> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ntop.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# FE Model Overview

Before running a thermal (or any) analysis, we must create an **FE Model** and its **Boundary Conditions**.

To review the detailed steps of creating an FE Model and common Boundary Conditions in nTop, please refer to the [240: Intro to Simulation](/courses/240-intro-to-simulation/) course.

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  <img src="https://files.learn.ntop.com/lessons/fe-model-overview/341_5_1-thermal-model.jpg" />
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**Example:** an FE Model of a heat sink with Boundary Conditions applied

A thermal **FE model** is similar in its formulation to a typical **FE Model** used in a **Static Analysis**, except that it includes specific thermal attributes like:

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  <img src="https://files.learn.ntop.com/lessons/fe-model-overview/341_5_2-instructor_5u3dqlmop2xik78c9dl5vykpg_public_1647685778_isotropic_thermal.1647685777091.png" />
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**Thermal Material Properties** (specific heat, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, density)

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  <img src="https://files.learn.ntop.com/lessons/fe-model-overview/341_5_3-instructor_5u3dqlmop2xik78c9dl5vykpg_public_1647689347_Connector.1647689345917-1.jpg" />
</Frame>

**Thermal Connectors** (if there is more than one component, and you desire heat transfer between them)