PROBLEM5.

57
KNOWN: Initial temperature, thickness and thermal diffusivity of glass plate. Prescribed
surface temperature.
FIND: (a) Time to achieve 50% reduction in midplane temperature, (b) Maximum
temperature gradient at that time.
SCHEMATIC:
ASSUMPTIONS: (1) One-dimensional conduction, (2) Constant properties.
ANALYSIS: Prescribed surface temperature is analogous to h and T

= T
s
. Hence, Bi
= . Assume validity of one-term approximation to series solution for T (x,t).
(a) At the midplane,
( )
2 o s
o 1
1
i s
T T
0.50 C exp Fo
T T
u ,
-

= = =

1 1 1
tan Bi / 2. , , , t = = =
Hence
( )
1
1
1 1
4sin 4
C 1.273
2 sin 2
,
, , t
= = =
+
( ) o 1
2
1
ln / C
Fo 0.379
u
,
-
= =
( )
2
2
7 2
0.379 0.01 m
FoL
t 63 s.
6 10 m / s
o

= = =

<
(b) With
( )
2
1 1
1
C exp Fo cos x u , ,
- -
=
( ) ( )
( )
i s i s 2
1 1 1
1
T T T T
T
C exp Fo sin x
x L L
x
c cu
, , ,
c
c
-
-
-

= =
max
4
x 1
300 C
T/ x T/ x 0.5 2.36 10 C/m.
0.01 m 2
t
c c c c
-
=
= = =

<
COMMENTS: Validity of one-term approximation is confirmed by Fo > 0.2.