Radiation Heat Transfer and Environmental Heating

RadCAD® computes radiation exchange factors within the thermal model and with the environment using both solar and infrared spectra. It is a module available for use with Thermal Desktop® or even as a standalone product, and it operates in the same CAD environment.

RadCAD Brochure

Request Trial

Product Information

Overview

Fast and Accurate Thermal Radiation Solutions

An ultra-fast, oct-tree accelerated Monte-Carlo ray tracing algorithm is used by RadCAD to compute radiation exchange factors and view factors. Innovations by C&R Technologies to the ray tracing process have resulted in an extremely efficient radiation analyzer.

Using finite difference "conics" (simple geometric objects) or curved finite elements from TD Direct®, RadCAD can accurately model diffuse or specular reflections and transmissive surfaces regardless of node density. The needs of the thermal solution dictate the number of nodes, not the accuracy requirements of the radiation.

RadCAD makes use of user-defined databases of optical properties. Each surface coating defines absorptivity, transmissivity, and reflectivity along with specularity in both the solar and infrared wavelength regimes. These properties can be defined versus incident angle or even with wavelength dependence.

Articulated Geometry: Moving Parts

RadCAD is fully equipped to handle moving geometry. Fully user-definable Trackers allow part of the geometry to follow the sun, nadir, or any star. These Trackers can be nested to operate on multiple axes.

More generic movement can be accomplished using Assemblies, which allow any part of the geometry to rotate and/or translate in unlimited nested configurations. Because they are general purpose, Assemblies can be used to model anything from deploying a multi-jointed antenna to opening a door of a furnace.

Radiation Environments

The definition of the environment can be one of the most challenging parts of a thermal analysis, but RadCAD makes it easy. Because the sun plays such a critical part in most environments, even for stationary components on the Earth, the environments within RadCAD are called Orbits. These Orbits define the appropriate diffuse and direct solar, albedo, and ground IR heating for everything from objects located in a window to ships, aircraft, spacecraft, and even rovers on distant planets.

Feature Summary

Thermal Radiation Calculation Features

CAD drawing methods and high-level RadCAD surfaces including snap-on methods that use CAD drawings as "scaffolding"
Variable geometry through the use of articulators (assemblies and trackers)
Solve for form factors, radiation exchange factors, or absorbed fluxes
Choice of solution methods: accelerated Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) or progressive radiosity
Proprietary advances in Oct Cell technology for amazingly fast computations
True curved geometric surfaces
Specular and Diffuse surfaces
Angular dependent surface properties
Full orbital plotting package with both basic and Keplerian input
Analysis groups offer significant speed savings
Optical Property Aliases help in database management
Refraction capabilities for transparent specular surfaces
Automatic Oct Cell optimization for determining best subdivision and surfaces per cell criteria
Vector List Orbit definition for modeling trajectory orbits
Arbitrary source input for modeling IR/Sol Lamps
Fast spinning surfaces
Symmetry/Mirror planes
Automatic restart determination
Free Molecular Heating (FMH) algorithms
Quick checks to allow for finding surfaces that overlap to aid in radiation model debugging
Postprocessing (view factors, RADKs, fluxes, SINDA temperatures, etc.)

Import and Export Capabilities

TRASYS import and export
Nevada import
STEP-TAS import and export
IDEAS FD import
TSS import and export

Publications

Non-Grey and Temperature Dependent Radiation Analysis Methods, T. Panczak (TFAWS Short Course 2005)

Upload Files:

non-grey_radiation_short_course.pdf

Highlights in thermal engineering at Carlo Gavazzi Space (17th Workshop on Thermal and ECLS Software-ESTEC 2003)

Upload Files:

17th_EWTES_MOLINA_FREQUENCYDOMAIN.pdf

Integrating Thermal And Structural Analysis using Thermal Desktop (ICES 1999)

Upload Files:

99es-40.pdf

A CAD-based Tool for FDM and FEM Radiation and Conduction Modeling (ICES 1998)

Upload Files:

ices-98es-51.pdf

Customizable Multidiscipline Environments for Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Modeling (ICES 2004)

Upload Files:

COMAPI-ICES.pdf

Automated Determination of Worst-case Design Scenarios (ICES 2003)

Upload Files:

WorstCase-ICES.pdf

Ground Plane and Near-Surface Thermal Analysis for NASA’s Constellation Programs, Joseph F. Gasbarre, Ruth M. Amundsen, Salvatore Scola - NASA Langley Research Center, Frank B. Leahy and John R. Sharp - NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (TFAWS 2008)

Upload Files:

TFAWS-08-1017_presentation.pdf

Non-grey Radiation Modeling using Thermal Desktop/SINDAWORKS, Dr. Kevin R. Anderson, Dr. Chris Paine, Jet Propulsion Laboratory(TFAWS 2006)

Upload Files:

TFAWS06-1009_Paper_Anderson_Paine.pdf

Emittance & Absorptance for Cryo Testing, D. Green (2005)

Upload Files:

Green.pps

Two more free FloCAD training webinars

Choking and High-speed Flow

Tuesday December 17th, 2pm MST

When flow velocities get big, things gets interesting. Above Mach=0.1, the bulk fluid "sees" a wall that is warmer than the structural temperature due to deceleration within the boundary layer. Above Mach=0.3, kinetic energy changes cease to be negligible. And of course, nothing moves faster than Mach=1.0 for internal flow. When you also add in changes in flow area, or changes in phase ... well, let's just say that doesn't simplify anything.

This webinar will introduce you to the phenomena involved, with a focus on the FloCAD modeling parameters available and their associated correlations and assumptions.

Click here to register

Turbomachinery and Rotating Passages (Secondary Flows)

Thursday December 19th, 2pm MST

Are turbomachines a component in your system, and you'd like to treat them as a "black box"?

Or are they the focus of your work, and the cycle is just a boundary condition to you?

Either way, this webinar will have something to offer you. Each type of turbomachine will be covered: pumps and fans, positive and variable displacement compressors, and turbines (whether gas or hydraulic). Methods for modeling systems like turbochargers and turbopumps will be introduced. Tools for handling spinning flow passages and rotating cavities will be presented.

Click here to register

Announcing online versions of Intro to Thermal Desktop and RadCAD Classes

Starting in 2020, we will begin offering Introduction to Thermal Desktop and Introduction to RadCAD as either in-person training or online training, alternating between online and in-person every three months. The training uses lectures and demonstrations to introduce you to basic Thermal Desktop and RadCAD usage. Hands-on tutorials provide practice building models and interpreting results (tutorials are completed by students outside of the online class time).

The next training class will be an online format in January 2020:

Introduction to Thermal Desktop (and SINDA) - A three-part series on January 14, 16, and 21 from 9am to 12pm, Mountain time
Introduction to RadCAD - January 23 from 9am to 12pm, Mountain time

For up-to-date schedules, fees, and policies, visit our Product Training page. To register for the class above, complete our registration form and select "Online" for the Training Format.

If you are interested in product training for your company based on your schedule, please contact us to obtain a quote for training between 8-12 attendees. We can come to your facility or the lectures can be presented online. Descriptions of the available classes can be found in our course catalog.

To keep up with our training opportunities, take a look at our new Events and Training Calendar.

Products Col 1

Products Col 2

Products Col 3

Products Col 4

Applications Col 1

Applications Col 2

Applications Col 3

Applications Col 4

RadCAD

Radiation Heat Transfer and Environmental Heating

Product Information