I have several scenarios where the end of a flat bar is in contact with the flat side of a plate of steel. There is a convection boundary condition on the side of the plate of steel and on the sides (not the end) of the the flat bar. When running the simulation for heat transfer, I get warnings about the boundary condition (on the side of the plate of steel) is against and internal surface (the end of the flat bar). I'm given the option to ignore it.
What is actually happening when it is ignored?
Does the simulator just disregard that boundary condition over the area of the end of the flat bar and use the material properties of both pieces to calculate the thermal conduction between the two pieces?
Or is the simulator altogether disregarding the thermal conduction between the two pieces?
Is there an interface type that I should define between the two parts that the simulator will recognize and know not to apply the boundary condition at the mating surface?
Many thanks for your help!
Paul