus).

Getting Help: Ansys Technical Support

For information about Ansys Technical Support, go to the Ansys corporate Support website,
http://www.ansys.com/Support. You can also contact your Ansys account manager in order to
obtain this information.
All Ansys software files are ASCII text and can be sent conveniently by e-mail. When reporting dif-
ficulties, it is extremely helpful to include very specific information about what steps were taken or
what stages the simulation reached, including software files as applicable. This allows more rapid
and effective debugging.

Help Menu
To access help from the Help menu, click Help and select from the menu:
l [product name] Help - opens the contents of the help. This help includes the help for the
product and its Getting Started Guides.
l [product name] Scripting Help - opens the contents of the Scripting Guide.
l [product name] Getting Started Guides - opens a topic that contains links to Getting Star-
ted Guides in the help system.

Context-Sensitive Help
To access help from the user interface, press F1. The help specific to the active product (design
type) opens.
You can press F1 while the cursor is pointing at a menu command or while a particular dialog box
or dialog box tab is open. In this case, the help page associated with the command or open dialog
box is displayed automatically.

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 Getting Started with Icepak

Table of Contents
Table of Contents Contents-1
1 - Introduction 1-1
2 - Set Up the Project 2-1
Launch the Ansys Electronics Desktop 2-1
Set Icepak Options 2-3
Set Model Units (mm) 2-4
Set Solution Type 2-5
Define Icepak Design Settings 2-5
3 - Create and Assign Materials 7
Create and Assign an Anisotropic Material 7
Assign Materials 7
Assign a Surface Material 8
4 - Prepare and Run the Initial Simulation 4-1
Assign Boundary Conditions 4-1
Assign the Grille, Opening, and Blocks 4-1
Add a Solution Setup 4-4
Generate a Global Mesh 4-4
View Global Mesh Settings 4-4
Generate and Examine the Mesh 4-5
Validate the Project 4-6
Create Monitors 4-7
Create Thermal Monitors 4-7
Create the CPU Monitor Point 4-7
Create the Memory Monitor Point 4-8
Create a Flow Monitor 4-9
Analyze the Simulation – Initial Global Mesh 4-9
Analyze the Model 4-9
Post-process the Results – Initial Global Mesh 4-12

Contents-1
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Getting Started with Icepak

Create Surface Plots 4-12

Create a Plane 4-13
Create Plots on a Plane 4-14
Create a Fields Summary 4-16
Create a Point 4-17
Use the Fields Calculator 4-18
Save the Project 4-20
5 - Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-1
Copy the Icepak Design 5-1
Create a Mesh Region 5-1
Create the Mesh Region 5-1
Edit Mesh Region Size 5-2
Edit Mesh Region Settings 5-4
Generate and Examine the Refined Mesh 5-4
Analyze the Simulation – Refined Mesh 5-6
Analyze the Model 5-6
Post-process the Results – Refined Mesh 5-9
Compare the Designs 5-11
Save the Project 5-11
6 - Run Optimetric Trials 6-1
Create and Assign Project Variables 6-1
Create Project Variables 6-1
Assign Project Variables 6-2
Add a Design of Experiments Setup 6-5
Analyze the Design of Experiments 6-10

Contents-2
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 Getting Started with Icepak

1 - Introduction
This document is intended as supplementary material to Icepak for beginners and advanced users.
It includes instructions to import, solve, and analyze a simple graphics card.

This chapter contains the following topic:

l Sample Project - The Graphics Card
Sample Project - The Graphics Card
In this project, you will learn how to import the graphics card model. Icepak solves conservation
equations of mass, momentum, and energy to provide flow and thermal fields.

Figure 1-1: Graphics Card

Introduction 1-1
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Getting Started with Icepak

PDF layout 1-2

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 Getting Started with Icepak

2 - Set Up the Project

This chapter contains the following topics:
l Launch the Ansys Electronics Desktop
l Set Tool Options
l Set Model Units (mm)
l Set the Solution Type

Launch the Ansys Electronics Desktop

A shortcut of the Ansys Electronics Desktop application appears on your desktop once the applic-
ation is installed.

1. On the Desktop ribbon tab, click Open Examples. Then:

a. In the Open dialog box that appears, click the parent folder icon ( ) once to move up
one level above the Examples folder.
b. Double-click the Help folder and then the Icepak folder.
c. Select the file Graphics_Card_Geometry.aedt and click Open.
2. The model is displayed in the 3D Modeler window.

Note: You can hide the grid by selecting View > Grid Settings and then selecting
Hide in the Grid Spacing dialog box. Also, from the View > Coordinate Systems
menu, you can hide the large coordinate triad and display a smaller coordinate triad in
the bottom of the 3D Modeler window.

Set Up the Project 2-1

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Getting Started with Icepak

Figure 2-1: Graphics Card model in the 3D Modeler window

Note: The region (outer red bounding box), which represents the computational
domain, is automatically created.

3. From the File menu, select Save As, and save the project in the desired working directory.
4. In the history tree, expand Model > Solids > Air > Region and select Create Region.
5. In the Properties window, note the default X,Y, and Z Padding values.

Set Up the Project 2-2

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 Getting Started with Icepak

Figure 2-2: Properties Window

6. Expand graphics_card_simple, and review the component geometry in the history tree.

Figure 2-3: History tree

Set Icepak Options

Verify the options under the Tools menu as follows:

Set Up the Project 2-3

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Getting Started with Icepak

1. Click Tools>Options>General Options.

2. Select Icepak and ensure the options are all selected as shown below.

Figure 2-4: Options dialog box

3. Expand Icepak and click Thermal.

4. Ensure that the Use Wizards for data input when creating new boundaries is selected.
Note: Deselecting the Use Wizards for data input when creating new boundaries
option provides a tabbed dialog box interface as an alternative for creating boundaries.
5. Click OK to close the Options dialog box..

Set Model Units (mm)

Define the model units as follows:
1. From the Modeler menu, select Units.
The Set Model Units dialog box appears.
2. Select mm (millimeters) from the Select units drop-down list, and click OK.

Figure 2-5: Set Model Units dialog box

Set Up the Project 2-4

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 Getting Started with Icepak

Set Solution Type

Specify the design’s solution type as follows:
1. Click Icepak>Solution Type.
The Solution Type dialog box appears.
2. Ensure that Steady State and Temperature and Flow is selected and click OK.

Figure 2-6: Solution Type

Define Icepak Design Settings

Specify the project design settings as follows:
1. Click Icepak>Design Settings.
The Design Settings dialog box appears.
2. Retain the default settings on the Ambient Conditions, Gravity, Validations, Export Set-
tings, and Mesh tabs and click OK.

Set Up the Project 2-5

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Figure 2-7: Icepak Design Settings dialog box

Set Up the Project 2-6

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 Getting Started with Icepak

3 - Create and Assign Materials

Materials properties for the components are not defined. For this model, you will create an aniso-
tropic material to be assigned to the PCB component and assign existing materials from the mater-
ial library to other components.

Create and Assign an Anisotropic Material

1. In the history tree, right-click on ALPHA_MAIN_PCB and select Assign Material.
2. In the Select Definition dialog box, click Add Material. The View/Edit Material dialog box
appears.
3. In the Material Name field, enter PCB_Material.
4. For Thermal Conductivity, click in the Type field and select Anisotropic from the drop-
down list.
5. Enter the following values for the anisotropic tensors:
l T(1,1): 20
l T(2,2): 2
l T(3,3): 20
6. Enter a value of 1 for Mass Density, Specific Heat, and Thermal Expansion
Coefficient.

Note: Since we are solving a steady-state simulation, these values are just place-
holders and are ignored in the solver.

7. Click OK to close the View/Edit Material dialog box.

8. Click OK to assign the newly created material to ALPHA_MAIN_PCB and close the Select
Definition dialog box.

Assign Materials
1. In the history tree, select CPU, Memory1, and Memory1_1 and right-click them.
2. From the right-click menu, select Assign Material.
3. In the Select Definition dialog box, select Ceramic_material.
4. Click OK to assign the material to the selected components and close the Select Definition
dialog box.
5. In the history tree, select CAPACITOR, CAPACITOR_1, Heat_Sink, KB, and Serial_Port
and right-click them.
6. From the right-click menu, select Assign Material.
7. In the Select Definition dialog box, verify that Al-Extruded is selected.
8. Click OK to close the Select Definition dialog box.

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Getting Started with Icepak

9. Select CAPACITOR and CAPACITOR_1.

10. In the Properties window, ensure that the Solve Inside check box is deselected.

Figure 3-1: Solve Inside check box in Properties window

Assign a Surface Material

1. In the history tree, select all of the objects. Right-click on graphics_card_simple and select
Select All.
2. From the Modeler menu, select Assign Surface Material to open the Select Definition
dialog box.

Note: You can also open the Select Definition dialog box from the Properties win-
dow by selecting Edit from the Surface Material row Value column drop-down list.

3. In the Select Definition dialog box, verify that Steel-oxidised-surface is selected.

4. Click OK to close the Select Definition dialog box.

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 Getting Started with Icepak

4 - Prepare and Run the Initial Sim-

ulation
Assign Boundary Conditions
To specify thermal properties to the objects, create boundary conditions. In this example, you'll cre-
ate opening, grille, and block boundary conditions.

Assign the Grille, Opening, and Blocks

You'll assign the opening to the minX face of the Region and the grille to the max X face of the
Region.
1. Press F to enter face-selection mode.

2. From the View ribbon, select the Dimetric orientation button from the Orient drop-
down list.

3. Select the max X face of the Region object as displayed below.

Set Up the Project 4-1

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Figure 4-1: Max X face of Region object

4. Right-click and select Assign Thermal>Grille.

5. In the Grille Thermal Model dialog box, enter a Free Area Ratio of 0.8 and click OK. The
grille boundary condition is added under Thermal in the Project Manager.
6. With the model displayed in the same orientation, hover the cursor over the min X face of the
Region and click.

Set Up the Project 4-2

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Figure 4-2: Min X face of Region object

7. The max Y face of the Region is selected. Press B to select the min X face, which was dir-
ectly behind where your cursor was when you made the selection.

Note: You can also right-click and select Next Behind to select a face directly behind
your cursor when you make a selection.

8. Right-click on the selected face and select Assign Thermal>Opening>Free.

9. In the Opening Thermal Model dialog box, select Velocity for Inlet Type, specify an X
Velocity of 2 m_per_sec, click OK.
10. In the history tree, select CPU. Right-click and select Assign Thermal>Block.
11. In the Block Thermal Model dialog box, enter CPU for the Name, a Total Power of 25 W,
and click OK.
12. In the history tree, select Memory1 and Memory1_1. Right-click and select Assign
Thermal>Block.
13. In the Block Thermal Model dialog box, enter a Total Power of 5 W and click OK.
14. In the Project Manager, expand Thermal and select Block1.

Set Up the Project 4-3

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15. In the Properties window, rename the boundary condition as Memory.

Figure 4-3: Properties window of Memory boundary condition

Add a Solution Setup

Prior to generating a mesh, you must create a solution setup, in which you specify general and solu-
tion settings.
1. In the Project Manager, right-click on Analysis and select Add Solution Setup.
2. In the Icepak Solve Setup Dialog under Flow Regime, select Turbulent and click
Options.
3. In the Turbulent Flow Model dialog box, retain the default selection of Zero Equation and
click OK.
4. Retain all other default settings on the General, Convergence, and Solver Settings tabs.
5. Click OK to save the settings. The solution setup is added under Analysis in the Project
Manager.
6. From the File menu, click Save.

Generate a Global Mesh
When the model geometry is finished, you can mesh the model. In this example, you'll create an ini-
tial global mesh and proceed to solve the model before creating a copy of the Icepak design to
refine the mesh around the HEAT_SINK object.

View Global Mesh Settings

1. In the Project Manager, right-click on Mesh and select Edit Global Region.
2. In the Mesh Region dialog box, examine the default mesh settings on the General and

Set Up the Project 4-4

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 Getting Started with Icepak

Advanced tabs.
3. Retain the default settings and click OK.

Generate and Examine the Mesh

1. In the Project Manager under Analysis, right-click on the solution setup (Setup1) and
select Generate Mesh. When the mesh operation is complete, the mesh loads and the
Mesh visualization dialog box appears.
2. In the history tree, select all geometry under graphics_card_simple.
3. In the Mesh visualization dialog box under Mesh display on, select Geo-
metry/Boundary selection to display the mesh for the selected objects.

Figure 4-4: Mesh on all objects

4. In the history tree, select ALPHA_MAIN_PCB to display mesh only on the PCB.

5. On the View ribbon, click the Right orientation option from the Orient drop-down list.

Set Up the Project 4-5

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Figure 4-5: Surface mesh on PCB object

6. In the Mesh visualization dialog box, click the Quality tab and toggle between Face align-
ment, Volume, and Skewness, noting the Min and Max values for each.

Note: The following are targets value for face alignment and skewness that increase
the probability of simulation convergence and accurate results.
l Face alignment: >0.05
l Skewness: >0.02

7. Click Close to close the Mesh visualization dialog box.

Validate the Project

It is a good practice to validate your project to ensure the model and all settings are within specified
parameters in order to run a simulation.
1. From the Icepak menu, select Validation Check. The Validation Check dialog is dis-
played and the validations begins. When finished, green check marks appear next to the pro-
ject items validated.

Set Up the Project 4-6

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Figure 4-6: Validation Check dialog box

2. Click Close to close the Validation Check dialog box.

Create Monitors
Monitor points are useful to display data at a specific point while the solver iterates. In this example,
you'll create monitor points to display temperature data for the CPU and a memory chip.

Create Thermal Monitors

Create the CPU Monitor Point
1. In the history tree, right-click on the CPU object and select Assign Monitor>Point. The
Monitor Setup dialog box appears.

Set Up the Project 4-7

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Figure 4-7: Monitor Setup dialog box - CPU

2. Enter a Name of CPU_Monitor.

3. Under Thermal, select the Temperature check box.
4. Click OK. CPU_Monitor1 is created under Monitor in the Project Manager.

Create the Memory Monitor Point

1. In the history tree, right-click on the Memory1 object and select Assign Monitor>Point.
The Monitor Setup dialog box appears.
2. Enter a Name of Memory_Monitor.
3. Under Thermal, select the Temperature check box.
4. Click OK. Memory_Monitor1 is created under Monitor in the Project Manager.

Set Up the Project 4-8

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Create a Flow Monitor

1. From the View ribbon, select the Dimetric orientation option from the Orient drop-
down list.
2. Press F to ensure you are in face-selection mode.
3. Select the face of the Region object as displayed below.

Figure 4-8: Region face selection

4. Right-click in the 3D Modeler window, and select Assign Monitor>Point. The Monitor
Setup dialog box appears.
5. Enter a Name of Exhaust_Monitor.
6. Under Flow, select the Speed check box.
7. Click OK. Exhaust_Monitor1 is created under Monitor in the Project Manager.

Analyze the Simulation – Initial Global Mesh

Analyze the Model
1. In the Project Manager, right-click on the solution setup (Setup1) and select Analyze to run
the simulation. The status of the simulation is displayed in the progress bar.
2. Right-click on the solution setup (Setup1) and select Residual to open the Solutions dialog
box.
3. View the residuals update as the simulation runs.

Set Up the Project 4-9

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Note: When the simulation is complete, a message is displayed in the Message Man-
ager indicating normal completion.

Figure 4-9: Solutions dialog box - Residual tab

4. Click the Thermal Monitor tab and review the monitor data.

Set Up the Project 4-10

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Figure 4-10: Solutions dialog box - Thermal Monitor tab

5. Click the Flow Monitor tab and review the monitor data.

Set Up the Project 4-11

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Figure 4-11: Solutions dialog box - Flow Monitor tab

Post-process the Results – Initial Global Mesh

Create Surface Plots
1. In the history tree, right-click ALPHA_MAIN_PCB and HEAT_SINK, and select Plot
Fields>Temperature>Temperature.
2. In the Create Field Plot dialog box, retain the default selection of Temperature under
Quantity.
3. Select the Plot on surface only check box and click Done. Temperature contours are dis-
played on the PCB and heat sink objects, and the plot appears under Field Overlays in the
Project Manager.
4. In the 3D Modeler, right-click on the colorkey and select Modify. A dialog box is displayed.
5. Click the Scale tab and do the following under Number Format:
l For Type, select Decimal.
l For Width, enter 6.
6. Click Save as default and then Close.

Set Up the Project 4-12

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Figure 4-12: PCB and Heatsink temperature contours

Create a Plane
In order to display temperature, pressure, and velocity on a plane cut, you must first create a plane.
The plane will be in the middle of the PCB in the Z direction.

1. From the View ribbon, select click the Dimetric orientation button from the Orient drop-
down list.
2. From the Draw menu, select Plane.
3. In the 3D Modeler, hover the cursor over the center of the edge of the PCB and click.

Set Up the Project 4-13

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Figure 4-13: Plane creation

4. Hold Z, move the cursor up along the Z plane and click. The new plane displayed under
Planes in the history tree.

Create Plots on a Plane

1. In the history tree, select the plane you created.
2. In the 3D Modeler window, right-click and select Plot Fields>Pressure>Pressure.
3. In the Create Field Plot dialog box, retain the default selection of Pressure under Quantity
and click Done. Pressure contours are displayed on the plane.

Note: Click and drag the Pressure colorkey to also display the Temperature col-
orkey.

Set Up the Project 4-14

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Figure 4-14: Pressure contours on a plane

4. In the Project Manager under Field Overlays, expand Pressure, right-click on the Pres-
sure1 plot and select Modify Plot.
5. In the Modify Plot dialog box, select Temperature under Quantity and click Done to dis-
play temperature contours on the plane.

Set Up the Project 4-15

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Figure 4-15: Temperature contours on a plane

6. When you are finished observing the results, expand Temperature in the Project Manager
and right-click on Temperature1 and Temperature2 and select Plot Visibility to hide the
plots.

Create a Fields Summary

1. On the Results ribbon, click Fields Summary.
2. In the Setup Calculation dialog under Entity, select Grille1.
3. Under Quantity, select Speed.
4. Click Add and select Add as a Single Calculation.
5. In the Setup Calculation dialog box, select Volume for Geometry Type.
6. Under Entity, select CPU.
7. Under Quantity, select Temperature.
8. Click Add and select Add as a Single Calculation.
9. Under Entity, select CPU to clear the selection and then select Memory.
10. Under Quantity, select Temperature.
11. Click Add and select Add as a Single Calculation.

Set Up the Project 4-16

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 Getting Started with Icepak

12. Click Close to close the Setup Calculation dialog box. The calculations are displayed in the
Fields Summary dialog box.

13. Click Apply and Export to open the Save As dialog box. Navigate to your working dir-
ectory and click Save to save the fields summary as a comma separated value spreadsheet.
14. Click OK to close the Fields Summary dialog box.

Create a Point
1. From the Draw menu, select Point.
2. Hover the cursor over the center of the grille.

Set Up the Project 4-17

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Getting Started with Icepak

3. Click to create the point, which appears in the history tree as Point1.

Use the Fields Calculator

1. In the Project Manager, right-click Field Overlays and select Calculator.
2. Under Input, click Quantity and select Temp.
3. Under Input, click Geometry.
4. In the Geometry dialog box, select Volume and CPU.
5. Click OK.
6. Under Scalar, click the Min and select Value from the drop-down list.
7. Under Output, click Eval. The result of the calculation is displayed in the stack area.
8. Repeats steps 2 through 7 for Max and Mean under Scalar.

Note: Mean does not require the selection of Value.

9. Click Add.
10. In the Named Expression dialog box, enter a name for the expression and click OK. The
expression is saved to the Named Expressions list.
11. Under Input, click Quantity and select U.
12. In the Geometry dialog box, select Point and then Point1.
13. Under Output, click Value and then Eval. The result of the calculation is displayed in the

Set Up the Project 4-18

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 Getting Started with Icepak

stack area.

Set Up the Project 4-19

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Save the Project

From the File menu, click Save.

Set Up the Project 4-20

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5 - Refine the Mesh and Run a Sim-

ulation
Copy the Icepak Design
Create a copy of the Icepak design in order to compare the mesh and results of the original design
to the copy with refined mesh.
1. In the Project Manager, right-click on the Icepak design and select Copy.
2. Right-click on the project and select Paste. A copy of the design is placed in the project
folder.

Create a Mesh Region

Now you will create a mesh region around the heat sink to refine the mesh.

Create the Mesh Region

1. Press O to enter object-selection mode.
2. In the 3D Modeler window, select the heatsink.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-1

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Figure 5-1: Heatsink object selection

3. Right-click and select Assign Mesh Region.

4. In the Mesh Region dialog box, click OK to accept the default settings and create the mesh
region. The mesh region appears under Mesh in the Project Manager, and its geometry is
added to the history tree as a non-model box.

Edit Mesh Region Size

1. In the history tree, select the mesh region geometry by expanding Model>Solids>Non
Model>Box1 and selecting CreateBox.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-2

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Figure 5-2: History tree

2. In the Properties window, edit the Position, XSize, YSize, and ZSize as displayed below.
The mesh region now extends beyond the heat sink geometry in all directions.

Figure 5-3: Properties window

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-3

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Edit Mesh Region Settings

1. In the Project Manager under Mesh, double-click on MeshRegion1.
2. In the Mesh dialog box, enter a Name of HeatSink.
3. Move the Resolution slider to a finer resolution as displayed below and click OK.

Figure 5-4: Mesh Regions dialog box

Generate and Examine the Refined Mesh

Generate the mesh and examine the two levels of mesh, those reflecting the global mesh settings
and those of the mesh region surrounding the heat sink.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-4

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1. In the Project Manager under Analysis, right-click on the solution setup and select Gen-
erate Mesh.When the mesh operation is complete, the mesh loads and the Mesh visu-
alization dialog box appears.

Note: In the Mesh visualization dialog box under Mesh display on, ensure that Show is
enabled.

2. In the history tree, select all geometry under graphics_card_simple.

3. Under Mesh display on, select Show and then Geometry/Boundary selection to display
the mesh.

Figure 5-5: Mesh on all objects

4. In the history tree, select ALPHA_MAIN_PCB to display mesh only on the PCB.

5. On the View ribbon, click the Right orientation option from the Orient drop-down list.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-5

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Figure 5-6: Surface mesh on PCB object

Note: Notice the finer resolution within the mesh region surrounding the heat sink.

6. Click Close to close the Mesh visualization dialog box.

Analyze the Simulation – Refined Mesh

Analyze the Model
1. In the Project Manager, right-click on the solution setup and select Analyze to run the sim-
ulation. The status of the simulation is displayed in the progress bar.
2. Right-click on the solution setup and select Residual to open the Solutions dialog box.
3. View the residuals update as the simulation runs.

Note: When the simulation is complete, a message is displayed in the Message Man-
ager indicating normal completion.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-6

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Figure 5-7: Solutions dialog box - Residual tab

4. Click the Thermal Monitor tab and review the monitor data.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-7

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Figure 5-8: Solutions dialog box - Thermal Monitor tab

5. Click the Flow Monitor tab and review the monitor data.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-8

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Figure 5-9: Solutions dialog box - Flow Monitor tab

Post-process the Results – Refined Mesh

1. In the Project Manager under Field Overlays, select Temperature2, right-click, and select
Plot Visibility.
2. Select Temperature2, right-click, and select Modify Plot.
3. In the Modify Plot dialog box under Quantity, select Velocity Vectors.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-9

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Figure 5-10: Temperature and velocity plots

4. Click Done. The temperature and velocity plots are displayed in the 3D Modeler window.

Note: Click and drag the Velocity colorkey to also display the Temperature colorkey.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-10

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Figure 5-11: Temperature and velocity plots

5. When you are finished reviewing the results, expand Temperature in the Project Manager
and right-click on Temperature1 and Velocity Vectors1 and select Plot Visibility to hide the
plots.

Compare the Designs

Creating a copy of the original Icepak design within the same Ansys Electronics Desktop project
and using it to refine the mesh allows you to compare the mesh and simulation results. In the Pro-
ject Manager, switch between the original Icepak design and the copied design with the refined
mesh region to compare the meshing and simulation results.

Save the Project

From the File menu, click Save.

Refine the Mesh and Run a Simulation 5-11

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PDF layout 5-12

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 Getting Started with Icepak

6 - Run Optimetric Trials

Note: To run Icepak optimetrics, the Enterprise Electronics license or Optimetrics equi-
valent license is required.

Create and Assign Project Variables

You will use the copy of the Icepak design with the refined mesh (IcepakDesign2) to run the opti-
metric trials. Before setting up the optimetrics, create and assign the project variables.

Create Project Variables

1. From the Project menu, select Project Variables to open the Properties dialog box.
2. On the Project Variables tab, select Optimization/Design of Experiments.
3. Click Add to open the Add Property dialog box. Define the settings as follows and then
click OK.
l Name: $CPU_Power
l Unit Type: Power
l Unit: W
l Value: 25

Figure 6-1: Add Property dialog box

4. Click Add again to open the Add Property dialog box. Define the settings as follows and
then click OK.
l Name: $Memory_Power
l Unit Type: Power

Run Optimetric Trials 6-1

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l Unit: W
l Value: 5
5. Click Add again to open the Add Property dialog box. Define the settings as follows and
then click OK.
l Name: $Fan_X
l Unit Type: Speed
l Unit: m_per_sec
l Value: 2

The Properties dialog box now displays the three variables with nominal, minimum, and
maximum values.

Figure 6-2: Properties dialog box with variables

6. Select the Include check box for each variable.

7. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

Assign Project Variables

1. In the Project Manager under Thermal, double-click the CPU boundary condition to open
the Block Thermal Model dialog box.
2. In the Total Power field, enter $CPU_Power and click OK.

Note: Variable names are case-sensitive. You must enter the name exactly as it was
defined.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-2

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Figure 6-3: Block Thermal Model dialog box with variable

3. In the Project Manager under Thermal, double-click the Memory boundary condition to
open the Block Thermal Model dialog box.
4. In the Total Power field, enter $Memory_Power and click OK. The Unit field is left blank.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-3

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Figure 6-4: Block Thermal Model dialog box with variable

5. In the Project Manager under Thermal, select the Opening1 boundary condition.
6. In the Properties window, enter $Fan_X in the X Velocity Value field. The Unit field is left
blank.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-4

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Figure 6-5: Opening1 properties with variable

Add a Design of Experiments Setup

1. From the Icepak>Optimetrics Analysis menu, select Add Design of Experiments. to
open the Design of Experiments dialog box.
2. On the Design of Experiments tab, select Central Composite Design from the Design
of Experiments Type drop-down list.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-5

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Figure 6-6: Design of Experiments Setup dialog box - Design of Experiments tab

3. Click the Table tab, and review the trials to be run.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-6

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Figure 6-7: Design of Experiments Setup dialog box - Table tab

4. Click the Calculations tab.

5. Click Setup Calculations.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-7

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Figure 6-8: Design of Experiments Setup dialog box - Calculations tab

6. In the Add/Edit Calculation dialog box, select Monitor under Category and CPU_Mon-
itor.Temperature under Quantity.
7. Click Add Calculation.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-8

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Figure 6-9: Add/Edit Calculation dialog box

8. Select Memory_Monitor.Temperature under Quantity.

9. Click Add Calculation.
10. Select Exhaust_Monitor.Speed under Quantity and click Add Calculation.
11. Click Done to close the Add/Edit Calculation dialog box.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-9

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Figure 6-10: Design of Experiments Setup dialog box - populated Calculations tab

12. Click OK to close the Design of Experiment Setup dialog box.

Analyze the Design of Experiments

1. In the Project Manager, expand Optimetrics and right-click DesignOfEx-
perimentsSetup1.
2. From the right-click menu, select Analyze.

Note: Depending on the hardware and licensing configuration, the trials can take
upwards of 15 minutes to complete.

3. After the analysis is complete, right-click DesignOfExperimentsSetup1 and select View

Analysis Result to open the Post Analysis Display dialog box.
l On the Result tab, toggle between the Table and Plot views to display data for each vari-
ation.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-10

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Figure 6-11: Post Analysis Display - Result tab Plot

l Next to View, select Table to review the table displaying data for each variation.

Figure 6-12: Post Analysis Display - Result tab Table

Run Optimetric Trials 6-11

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l On the Response Surface tab, view the data for each variation based on the selection in
the View drop-down list.
l Next to the View drop-down list, click the ... button to open the Response Curves
(2D Slices) dialog box.

Figure 6-13: Response Curves (2D Slices) Properties

l In the Slice Axis field, enter 10.

l Select various configurations for the axes, and use the slider bar to change the power
of the CPU and memory and the speed of the fan. With the Real time mode check
box selected, the response surface is updated automatically. Click Close.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-12

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Figure 6-14: Post Analysis Display - Response Curves (2D Slices)

l From the View drop-down list, select Response Surface to display a 3D response surface.

l Click the ... button to open the Response Surface dialog box.

l Select various configurations for the axes, and use the slider bar to change the power of the
CPU and memory and the speed of the fan. With the Real time mode check box selected,
the response surface is updated automatically.

Run Optimetric Trials 6-13

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Figure 6-15: Post Analysis Display - Response Surface

Run Optimetric Trials 6-14

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