Determination of structure function feature correlation to thermal model element layers

1. A method, executed by at least one processor of a computer, comprising:

performing a thermal transient response simulation for a structure having a plurality of thermal model elements, the thermal transient response simulation determining a structure function and a total thermal resistance value, a heat flow path in the structure passing through layers of the plurality of thermal model elements;

performing a plurality of thermal transient response simulations for the structure to determine changed total thermal resistance values by varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements, each of the changed total thermal resistance values being associated with a particular thermal model element in the plurality of thermal model elements;

determining thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements based on the total thermal resistance value and the changed total thermal resistance values; and

associating portions of the structural function with the plurality of thermal model elements based on the thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements.

2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements is doubling one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements, and wherein the determining thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements comprising subtracting the total thermal resistance value from each of the changed total thermal resistance values.

3. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermal model elements and an order of the layers of the plurality of thermal model elements through which the heat flow passes are identified by analyzing design data of the structure.

4. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

calibrating a thermal model of the structure used by the thermal transient response simulation based on analyzing the portions of the structural function and a structure function derived from an experimental measurement.

5. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the associating comprises:

stacking the thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements along horizontal axis of the structure function.

6. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements comprises:

varying one of specific thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements.

7. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

performing a thermal transient response simulation for a structure having a plurality of thermal model elements, the thermal transient response simulation determining a structure function and a total thermal resistance value, a heat flow path in the structure passing through layers of the plurality of thermal model elements;

performing a plurality of thermal transient response simulations for the structure to determine changed total thermal resistance values by varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements, each of the changed total thermal resistance values being associated with a particular thermal model element in the plurality of thermal model elements;

determining thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements based on the total thermal resistance value and the changed total thermal resistance values; and

associating portions of the structural function with the plurality of thermal model elements based on the thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media recited in claim 7 , wherein the varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements is doubling one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements, and wherein the determining thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements comprising subtracting the total thermal resistance value from each of the changed total thermal resistance values.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media recited in claim 7 , wherein the plurality of thermal model elements and an order of the layers of the plurality of thermal model elements through which the heat flow passes are identified by analyzing design data of the structure.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media recited in claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:

calibrating a thermal model of the structure used by the thermal transient response simulation based on analyzing the portions of the structural function and a structure function derived from an experimental measurement.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media recited in claim 7 , wherein the associating comprises:

stacking the thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements along horizontal axis of the structure function.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media recited in claim 7 , wherein the varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements comprises:

varying one of specific thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements.

13. A system, comprising:

one or more processors, the one or more processors programmed to perform a method, the method comprising:

performing a thermal transient response simulation for a structure having a plurality of thermal model elements, the thermal transient response simulation determining a structure function and a total thermal resistance value, a heat flow path in the structure passing through layers of the plurality of thermal model elements;

performing a plurality of thermal transient response simulations for the structure to determine changed total thermal resistance values by varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements, each of the changed total thermal resistance values being associated with a particular thermal model element in the plurality of thermal model elements;

determining thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements based on the total thermal resistance value and the changed total thermal resistance values; and

associating portions of the structural function with the plurality of thermal model elements based on the thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements.

14. The system recited in claim 13 , wherein the varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements is doubling one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements, and wherein the determining thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements comprising subtracting the total thermal resistance value from each of the changed total thermal resistance values.

15. The system recited in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of thermal model elements and an order of the layers of the plurality of thermal model elements through which the heat flow passes are identified by analyzing design data of the structure.

16. The system recited in claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

calibrating a thermal model of the structure used by the thermal transient response simulation based on analyzing the portions of the structural function and a structure function derived from an experimental measurement.

17. The system recited in claim 13 , wherein the associating comprises:

stacking the thermal resistance values for the plurality of thermal model elements along horizontal axis of the structure function.

18. The system recited in claim 13 , wherein the varying one of thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements comprises:

varying one of specific thermal resistance values of the plurality of thermal model elements.