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Journals / European Mechanical Science / 2025 / Volume: 9 Issue: 4

Investigation of lattice geometry effects on the steady-state thermal performance of aluminum alloy CPU coolers via finite element analysis

Mustafa Güven Gök(GAZIANTEP UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-5959-0549
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-12-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results show that all lattice geometries reduced both the minimum and volume-averaged temperatures compared to the solid reference heat sink.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study numerically investigates the effect of lattice geometry on the steady-state thermal performance of aluminum alloy CPU coolers using finite element analysis.
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Key Findings & Data:All coolers were subjected to a constant temperature of 95 °C from the surface of base, while natural convection was modeled on the external surfaces in 28 °C ambient air.
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Conclusion & Impact:The results show that all lattice geometries reduced both the minimum and volume-averaged temperatures compared to the solid reference heat sink.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:CPU cooler · lattice heat sink · finite element analysis

Abstract

This study numerically investigates the effect of lattice geometry on the steady-state thermal performance of aluminum alloy CPU coolers using finite element analysis. Four heat sink (cooler) configurations with the same external dimensions and base thickness were considered. In addition to a reference heat sink with a conventional design, three lattice-based designs were developed as simple cubic (SC), body-centered cubic (BCC), and face-centered cubic (FCC) unit cell. All coolers were subjected to a constant temperature of 95 °C from the surface of base, while natural convection was modeled on the external surfaces in 28 °C ambient air. A film coefficient of 5.0x10-6 W/mm2 °C was used for the reference and SC coolers, while a higher coefficient of 1.0x10-5 W/mm2 °C was applied to the BCC and FCC coolers to represent improved convective cooling. The results show that all lattice geometries reduced both the minimum and volume-averaged temperatures compared to the solid reference heat sink. The volume average temperature decreased from 94.358 °C to 93.415 °C for the SC cooler, and to 91.804 °C and 91.446 °C for the FCC and BCC coolers, respectively. Line temperature analysis along the cooler height revealed that the BCC lattice produced the lowest path-averaged temperature, followed by FCC and SC designs. This suggests that in lattice-based coolers, the lattice design and heatsink topology can be as important as the total surface area.

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Cite This Article

Gök, M. G. (2025). Investigation of lattice geometry effects on the steady-state thermal performance of aluminum alloy CPU coolers via finite element analysis. European Mechanical Science, Volume: 9 Issue: 4. https://doi.org/10.26701/ems.1837369

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