Joule Heating
Joule heating occurs when an electrical current is passed through a material and the material's resistivity causes
heat generation. Joule heating effects are common in electronic devices where the heat generated by a current may be
an important influence. For example, the ability to predict how electrical current will affect temperature distribution is useful
when analyzing spot welding, circuit breakers, MEMS or electronic devices.
Joule heating effects can be simulated by linking the results of an electrostatic analysis to a steady-state or transient heat
transfer analysis. Engineers performing steady-state or transient heat transfer analysis can simply click an option to
"Use electrostatic results to calculate Joule effects" and specify the location of the electrostatic voltage results
during setup to consider Joule heating when determining the model's temperature distribution.
For more information on our Joule heating capabilities, see the How to
Couple Electrostatic and Heat Transfer Analyses for Joule Heating Tech Tip and the ALGOR User's Guide.
See Joule heating capabilities featured in the following software in action replays:
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
- Circuit breaker design
- Electronic device design
- MEMS (Micro
Electro Mechanical Systems) design
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB) simulation
- Thermoelectric actuators
- Weld design
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