This study presents a finite element analysis (FEA) of the transient thermal response of a zirconia rack plate subjected to an applied surface heat flux of 5000 W/m² and convective cooling with a heat transfer coefficient of 10 W/(K·m²). The transient temperature evolution was analyzed over a 100s simulation period to determine thermal behavior of the system before reaching steady-state conditions. The results indicate that at t = 10s, temperatures at different locations ranged from 297.8 K to 303.35 K, demonstrating the initial heat absorption phase. By t = 50s, the maximum temperature increased to 311.5 K, while at t = 100s, it reached 318.1 K, approaching thermal equilibrium. The temperature rise slowed down after 70s, suggesting a transition towards steady-state. The spatial temperature distribution showed that regions near the heat flux source exhibited higher temperatures, while areas near perforations experienced localized cooling, with temperature drops of up to ~20 K. The study also compared transient results with steady-state conditions, revealing that steady-state peak temperatures were significantly higher (452.3 K) and required additional time to be fully reached. These findings provide insights into the thermal performance of zirconia ceramics, contributing to their application in high-temperature environments where thermal management and equilibrium time are critical factors.

Keywords: Finite element analysis, Zirconia, Transient.