Icepak: thermal analysis with 3D components

This example shows how to create a thermal analysis of an electronic package by taking advantage of 3D components and features added by PyAEDT.

Import PyAEDT and download files

Perform import of required classes from the pyaedt package and import the os package.

from pyaedt import Icepak, generate_unique_folder_name, downloads, settings
import os

# Download needed files

temp_folder = generate_unique_folder_name()
package_temp_name, qfp_temp_name = downloads.download_icepak_3d_component(temp_folder)

Set AEDT version

Set AEDT version.

aedt_version = "2024.1"

Set non-graphical mode

Set non-graphical mode. You can set non_graphical either to True or False.

non_graphical = False

Create heatsink

Open a new project in non-graphical mode.

ipk = Icepak(projectname=os.path.join(temp_folder, "Heatsink.aedt"),
             specified_version=aedt_version,
             non_graphical=non_graphical,
             close_on_exit=True,
             new_desktop_session=True)

# Remove air region created by default because it is not needed as the heatsink will be exported as a 3DComponent.

ipk.modeler.get_object_from_name("Region").delete()

# Definition of heatsink with boxes
hs_base = ipk.modeler.create_box(origin=[0, 0, 0], sizes=[37.5, 37.5, 2], name="HS_Base")
hs_base.material_name = "Al-Extruded"
hs_fin = ipk.modeler.create_box(origin=[0, 0, 2], sizes=[37.5, 1, 18], name="HS_Fin1")
hs_fin.material_name = "Al-Extruded"
hs_fin.duplicate_along_line([0, 3.65, 0], nclones=11)

ipk.plot(show=False, export_path=os.path.join(temp_folder, "Heatsink.jpg"))

# Definition of a mesh region. First a non-model box is created, then the mesh region is assigned
mesh_box = ipk.modeler.create_box(origin=[-2, -2, -3], sizes=[41.5, 41.5, 24])
mesh_box.model = False
mesh_region = ipk.mesh.assign_mesh_region([mesh_box.name])
mesh_region.UserSpecifiedSettings = True
mesh_region.MaxElementSizeX = "5mm"
mesh_region.MaxElementSizeY = "5mm"
mesh_region.MaxElementSizeZ = "1mm"
mesh_region.MinElementsInGap = "4"
mesh_region.MaxLevels = "2"
mesh_region.BufferLayers = "1"
mesh_region.update()

# Assignment of monitor objects.
hs_fin5_object = ipk.modeler.get_object_from_name("HS_Fin1_5")
point_monitor_position = [0.5 * (hs_base.bounding_box[i] + hs_base.bounding_box[i + 3]) for i in range(2)] + [
    hs_fin5_object.bounding_box[-1]]  # average x,y, top z

ipk.monitor.assign_point_monitor(point_monitor_position, monitor_quantity=["Temperature", "HeatFlux"],
                                 monitor_name="TopPoint")
ipk.monitor.assign_face_monitor(hs_base.bottom_face_z.id, monitor_quantity="Temperature", monitor_name="Bottom")
ipk.monitor.assign_point_monitor_in_object("HS_Fin1_5", monitor_quantity="Temperature", monitor_name="Fin5Center")

# Export the heatsink 3D component and close project. auxiliary_dict is set to true in order to export the
# monitor objects along with the .a3dcomp file.
os.mkdir(os.path.join(temp_folder, "componentLibrary"))
ipk.modeler.create_3dcomponent(
    os.path.join(temp_folder, "componentLibrary", "Heatsink.a3dcomp"),
    component_name="Heatsink",
    auxiliary_dict=True
)
ipk.close_project(save_project=False)

C:\actions-runner\_work\_tool\Python\3.10.9\x64\lib\subprocess.py:1072: ResourceWarning: subprocess 10004 is still running
  _warn("subprocess %s is still running" % self.pid,
C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt\pyaedt\testenv\lib\site-packages\pyaedt\generic\settings.py:383: ResourceWarning: unclosed file <_io.TextIOWrapper name='D:\\Temp\\pyaedt_ansys.log' mode='a' encoding='cp1252'>
  self._logger = val

True

Create QFP

Download and open a project containing a QPF.

ipk = Icepak(projectname=qfp_temp_name)
ipk.plot(show=False, export_path=os.path.join(temp_folder, "QFP2.jpg"))

# Create dataset for power dissipation.
x_datalist = [45, 53, 60, 70]
y_datalist = [0.5, 3, 6, 9]
ipk.create_dataset(
    "PowerDissipationDataset",
    x_datalist,
    y_datalist,
    zlist=None,
    vlist=None,
    is_project_dataset=False,
    xunit="cel",
    yunit="W",
    zunit="",
    vunit="",
)

# Assign source power condition to the die.
ipk.create_source_power(
    "DieSource",
    thermal_dependent_dataset="PowerDissipationDataset",
    source_name="DieSource"
)

# Assign thickness to the die attach surface.
ipk.create_conduting_plate(face_id="Die_Attach",
                           thermal_specification="Thickness",
                           shell_conduction=True,
                           thickness="0.05mm",
                           solid_material="Epoxy Resin-Typical",
                           bc_name="Die_Attach",
                           )

# Assign monitor objects.
ipk.monitor.assign_point_monitor_in_object("QFP2_die", monitor_quantity="Temperature", monitor_name="DieCenter")
ipk.monitor.assign_surface_monitor("Die_Attach", monitor_quantity="Temperature", monitor_name="DieAttach")

# Export the QFP 3D component and close project. Here the auxiliary dictionary allows exporting not only the monitor
# objects but also the dataset used for the power source assignment.
ipk.modeler.create_3dcomponent(
    os.path.join(temp_folder, "componentLibrary", "QFP.a3dcomp"),
    component_name="QFP",
    auxiliary_dict=True,
    datasets=["PowerDissipationDataset"]
)
ipk.release_desktop(False, False)

C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt\pyaedt\testenv\lib\site-packages\pyaedt\icepak.py:594: DeprecationWarning: This method is deprecated in 0.7.8. Use the ``assign_conducting_plate()`` method.
  warnings.warn(

True

Create electronic package

Download and open a project containing the electronic package.

ipk = Icepak(projectname=package_temp_name,
             specified_version=aedt_version,
             non_graphical=non_graphical)
ipk.plot(show=False, export_path=os.path.join(temp_folder, "electronic_package_missing_obj.jpg"))

# The heatsink and the QFP are missing. They can be inserted as 3d components. The auxiliary files are needed since
# the aim is to import also monitor objects and datasets. Also, a coordinate system is created for the heatsink so
# that it is placed on top of the AGP.
agp = ipk.modeler.get_object_from_name("AGP_IDF")
cs = ipk.modeler.create_coordinate_system(
    origin=[agp.bounding_box[0], agp.bounding_box[1], agp.bounding_box[-1]],
    name="HeatsinkCS",
    reference_cs="Global",
    x_pointing=[1, 0, 0],
    y_pointing=[0, 1, 0],
)
heatsink_obj = ipk.modeler.insert_3d_component(
    input_file=os.path.join(temp_folder, "componentLibrary", "Heatsink.a3dcomp"), coordinate_system="HeatsinkCS",
    auxiliary_parameters=True)

QFP2_obj = ipk.modeler.insert_3d_component(input_file=os.path.join(temp_folder, "componentLibrary", "QFP.a3dcomp"),
                                           coordinate_system="Global", auxiliary_parameters=True)
ipk.plot(show=False, export_path=os.path.join(temp_folder, "electronic_package.jpg"))

# Create a coordinate system at the xmin, ymin, zmin of the model
bounding_box = ipk.modeler.get_model_bounding_box()
cs_pcb_assembly = ipk.modeler.create_coordinate_system(
    origin=[bounding_box[0], bounding_box[1], bounding_box[2]],
    name="PCB_Assembly",
    reference_cs="Global",
    x_pointing=[1, 0, 0],
    y_pointing=[0, 1, 0],
)

# Export of the whole assembly as 3d component and close project. First, a flattening is needed because nested 3d
# components are not natively supported. Then it is possible to export the whole package as 3d component. Here the
# auxiliary dictionary is needed to export monitor objects, datasets and native components.
ipk.flatten_3d_components()
ipk.modeler.create_3dcomponent(
    component_file=os.path.join(temp_folder, "componentLibrary", "PCBAssembly.a3dcomp"),
    component_name="PCBAssembly",
    auxiliary_dict=True,
    included_cs=["Global", "HeatsinkCS", "PCB_Assembly"],
    reference_cs="PCB_Assembly"
)

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C:\actions-runner\_work\_tool\Python\3.10.9\x64\lib\subprocess.py:1072: ResourceWarning: subprocess 3276 is still running
  _warn("subprocess %s is still running" % self.pid,
C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt\pyaedt\testenv\lib\site-packages\pyaedt\modeler\cad\Primitives3D.py:1448: ResourceWarning: unclosed file <_io.TextIOWrapper name='D:\\Temp\\pyaedt_prj_XOJ\\componentLibrary\\Heatsink.a3dcomp.json' mode='r' encoding='cp1252'>
  aux_dict = json.load(open(auxiliary_parameters, "r"))
C:\actions-runner\_work\pyaedt\pyaedt\testenv\lib\site-packages\pyaedt\modeler\cad\Primitives3D.py:1448: ResourceWarning: unclosed file <_io.TextIOWrapper name='D:\\Temp\\pyaedt_prj_XOJ\\componentLibrary\\QFP.a3dcomp.json' mode='r' encoding='cp1252'>
  aux_dict = json.load(open(auxiliary_parameters, "r"))

True

Release AEDT

Release AEDT.

ipk.release_desktop(True, True)

True