II.

Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

G. Boundary Conditions
1. Introduction
a. if T at boundary is known then can use directly in
discretization equation
b. if flux is specified then we need a discretization equation
for boundary CV
2. Discretization equations for CVs at boundaries (assume
steady state and u = constant.
x
An energy balance on CV1 gives
x
qB

T T1 x
qB + k 2
+
u1" ' = 0
2
x

x
2

(II.G.1)

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II. Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

2. Discretization equations for CVs at boundaries (cont.)
a. Case 1. qB is given (could be zero). (II.G.1) becomes

k
k
x

T1 +
T2 = qB
u1" ' and a1 = 0
x
x
,
,


2



b1

c1

(II.G.2)

d1

b. Case 2. qB is a linear function of TB, e.g., qB = h(T -T1).

(II.G.1) becomes

T T x
h(T T1) + k 2 1 +
u1" ' = 0
2
x

and
lesson 13

k
x
k

+ h T1 +
T2 = hT
u1" ' and a1 = 0
x
x
2


,











b1

c1

(II.G.3)

d1

II. Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

2. Discretization equations for CVs at boundaries (cont.)
c. Case 3. qB is a nonlinear function of TB

qB = Ts4 T14

T T1 x
4
4
+
u1" ' = 0
(II.G.1) becomes Ts T1 + k 2
x

Linearize the radiation term by a Taylor-series expansion to give

T T x
Ts4 T1 * 4 4T1 *3 (T1 T1 * ) + k 2 1 +
u1" ' = 0 (II.G.4)
2
x
Algorithm
Guess Ti
Calculate ai, bi, ci, di
Solve for Ti
Check for convergence of Ti

Put in standard form

and iterate.

lesson 13

II. Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

H. Unsteady Conduction
1. Governing equation

T
T
=
k
+ u' ' '
t x x

2. Discretization (energy balance on CVi, assume ui = 0)

x

i-1
x

Axc
i+1

dTi
T T
T T
= kA i 1 i + kA i +1 i (II.H.1)
dt
x
x

We could use MOL but prefer TDMA

approach. Integrate (II.H.1) from t to
t + t.

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II. Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

3. Integration of (II.H.1)

xc

t + t dTi

= xc

dt

dt =

Tin +1 Tin

k t + t
(Ti1 2Ti + Ti+1)dt
x t

(II.H.2)

We need a way to integrate the right hand side of (II.H.2).

Consider
t + t

Tidt = Ti t = f Tin +1 + (1 f )Tin t

(II.H.3)

f = 0 explicit method, 2nd-order accurate in space, 1st-order accurate in time.

f = 1/2 Crank-Nicolson scheme, 2nd-order accurate in space and time.
f = 1 implicit method, 2nd-order accurate in space, 1st-order accurate in time.
Focus on f = 1 because it gives unconditionally stable system of equations.
lesson 13

II. Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

4. Conclusion. The implicit form of (II.H.2) becomes

k n +1
xc n +1
Ti
Tin =
T
2Tn +1 + Tn +1
i
i +1
t
x i 1

(II.H.4)

Note, if u = u(T), use u = u(Tn+1). Do same for BCs.

Rearrange (II.H.4) to give

xc n
k n +1 2k xc n +1 k n +1
+
+
=
T
T
T
T
i
x i 1 x
t
x i +1 


t i
,
,








ai

bi

ci

(II.H.5)

di

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II. Numerical Solutions in Conduction Heat Transfer

4. Conclusion (cont.)
a. If k = k(T), evaluate k at previous time step. If extra accuracy is
needed, interate within the time step to bring k up to date.
Same comment applies to nonlinear source and BCs.
Nonlinear terms should be linearlized per previous discussion.
b. If we let t approach infinity (1x1020), we have the steady state
discretization equation. This permits the construction of a
general purpose code that can be efficiently used for both
steady and unsteady problems.
c. Recall from discussion of governing equation (I.B.18),

T ~

c
+ V T = (kT ) + u' ' '
t

lesson 13

(I.B.18) assumes incompressible, pure substance with

p = constant. c may be c(x,T), may be (x), and k may
be k(x,T). (I.H.5) is similarly restricted.