Best Thermal Analysis Software with a Free Trial of 2024

SimScale, a web-based cloud application, plays an important role in simulation software for many industries. The platform supports Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), as well as Thermal Simulation. It also provides 3D simulation, continuous modeling, motion & dynamic modelling.

Thermal Desktop is a complete model creation tool. Objects such as finite element, lumped capacitance, and built-in finite differences can be combined in any way. Thermal-specific objects, such as insulation, heat loads and heaters, can be added to any model, from automotive components to manned satellites. Thermal Desktop allows full parameterization by using variables and arbitrarily complicated expressions instead of hardwired numbers. These variables, also known as symbols, enable models to be quickly manipulated by a few keystrokes. This makes it easy to update or maintain the model, perform sensitivity studies, and investigate what-if scenarios. This gives you access to SINDA/FLUINT’s optimization and reliability modules, as well as automatic model correlation.

FloCAD®, a fluid dynamics module for Thermal Desktop®, and together they provide a complete thermohydraulic tool for integrated fluid flow analysis and heat transfer analysis. FloCAD is very similar to building thermal models. Many of the commands can be used to build fluid flow models. FloCAD models are available in two formats: they can be free-form (non geometric), sketchpad-style flow network modeling for abstraction, simplification, and convection to finite differences of finite element representations. FloCAD is a generalized software tool for capturing pressure drops in a piping system due to bends and valves, tees and changes in flow area.

Ansys Sherlock, a reliability-physics-based electronic design tool, provides fast and accurate life predictions at the component and board levels for electronic hardware in early design stages. Ansys Sherlock automates the design analysis of electronic hardware. It provides accurate and fast life predictions at the component, board, and system levels during early design stages. Sherlock bypasses the 'test-fail-fix-repeat' cycle by empowering designers to accurately model silicon-metal layers, semiconductor packaging, printed circuit boards (PCBs) and assemblies to predict failure risks due to thermal, mechanical and manufacturing stressors--all before prototype. Sherlock quickly converts embedded libraries containing more than 500,000 parts into computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis models. Each model includes accurate geometries, material characteristics, and stress information.

Simcenter Flotherm, with its 34 years of development, user feedback and extensive experience in electronic cooling simulations for thermal analysis, is the leading software solution. It accelerates development from IC packages, PCBs, and enclosures to large systems, such as data centres. Fast, accurate CFD simulations of electronics cooling can improve electronics thermal management and reliability from the initial pre-CAD exploration through to final verification. Simcenter Flotherm is a tool that integrates into the electronics development workflow to allow thermal engineers to run simulations, and to provide accurate results in a timely manner. It also provides feedback to other engineering functions. It supports thermal management and simulation-based decisions from early-stage architectural to final thermal design validation. This helps reduce development time and eliminates the risk of expensive reliability-related warranty costs, or any late-stage respins.

RadCAD uses an ultra-fast Monte-Carlo ray-tracing algorithm that is accelerated by octa-trees to compute radiation exchange and view factors. C&R Technologies' innovations to the ray-tracing process resulted in a highly efficient thermal radiation software. RadCAD models diffuse or specular surfaces accurately, regardless of the density of nodes. The number of nodes is determined by the thermal solution, not by the accuracy requirements for the radiation. RadCAD uses user-defined databases for optical properties. Each surface coating defines absorptivity and transmissivity as well as reflectivity and specularity for both solar and infrared spectrum regimes. These properties can be defined in relation to incident angle, or even wavelength dependence.

SINDA/FLUINT is a powerful and proven heat transfer and fluids simulation tool that has been providing users with these capabilities for decades. These capabilities continue to grow each year. SINDA/FLUINT provides a generalized, comprehensive tool for simulating thermal/fluid system simulations, such as those used in the electronics, automotive and petrochemical industries, power generation, medical and aerospace industries. SINDA/FLUINT allows you to gain a better understanding and save time and money through a faster and easier design process. You decide what is important, and how you want to answer your design performance questions. The application is also completely extensible, making it the most versatile software product for thermal and fluids on the market. You can choose which features you want and decide on the accuracy and approximation levels that are appropriate. Also, you can decide on what outputs you need.