One-dimensional Transient Conduction in

Plates
For Bi > 0.1, lumped capacity is not applicable
Spatial temperature variations must be accounted for
Example: One-dimensional transient conduction
in a plate or in long cylinder or in a
sphere
= heat transfer coefficient
/2 = half thickness of plate
T
o
= initial temperature
T

= ambient temperature
a = thermal diffusivity
Governing Equations
For one-dimensional, no energy generation and
constant conductivity, heat conduction equation
becomes:
(1)
t
T
a
1
x
T
2
2

t
T
c Q )
z
T
(
z
)
y
T
(
y
)
x
T
(
x
zdr

= +

&
(c)
0
0
=

= x
x
T
Initial condition:
o
T T(x,0) =
(b)
Boundary conditions on both sides:
( ) ( )
w 0, x
0, x
T T T T
x
T
= =

=
=
(a)
For symmetrical heating or cooling, only one half of the plate
and x=0 placed on the axis of the plate.
x=0 x=/2
( ) ( )
w 2 x
2 x
T T T T
x
T
= =

+
=
=
Solution to the equation
Analytical
Fourier method of separation of variables.
(1)
t
T
a
1
x
T
2
2

Graphical Representation of Solutions:

Non-dimensional Form (Heislers Charts)
Plates
The form of the equation and boundary conditions
shows that the temperature T(x,t) depends on:
Two variables: x and t
Six physical quantities: , , /2, T

,T
o
and a

=

, a, ,
2

, T T t, x, f T T
0
t
T
a
1
x
T
2
2

( ) ( )
w 2 x
2 x
T T T T
x
T
= =

+
=
=
o
T T(x,0) =
To map the effects of all quantities on T(x,t) can be
tedious (boring) and time consuming
Alternate approach: Express the result in non-
dimensional form (by independent dimensionless
groups) using Buckingham theorem:
Required number of dimensionless groups is equal to
the total number of physical quantities n (x,t,,a)
minus the number of primary dimensions m required
to express the dimensional n quantities.
Define the following 4 dimensionless variables

=

, a, ,
2

, T T t, x, f T T
0
8 quantities
4 primary dimensions
m, s, W, K
Time:
number Fourier
L
t
Fo
2
= =
number Biot

L
Bi = =
Bi) Fo; f(X, =
Relation between two variables and six quantities is
replaced by relation between four dimensionless
groups
Temperature:

=
T T
T T

o
Distance:
L
x
X =
Characteristic dimension L
for a plate is /2
Heisler charts: Equations of the analytical solution
are used to construct charts to determine transient
temperature in plates
Fig. 1: Transient temperature at the center, T
c
Fig. 2:Transient temperature at other locations in
terms of T
c
Fig. 1: Center-plane transient temperature of a plate of thickness 2L
L

Bi
1
=

=
T T
T T

o
c
c
For given time t calculate Fo
Calculate Bi
Determine
c
temperature
at the center
2
L
t
Fo =
) T (T T T
0 c c
=
Fig. 2: Temperature distribution in a plate of thickness 2L

=
T T
T T

c
/L 1/Bi =
Surface
temperature
) T (T T T
c
=
Fig. 5.5 Center transient temperature of a cylinder
Fig. 5.4 Temperature distribution in a Cylinder of radius
o
r
o
T
terms of
Surface
temperature
Fig. 5.6 Center transient temperature of a sphere
Fig. 5.7 Temperature distribution of a sphere in terms of
o
T
Multi-dimensional Transient Conduction in
bars, prisms, short cylinders etc.
Superposition of 1D solution product solution
A short cylinder is the intersection of
a long cylinder and a plane wall of the
thickness that equals the height of the
cylinder.
Similarly, a long rectangular bar is the
intersection of two plane walls of the
thickness a and b
Product solution:
cylinder
infinite
wall
plane
cylinder
short T T
T t r T
T T
T t x T
T T
T t x r T

0 0 0
) , (
.
) , ( ) , , (

=
T T
T T(0,t)

o
c
Remind:
Temperature in the center of a finite (short) cylinder:
cylinder
c,infinite
wall
c,plane
cylinder
short
0
c
.
T T
T t 0,0 T
=

) , (
for x, r=0
Similarly for other locations:
wall plane
surface
cylinder
centre 1
.
.
=
1
wall plane
surface
cylinder
surface
.
.
=
2
2
wall plane
center
cylinder
center
.
.
=
3
3
wall plane
center
cylinder
surface
.
.
=
4
4
TRANSIENT CONDUCTION IN SEMI-
INFINITE SOLID
Position of
no temperature
change
Sudden cooling
of surface
Solution procedure
2
2
x
T
a
T
T

Equation for temperature distribution T=f(x,t)

B.C.: One initial condition: at t=0, T=T
0
, for all x
One boundary condition: at t>0, T=T
w
for x=0
x
x=0
Solution
erf - Gauss error function
New variable
at
x
=
( )
w 0
w
T T
T x,t T

( )

erf
at 2
x
erf
T T
T x,t T
w 0
w
(a)
Practical impact
/2 = 1,825
( )
w 0
w
T T
T x,t T

For /2 > 1,825, i.e.

at 3,65 x > for
T(x) - T
w
> 0.99(T
o
- T
w
)
i.e.
o
T x T ) (
Heat flux transferred on the surface
at
T T
x
T
w 0
0 x

=
( )
at
T T
q
w
w

= & Heat flux

t
q
w
1

What about an amount of heat [J]??

Fourier law
0 x
w
x
T
q
=

= &
[W/m
2
]
After differentiation of (a)
( )

erf
at 2
x
erf
T T
T x,t T
w 0
w