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Initial Temperature

In one sentence: Set the uniform starting temperature for a transient thermal analysis — the temperature at t = 0.

Overview

Workbench: FEM
Menu: FEM → Model → Thermal BCs → Initial Temperature

Sets the uniform starting temperature for a transient thermal analysis. At t = 0, the entire model is at this temperature; the solver then evolves the temperature distribution over time.

When to use it

  • Transient heat transfer: part initially at room temperature then exposed to heat.
  • Cool-down or warm-up analysis.

For steady-state analysis the initial temperature is irrelevant — skip it.

Parameters

Parameter Description
Initial Temperature Starting temperature (°C or K)

Python API

import ObjectsFem
doc = App.ActiveDocument
analysis = doc.getObject("Analysis")

init_temp = ObjectsFem.makeConstraintInitialTemperature(doc, "InitTemp")
init_temp.initialTemperature = 20.0  # °C
analysis.addObject(init_temp)
doc.recompute()

Common mistakes and pitfalls

Transient vs steady-state

Initial Temperature only affects transient analysis. In steady-state mode the solver ignores it. An initial temperature that does not match the temperature constraint values creates a thermal shock at t = 0.

See also