Importing a Heat Map into NASTRAN: A Step-by-Step Guide

 In structural and thermal simulations, the integration of temperature distributions—commonly visualized as heat maps—into finite element models is critical for accurate stress and deformation predictions. NASTRAN, a widely-used FEA solver, supports temperature-dependent simulations, but importing external heat maps into the model requires a specific approach. This guide outlines how to import a heat map into NASTRAN for thermal or thermomechanical analysis.

What Is a Heat Map in FEA?

A heat map typically refers to a spatial distribution of temperatures across a body, which can originate from:

  • Experimental data (e.g., thermographic imaging)

  • Thermal simulations from tools like ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL, or CFD solvers

  • Analytical results from MATLAB, Python, or Excel

The heat map must be mapped to the nodes or elements of a NASTRAN model to be used effectively.

Step 1: Prepare the Heat Map Data

Your heat map data must be converted into a format compatible with NASTRAN. Typically, you need:

  • Node IDs (as used in the NASTRAN model)

  • Corresponding temperature values for each node

This data is often saved in a CSV, TXT, or Excel format. A typical format is:

yaml
NodeID, Temperature
1001, 350.0
1002, 345.7
1003, 340.2
...

Ensure the coordinate system and mesh in your heat map align with your NASTRAN model.

Step 2: Format Data for NASTRAN (Bulk Data Section)

NASTRAN uses the TEMPD card for applying temperature data to nodes. The syntax is:

nginx
TEMPD   SID   G1   T1   G2   T2   ...

Where:

  • SID = Temperature set ID

  • G1, G2 = Grid (node) IDs

  • T1, T2 = Temperatures at the respective nodes

You can script the conversion of your heat map into this format using Python, Excel macros, or MATLAB. Example output:

yaml
TEMPD   101   1001   350.0   1002   345.7   1003   340.2

Split into multiple TEMPD entries if you have many nodes.

Step 3: Integrate the Temperature Data into NASTRAN Input File

Insert the formatted TEMPD entries into the Bulk Data section of your NASTRAN .bdf or .dat input file. You must also reference the temperature set ID (SID) in the Case Control section:

Example:

Case Control Section:

pgsql
TEMPERATURE(LOAD) = 101

This tells NASTRAN to apply the temperature distribution defined in the TEMPD set with ID 101.

Step 4: Run the Simulation

Once the temperature data is integrated:

  1. Verify the .bdf file using a preprocessor like Patran, FEMAP, or Simcenter.

  2. Run the NASTRAN solver.

  3. Post-process the results to evaluate thermal stresses, displacements, or additional outputs.

Optional: Automating the Workflow

For large models or repeated simulations:

  • Use a Python script to convert heat map data from CSV to TEMPD entries.

  • Use mesh mapping tools (e.g., from ANSYS or Python's scipy.interpolate) to project thermal data onto NASTRAN mesh nodes.

  • Validate by visualizing temperature contours before running stress analysis.

Conclusion

Importing a heat map into NASTRAN involves mapping temperature data to nodes and using TEMPD cards in the input deck. With careful preparation and scripting, the process can be streamlined, enabling accurate thermomechanical simulations. This workflow bridges the gap between thermal and structural solvers and is essential for high-fidelity multiphysics modeling.

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