Two-Dimensional Conduction:

Finite-Difference Equations
and
Solutions
Chapter 4
Sections 4.4 and 4.5
Finite-Difference Method

The Finite-Difference Method

• An approximate method for determining temperatures at discrete
(nodal) points of the physical system.

• Procedure:
– Represent the physical system by a nodal network.

– Use the energy balance method to obtain a finite-difference

equation for each node of unknown temperature.

– Solve the resulting set of algebraic equations for the unknown

nodal temperatures.
Finite-Difference Approximation

The Nodal Network and Finite-Difference Approximation

• The nodal network identifies discrete
points at which the temperature is
to be determined and uses an
m,n notation to designate their location.

What is represented by the temperature determined at a nodal point,

as for example, Tm,n?
• A finite-difference approximation
is used to represent temperature
gradients in the domain.

How is the accuracy of the solution affected by construction of the nodal

network? What are the trade-offs between selection of a fine or a coarse mesh?
Energy Balance Method

Derivation of the Finite-Difference Equations

- The Energy Balance Method -
• As a convenience that obviates the need to predetermine the direction of heat
flow, assume all heat flows are into the nodal region of interest, and express all
heat rates accordingly. Hence, the energy balance becomes:
Ein  Eg  0 (4.30)

• Consider application to an interior nodal point (one that exchanges heat by

conduction with four, equidistant nodal points):
4
 q(i )( m,n )  q  x  y    0
i 1
where, for example,

Tm1,n  Tm,n
q m1,n  m,n   k  y   (4.31)
x

Is it possible for all heat flows to be into the m,n nodal region?
What feature of the analysis insures a correct form of the energy balance
equation despite the assumption of conditions that are not realizable?
Energy Balance Method (cont.)

• A summary of finite-difference equations for common nodal regions is provided

in Table 4.2. Consider an external corner with convection heat transfer.

q m1,n  m,n   q m,n 1 m,n   q   m,n   0

 y  Tm 1,n  Tm,n  x  Tm,n 1  Tm,n

k   k  
 2  x  2  y
 x   y 
h    T  Tm,n   h    T  Tm,n   0
 2   2 

or, with x  y,

hx  hx 
Tm1,n  Tm,n 1  2 T  2   1 Tm,n  0
k  k  (4.43)
Energy Balance Method (cont.)

• Note potential utility of using thermal resistance concepts to express rate

equations. E.g., conduction between adjoining dissimilar materials with
an interfacial contact resistance.

Tm,n 1  Tm,n
q m,n 1 m,n  
Rtot

y / 2 Rt,c
y / 2
Rtot   
kA  x   x  kB  x  
Solution Methods
Solution Methods
• Matrix Inversion: Expression of system of N finite-difference equations for
N unknown nodal temperatures as:
 AT   C  (4.48)

Coefficient Solution Vector Right-hand Side Vector of Constants

Matrix (N × N) (T1,T2, …TN) (C1,C2…CN)

Solution T    A1 C 
Inverse of Coefficient Matrix

• Gauss-Seidel Iteration (Supplemental Material): Each finite-difference equation is

written in explicit form, such that its unknown nodal temperature appears alone
on the left-hand side:
C i 1 aij k N aij ( k 1)
Ti   i   Tj   
k
Tj
aii j 1 aii j i 1 aii

where i =1, 2,…, N and k is the level of iteration.

Iteration proceeds until satisfactory convergence is achieved for all nodes:
Ti   Ti   
k k 1

• What measures may be taken to insure that the results of a finite-difference

solution provide an accurate prediction of the temperature field?
 Example 1 (P4.55)
Steady-state temperatures (K) at three nodal points of a
long rectangular rod are as shown. The rod experiences a
uniform volumetric generation rate of 5 x 107 W/m3 and has
a thermal conductivity of 20 W/mK. Two of its sides are
maintained at a constant temperature of 300 K, while the
others are insulated. Find:
•The temperatures at nodes 1, 2 and 3.
•Calculate the heat transfer rate per unit length (W/m)
from the rod using the nodal temperatures. Compare this
result with the heat rate calculated from knowledge of
the volumetric generation and the rod dimension.
Example 1 (P4.55)
Example 1 (P4.55)
Example 1 (P4.55)
Example 1 (P4.55)
 Transient Conduction:
Finite-Difference Equations
and
Solutions

Chapter 5
Section 5.10
Finite-Difference Method

The Finite-Difference Method

• An approximate method for determining temperatures at discrete (nodal) points
of the physical system and at discrete times during the transient process.

• Procedure:
─ Represent the physical system by a nodal network, with an m, n notation used
to designate the location of discrete points in the network, and discretize the
problem in time by designating a time increment ∆t and expressing the time
as t = p∆t, where p assumes integer values, (p = 0, 1, 2,…).

─ Use the energy balance method to obtain a finite-difference equation for

each node of unknown temperature.

─ Solve the resulting set of equations for the nodal temperatures at

t = ∆t, 2∆t, 3∆t, ...

What is represented by the temperature, Tmp,n ?

Energy Storage Term

Energy Balance and Finite-Difference

Approximation for the Storage Term
• For any nodal region, the energy balance is
Ein  E g  E st (5.84)

where, according to convention, all heat flow is assumed to be into the region.

• Discretization of temperature variation with time:

T Tmp,n1  Tmp,n

t m ,n t (5.77)

• Finite-difference form of the storage term:

Tmp,n1  Tmp,n
E st  m,n   c
t
• Existence of two options for the time at which all other terms in the energy
balance are evaluated: p or p+1.
Explicit Method

The Explicit Method of Solution

• All other terms in the energy balance are evaluated at the preceding time
corresponding to p. Equation (5.77) is then termed a forward-difference
approximation.

• Example: Two-dimensional
conduction for an interior node
with ∆x=∆y.

 
Tmp,n1  Fo Tmp1,n  Tmp1,n  Tmp,n 1  Tmp,n 1  1  4 Fo  Tmp,n (5.79)

t
Fo   finite-difference form of Fourier number
 x  2

• Unknown nodal temperatures at the new time, t = (p+1)∆t, are determined

explicitly by known nodal temperatures at the preceding time, t = p∆t, hence
the term explicit solution. We solve by marching in time.
Explicit Method (cont.)

• How is solution accuracy affected by the choice of ∆x and ∆t?

• Do other factors influence the choice of ∆t?
• What is the nature of an unstable solution?
• Stability criterion: Determined by requiring the coefficient for the node of interest
at the previous time to be greater than or equal to zero.

For a finite-difference equation of the form,

Tmp,n1  ..............................  ATmp,n
A0
Hence, for the two-dimensional interior node:

1  4 Fo   0 or Fo  1/ 4

Therefore t 
 x 
2

4
• Table 5.3 finite-difference equations for other common nodal regions.

Very small time steps may be required for large numbers of nodes (small x).
Implicit Method
The Implicit Method of Solution
• Addresses the limitations of the explicit method, allowing larger time steps.
• All other terms in the energy balance are evaluated at the new time corresponding
to p+1. Equation (5.77) is then termed a backward-difference approximation.

• Example: Two-dimensional conduction for

an interior node with ∆x=∆y.

1  4Fo  Tmp,n1  Fo Tmp1,1n  Tmp1,1n  Tmp,n11  Tmp,n11   Tmp,n (5.95)

• System of N finite-difference equations for N unknown nodal temperatures

may be solved by matrix inversion or Gauss-Seidel iteration.

• Solution is unconditionally stable.

 Table 5.3  finite-difference equations for other common nodal regions.
Marching Solution

Marching Solution
• Transient temperature distribution is determined by a marching solution,
beginning with known initial conditions.

p t T1 T2 T3……………….. TN
Known
0 0 T1,i T2,i T3,i………………. TN,i

1 ∆t -- -- -- …………… --
2 2∆t -- -- -- …………… --
3 3∆t -- -- -- …………… --
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Steady state -- -- -- -- …………… --
 Example 2 (P5.116)
A wall 0.12 m thick having a thermal diffusivity of 1.5 x 10-6
m2/s is initially at a uniform temperature of 85 °C. Suddenly, on
face is lowered to a temperature of 20 ° C, while the other face
is perfectly insulated.

•Using the explicit finite-difference method with space and

time increments of 30 mm and 300 s respectively, determine
the temperature distribution at t = 45 min.
Example 2 (P5.116)
Example 2 (P5.116)
Example 2 (P5.116)