Finite element modelling of thermal fatigue effects in IGBT modules

Author

Shammas, N.Y.A. ; Rodriguez, M.P. ; Plumpton, A.T. ; Newcombe, D.

Author_Institution

Sch. of Eng. & Advanced Technol., Staffordshire Univ., Stafford, UK

Volume

148

Issue

2

fYear

2001

fDate

4/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

95

Lastpage

100

Abstract

The effects of progressive thermal fatigue of the solder layer interface on the thermal performance of power module packages have been investigated. Specifically, in the paper the analysis of an 800 A-1800 V IGBT module using finite element techniques is performed. The use of this technique for modelling fatigue effects is thus demonstrated, and a method for estimating the fatigue lifetime of soldered power modules based on the Coffin-Manson relation is also given. Assessed parameters in the three-dimensional model are the thermal resistance, heat flux distribution through the different layers and maximum die temperature. The critical crack length at which the thermal resistance significantly increases is determined from the two-dimensional model. The temperature excursion and shear strain of the solder layer are estimated from dynamic analysis. Finally, all achieved models are calibrated by comparison of predicted results with simple theory and direct temperature measurements

Keywords

finite element analysis; insulated gate bipolar transistors; power semiconductor switches; semiconductor device models; semiconductor device reliability; thermal resistance; thermal stress cracking; 1800 V; 800 A; Coffin-Manson relation; IGBT module; IGBT modules; crack length; die temperature; direct temperature measurements; dynamic analysis; fatigue lifetime; finite element modelling; heat flux distribution; power module packages; progressive thermal fatigue; shear strain; solder layer; soldered power modules; temperature excursion; thermal fatigue effects; thermal resistance; three-dimensional model; two-dimensional model;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Circuits, Devices and Systems, IEE Proceedings -

Publisher

iet

ISSN

1350-2409

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/ip-cds:20010293

Filename

926416