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Volumetric Heat Source Condition

The volumetric heat source condition defines a prescribed heat power density within a solid volume. It represents internal heat generation and appears as the source term on the right-hand side of the solid temperature governing equation: $$ Q = Q_0. $$

  • \(Q\) - volumetric heat power density [W/m\(^3\)]
  • \(Q_0\) - prescribed volumetric heat power density [W/m\(^3\)]

Applicability

This condition is used when heat is generated within the volume of a material rather than entering through the boundary.

Typical use cases

  • Joule heating: \(Q = \sigma_e |E|^2\), where \(\sigma_e\) is the electric conductivity
  • Magnetic/eddy current losses
  • Chemical or electrochemical heat generation
  • Nuclear or volumetric energy deposition
  • Uniform or spatially varying internal heat sources

Example

condition = VolumetricHeatSourceCondition.Constant(
    name = "My Volumetric Heat Source Condition",
    marker = my_marker,
    heat_power_density = 33000.0,
)

Equivalently, using a coefficient function:

cff_heat_power_density = CffConstantScalar(value=33000.0)

condition = VolumetricHeatSourceCondition(
    name = "My Volumetric Heat Source Condition",
    marker = my_marker,
    heat_power_density = cff_heat_power_density,
)