# Changing initial temperature not affecting structural analysis results

**URL:** <https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/changing-initial-temperature-not-affecting-structural-analysis-results/2693>\
**Category:** General Questions\
**Tags:** results\
**Created:** [May 12, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/changing-initial-temperature-not-affecting-structural-analysis-results/2693 "2025-05-12T09:55:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GibsBySea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GibsBySea](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/GibsBySea)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/changing-initial-temperature-not-affecting-structural-analysis-results/2693/1 "2025-05-12T09:55:36Z")

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Hi there,

I have a shell model of a reinforced, load bearing plate that is being subjected to axial loads and a central bending moment. The structure will have a design temperature of 200°C, however, when I apply this as an initial temperature, it has no affect on my results.

My material properties are correctly set up and I have ran similar analyses without a problem. I have tried both Coupled Temperature-displacement and static steps.

The only difference between this model and similar models that I have ran is that I am using tied constraints to keep the parts together (I was unable to produce a compound part without obtaining an error). The constraints seem to be working well; when I look at my results with a large scale of deflection I have continuity between all parts.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/a/a2afc5864ad9e6a99d888b1b96643dbe85bf20b2.jpeg)

Any help would be welcome,

Thanks,

Danny

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**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 9:59am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/changing-initial-temperature-not-affecting-structural-analysis-results/2693/2 "2025-05-12T09:59:01Z")

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Do you have thermal expansion and/or temperature dependency of material properties defined ? Is there a temperature defined field introducing temperature gradient during the analysis ? Only then you will see the influence of temperature on structural results (btw. you can check the current temperature output).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GibsBySea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GibsBySea](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/GibsBySea)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 10:32am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/changing-initial-temperature-not-affecting-structural-analysis-results/2693/3 "2025-05-12T10:32:17Z")

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I have thermal expansion and temperature dependency defined.

I haven’t set a defined temperature field. Would the correct process be to set the initial temperature to 0°C and then define a temperature field at 200°C?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GibsBySea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GibsBySea](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/GibsBySea)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/changing-initial-temperature-not-affecting-structural-analysis-results/2693/4 "2025-05-12T12:25:21Z")

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This seems to have worked, thank you for your help.