Link Element with Varying Conductance for Thermo-electric Analysis

The aim of this paper is the presentation of a link finite element that is suitable for electro-thermal analysis of the uni-axially graded materials or composites. A continuous polynomial variation of the cross-sectional area and material properties (electric and thermal conductivity) along the longitudinal bar axis has been considered. The electric and thermal conductivity matrix contains the transfer constants that depend on the above-mentioned variations. The expressions for transformation of generated Joule's heat to the element nodes have been derived as well. The sequence solution method of the weak-coupled electro-thermal problem has been assumed. The theoretical part of this contribution is completed by numerical validation, which documents high accuracy and effectiveness of our multiphysical link finite element.