The Mentor, a Siemens business, is pleased to announce the availability of Simcenter Flotherm XT 2021.2 - CAD Centric electronics cooling software and sister product to Simcenter Flotherm. This release added new functionalities that continue to support the creation of a thermal digital twin of an electronics product during development and also enhance productivity and workflow.

What are Thermal Territories for PCB thermal analysis?
There are different levels of board thermal modeling fidelity available that can be applied to an entire PCB model. Selecting the best approach is a tradeoff on accuracy required vs time available for analysis; matching the level of PCB thermal modeling to the fidelity of component thermal models; or simply influenced by how early the analysis is in the design stage and the availability of fully routed board data.
Thermal Territories were first introduced in Simcenter Flotherm XT to provide engineers with the option to apply the highest level of copper trace modeling (explicit) for a specific area under key components (often in high copper density parts of the board) in order to fully capture key heat conduction paths. It is computationally more efficient to enhance PCB modeling fidelity under key components, than compared to applying fully explicit copper trace modeling to an entire board.


Three Thermal Territory types now available in Simcenter Flotherm XT 2021.2:
With the addition of two new Thermal Territory types, there are now three options available in Simcenter Flotherm XT:


- Explicit
- Layered (Detailed)
- Compact
The table below describes use cases for each and guidance on board and component modeling levels:


Simcenter Flotherm XT - Thermal Territory types for localized copper trace modeling. It is possible to mix Thermal Territories of Explicit and Layered (Detailed) modelling levels on the same board.
Illustrated workflow: leveraging Simcenter Flotherm XT 2021.2 EDA Bridge and Thermal Territories enhancements
Please watch this detailed 9 minute video below where Thermal Territories are used to solve a challenge in modeling accuracy errors. These issues stem from an existing approach that is only using a fixed copper percentage distribution across an entire PCB and does not capture the influence of localized variations of conductor. Thermal Territories can help you realize appropriate accuracy within the time pressures of your PCB thermal analysis process.
Via and Pin Modeling: Enhancements to aid explicit trace PCB geometry generation
You can now model via and pin filler as separate parts to ensure accuracy for joule heating analyses by defining the via and pin filler material in the preferences property sheet. The material definition can be set up in EDA Bridge preferences and changed post transfer directly in the Simcenter Flotherm XT interface if necessary




To aid management of different nets there is also an improved Net Editor Window.
Improvements to EDA Bridge Interface
The EDA Bridge interface has been significantly updated and actual transfer time is much quicker from EDA Bridge to the Simcenter Flotherm XT (up to 2x faster).


You can now:
- Find functionality more easily with grouping of similar Icons.
- See a simpler display and rationalization of messages in the window.
- Open an EDA file with a drag and drop from Windows File Explorer.
- View the data and files for the board stored in a sub-folder of the project directory.
- Work with a simplified project tree hierarchy with simple components.
Other enhancements
Reduced Order Thermal Model Generation: BCI-ROM temperature dependent materials
There is now an option to streamline handling of temperature dependent materials for the BCI-ROM export using material properties based on user request. A user can request a material correction to calculate constant properties from temperature dependent ones using a reference temperature. This is initiated using the new "Material Correction" feature to calculate the appropriate thermal conductivity based on the defined temperature for materials in a BCI-ROM export. These values used can be exported for examination.
Cuboid Center Point for Point Goals (relevant to SmartParts and BCI-ROM export)
A Cuboid Center Point for Point Goal creation is now available. You can create a point goal and it will automatically be added to cuboid SmartParts.
Additionally, any component imported from Simcenter Flotherm Package Creator into Simcenter Flotherm XT 2021.2 will include this new point and a Point Goal is automatically added to control the convergence for the solid temperature of a die part.
This also helps support the BCI-ROM export which requires at least one point goal.

Simcenter Flotherm XT, CAD centric electronics cooling simulation software, connects MCAD and ECAD workflows to significantly shorten the thermal design process.
Built on DNA of Simcenter Flotherm, mechanical engineers and thermal specialists can easily handle and modify native CAD geometry for accurate CFD studies in an intuitive interface designed for electronics thermal analysis. A robust EDA data import process is coupled with modeling fidelity options for PCB thermal modeling including copper trace joule heating. Engineers designing electronics thermal management solutions featuring heatsinks, fans, TECs, or liquid cooling can eliminate typical overheads in model creation and utilize parametric studies to optimize designs faster.
Simcenter Flotherm XT 2021.2 Enhancing PCB Modelling
Mentor Graphics,a Siemens Business, is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronic, semiconductor and systems companies. We enable companies to develop better electronic products faster and more cost-effectively. Our innovative products help conquer complex design challenges. Mentor is technology leader in full chip emulation, Functional Verification, Design-for-Test and physical verification with its Veloce, Questa, Tessent and Calibre platforms.