A method and a computer

program for determining the

thermal diffusivity in a solid slab
V. I. Iordanov” and A. P. Steward

Department of Mathematics and Computer Studies, Sunderland Polytechnic,

Sunderland, UK
(Received April 1983; revised July 1983)

The authors describe a method for computing the thermal diffusivity of a

solid, based on a computer assisted evaluation of the solution of the
transient inverse heat conduction problem.
The program computes either the unknown diffusivity or simulates the
one-dimensional unsteady heat transfer problem. The user may model the
boundary conditions by a choice of different functions.
The program provides instruction and information at all stages of input
and provides tabular output of results. It may be used by anybody wishing
to solve or simulate heat transfer processes.

Key words: mathematical model, thermal diffusivity, heat transfer process

Introduction this paper the temperatures are measured over a range of

time values at three different points within a slab of the
The thermal diffusivity of a solid is an important thermal
material as it is heated. Two of these temperature histories
property that enters into the differential equation of heat
are used to form functions which represent the boundary
conduction, and the accuracy of this value affects the accu-
conditions and the other is used to compare with the values
racy of any results obtained from this differential equation.
of the analytical solution.
Various methods exist for the evaluation of thermal
properties.“’
In our view there are two principal approaches to the Mathematical formulation and solution
identification of thermal properties. The first approach
Consider the cross-section of a slab of the material to be
involves complex experiments with special equipment and
examined shown in Figure 1 (the line PI, P2, P3 is normal
controllers but simple calculation of the data from the
to the surface). Let us assume that there are three sets of
experiment. In the second approach the experimental
observed temperatures at the points PI, P2 and P3 and that
procedures are simpler but this is followed by a compli-
the material is characterized by a thermal diffusivity (Y.
cated numerical solution. The resources demanded by the
Let T[(X*) be the observed values of the temperature at
first approach must include skilled technicians to conduct
the point P3, where i = 1, . . . , N and N is the number of
the experiments while the second approach requires some
time values chosen. Further let T(X, 7,01) be the solution
assistance by a computer.
of the theoretical model at distance X and time T, when the
Recently the development of new chemical materials
with unknown thermal properties and the widespread use
of computers have given extra impetus to new methods
adopting the second approach.3’4 These methods are
based on the solution of the inverse heat conduction
problem.4 The inverse problem of heat conduction is the Heat Heat
determination of boundary conditions or the determina-
tion of unknown diffusivity coefficients in the differential X
equation of heat conduction. In the problem considered in -

*On leave from Department of Industrial Heat Engineering,

Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Sofia,
Bulgaria Figure 1

0307-904X/84/03169-10/$03.00
0 1984 Butterworth & Co. (Publishers) Ltd Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June 169
 Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

diffusivity has the value CY.Then to estimate the true value t

of the thermal diffusivity is equivalent to finding the value
of (Ywhich minimizes the functional:
x
c
J
0
[f,(t*) - (- l)‘f2(t*)] exp [(in)2at”] dt*

(14)
@(a) = 5 [Ti(x*) - T(x* >Ti> all’ (1) Because the solution given by equation (14) is not always
i=l uniformly convergent we will present another form of (14).
where pi, i = 1, . . . , N are the time values and X = X* at P3,
First the integral in equation (14) is evaluated by multiple
To determine the theoretical function T(X, r, o) for a integration by parts. We obtain:
given value of (Ywe consider a slab so that the distance m 3
between PI and PZ is L and 0 < X <L. The problem of e(x, t) = ,gl i sin(inx) F,(t)
heat conduction is given as:

a TV, r) a* T(X, T)
p=Iy (2)
a7 ax2 x izI i sin(i7rx)Fi(O) exp [-(irr>‘ot]
O<XfL r>o

Without any loss of power in the method we assume that

the temperature in the slab is initially constant, i.e. -&+G sin(ijrx) F,‘(t)

T(X, 0) = To a constant (3)

To determine the function T(X, 7) we use the observed
values at the points PI and PZ to form boundary conditions: -g& sin(i7rx)F;(O) exp [-(in)’ o_t]

T(O, 7) = @r(r) (4)

+...+(-1)” f ,f+, n sin(k
T(L >7) = MT) (5) j,l(i77) (Y
where @r(r) and &(r) are functions of time found by
fitting the values of the temperature measured at PI and P2. + (-- lY+l ,(i.)Z~+,,,, sin(i~x)Pi(n)(O)
To solve the above system of equations (2)-(5), first we
change the variables as:
71 x exp [-(in)” at]
n
x=- dimensionless length (6)
L
+ (- ,,,3+1sin(inx)
v+lF1 &rl

*2 new time variable (7)

L2 t
TV, 7) - To x exp[-(in)2 nt]] Fi(“+‘)(t*)
e(x, t) = dimensionless temperature (8) J‘
T max - To -0

fl(t) = @1(T)- To x exp [(in)’ CY~*]dt* (15)

T max - To dimensionless boundary where
functions
f2(f) = @z(7) - To FAt) = fl(t) - (- w2w
(9)
T max - To i and primes denote differentiation with respect to the time
where : variable t.
To improve the convergence of the slowly convergent
To = initial temperature in solid.
series (those without an exponential term) we will prove
T max = reference temperature, greater than maxi-
that these series are solutions to other systems of differen-
mum value of temperature in solid.
tial equations. Indeed, the first term in equation (15) is a
Substituting equations (6)-(9) into equations (2)-(5) we solution of the following system:
obtain:
%(X, t)
%3(x, t) a%(x, t) ci
ax2 =
0
-=&(y (10)
at ax2
R1(0, t) = f1(t) (17)
cqx, 0) = 0 (11)
R1(1, r) =fz(t) (18)
e(o, t) =f1(t) (12) Using integral transform techniques we obtain:
e(l) t> = fi(f) (13)
We now use integral transform techniques
the above system (equations (lo)-( 13)).
in the solution of R,(x, f) = ,F,~~in(jnx)Lh(t)-(-l)'~~(t)l (19)

The solution is:

but a direct solution of the above system, equations (16-18)
is:
e(x, t) = ,F; c sin(kx) exp [-(irr)2 cut)]
R 1(x> t) = Vi(t)-fi(t)l x +.fi(t) (20)

170 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June

 Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. 1. lordanov and A. P. Steward

The next slowly convergent series in equation (15) is a In the appendix equation (27) is written using different
solution of the following system: boundary functionsf,(t) andf2(t), which are used in the
program. There are also given the first four polynomials
P&(x, t) 1
+-[.fl(~)(l-X)+fz(~)4=O (21) R,(x, t), n = 1) 2, . ) 4.
a.2 Q To determine the unknown thermal diffusivity (Yin
Rz(O,t) = 0 equation (1) we use the following:
(22)
R*(l) t) = 0 (23) ~= Al - 2 aA(x~~~ (y) [8j(X*)-e(X*, Ti, Cw)]
which has a direct solution:
= 0
R
2
(x
>
Q =’ fiCr) l
([~+p~)-f;(r))] x
(28)
01 where x* = X*/L.
Equation (28) is solved by the bisection method to find
--x2
f;(t) -~(f;(r)
-f:(r))X3) (24) the thermal diffusivity.
2
Consequently:
Program characteristics
2 The method presented above has been implemented in a
R,(x,t)= f - sin(inx) [f;(t) - (- l)‘fi(t)]
j=i (In)3 (Y FORTRAN-66 program. The program has been written as
an interactive program; the user responds to a series of
questions, so defining the values of the parameters of the
model. Having obtained some preliminary results a variety
of possible changes can be made. The main properties of
L(f)
--x2-$(l)f&))Xl)
2
(25)
this program are:
(1) It considers one-dimensional heat-conduction in
Notice that every slowly convergent series in equation (15) homogeneous and isotropic solids.
is a solution of a similar system like equations (21)-(23). (2) It uses a least-squares approximation to form the func-
The authors have found common systems whose solutions tions representing the boundary condition.
are polynomials, with forms given by: (3) There are two types of function: exponential and poly-
nomial (parabolic, cubic and quartic). When the user
n+lX2n-j-l ~(n-l)(~)
l C-1) chooses the exponential type of function he has to input
MX> f> =A c (IL i j=O (2n -j-
I
l)! the first coefficient. It is possible to change the first coeffi-
cient or type of function, if the user is not satisfied with
+-l (-lyiA._, ix2(n-i)+l the result. The user can choose either both exponential or
+c both polynomial or any mixture of exponential and poly-
j=2 2(n--i)[2(n-_j)f 11 nomial functions.
1 (-1)” lJ/!“-l’(l) (4) It uses the bisection method to solve the transcendental
equation which gives the thermal diffusivity.
+c j=O (2n -i- l)!
[ (5) The program provides helpful instructions at all stages

(26)
of the user input.

II
+nci (-l)n-i+lA,_l,i (6) The program provides tabular information at three
j=z 2(n--j)[2(f7--j)+ l] x stages, fitting, minimization and temperature .listribution,
so that the user can change his input to obtain satisfactory
where: results. The program has been run on a Harris S125 under
Go(r) =f;(t) -f‘1(t) J/1(t) =f1(4
the Vulcan operating system.
The main components of the program are described in
Thus we can write equation (15) in the following form: Figure 2. A detailed flow chart showing the operation of.
the described model is shown in Figure 3. For an example
(3(x, t) = 2 Rj(X, t) of the dialogue see Appendix 2.
j=l

- izlz sin(inx) Fj(0) exp [-(in)’ CG]

Discussion of numerical results and validity of
model
sin(inx) F;(O) exp [-(in)* olt]
+iZr& For the numerical validation of the solution presented in
the previous sections, several simulations were prepared in
order to illustrate the use of the model. The algorithm
+ . . . +w”+‘;l (ir12”2+lafl sinW) described has been tested in a classical example. The data
values to form the boundary conditions were taken from
x F!n)(O)
I exp [-(in)’ at] (27) an analytical solution with thermal diffusivity set at
(Y= 0.8666668-04. The value given by the program agreed
The solution is given by equation (27) provided that the almost exactly (see Table I).
functions fr (t) and f*(t) possess n continuous derivatives in The second examination of the validity of the model
the time variable. involves comparing an exact value of the thermal diffu-

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June 171

Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

Table 1 Thermal diffusivity A = 0.866703E -04. Least squares

difference between data of P3 and computed solution =
Parameter values to form model 0.110001E-03
I Data values of temperatures at points Pl and P2.
Time Measured Computed Absolute Relative error 1%)

1 tempera-
tures
tempera-
tures
error

Approximation \ 0.00 20.000 20.001 -0.001 -0.709840E - 02

Use least-squares method to approximate data values to find 2.00 21.470 21.474 -0.004 -0.180333E -02
coefficients in exponential, or polynomial functions. 4.00 25.410 25.413 -0.003 -O.l01391E-01
\ Output coefficients of fitting functions 6.00 30.050 30.048 0.002 0.825984E - 02
8.00 34.770 34.767 0.003 0.99233OE - 02
10.00 39.310 39.313 -0.003 -0.861612E-02

/ \ 12.00
14.00
43.570
47.470
43.567
47.474
0.003
-0.004
0.624379E
-0.855836E
- 02
- 02
Minimization
16.00 51.020 51.016 0.004 0.720150E - 02
Minimise functional @(a)to find thermal diffusivity 18.00 54.200 54.198 0.002 0.436259E - 02
use bisection method to solve transcendental equation 20.00 57.030 57.034 -0.004 -0.651931E-02
6@(a) I o

Output value of thermal diffusivity.

ti
sivity with values obtained from the thermal diffusivity
when different boundary conditions are imposed. Taking
Temperature distribution \ a given value for 01we first use the temperature distribution
Input-thermal diffusivity option of the program to compute a solution for the
compute temperature distribution distribution with this value. This distribution is calculated
Output-temperature distribution for four different boundary conditions and for the non-
dimensional distance variable in the range x = O.O(O.l)l .O.
Figure 2 The time variable is in the range t = 0(2)20.
The four types of boundary conditions that were chosen
are constant, linear, exponential and parabolic. They were
chosen to give a varied sample of different heating regimes.
In all cases the two surfaces are assumed to have the same
boundary conditions producing a symmetrical problem.
The solutions in each of the four cases were recorded at
x = 0.2 and x = 0.5 and these temperature histories were
used in the thermal diffusivity option of the program. The
estimates of the thermal diffusivities thus obtained are
listed in Table 2.
For each of the boundary conditions the fitting func-
tions exponential, parabolic, cubic and quartic were used.
The exact values of the thermal diffusivity were: (Y=
0.1125 x 1Oe3 in the constant case and 01= 0.8667 x 10e4
in the other cases.
In Figures 4-7 the thick continuous line represents the
boundary conditions whereas the thinner continuous lines
represent the exact solution at x = 0.2 and x = 0.5.
The symbols:
* exponential n cubic
0 parabolic 0 quartic
represent the values obtained using these different fitting
functions. Where a symbol is not included then the fitting
is very close to the exact solution.
The third exercise shows how errors in the input
data values can influence the accuracy of determining
the thermal diffusivity. Exact data values were entered and
the subroutine RANDOM produced a random variation
from these figures. For each of the fitting functions
exponential, parabolic, cubic and quartic the subroutine
produced five sets of random data. The thermal diffusivity
was then calculated for each of the four functions and each
of the five random sets of data. Figures 8 and Y show a
typical set of random errors from an exact set of data
values. The cases cover both symmetrical and non-sym-
metrical boundary conditions. In Table 3 is shown the values
Figure 3 of the thermal diffusivity determined with different maxi-

172 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June

 Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward
Table 2

Boundary condition Constant Linear Exponential Parabolic Maximum

error (%j

Fitting function
Exponential O.116832X1O-3 0.78505 X 1 0m4 0.847309 x 1 O-” 0.794935 x 1o-4 9.42
Parabolic 0.117787X10~3 0.865388 X 1 O-4 0.862894 X 1 O-4 0.867707 X 1 O-4 4.70
Cubic O.1133O6X1O-3 0.865408 X 1 O-4 0.863919 X IO-’ 0.865148 X1O-4 0.72
Quartic O.111675X1O-3 0.8645 X 1 0m4 0.862656 X 1O-4 0.864873 X IO-” 0.47
Exact value O.1125X1O-3 0.8667 X 1 0m4 0.8667 X IO-“ 0.8667 X IO-”
Maximum error (%) 4.7 9.42 2.23 8.34

X=Oorl

x
I I I I I I I I I I
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 16 2C
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
f, time (5)
t, time (s)
Figure 4 Figure 6

60-

I I I
.p- I
12 ’ I I I I I I I I Y
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 L 1 I I I I I I I I
t, time (5) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 2
t, time (5)
Figure 5
Figure 7

mum errors; l”C, 2”C, 3°C and 4°C in the data. The maxi-
mum percentage error in the thermal diffusivity for each
fitting function and each size of temperature error is shown
in each box.
Conclusions
A method and a program for determining the thermal
diffusivity of a solid, is provided in this paper. The method
is based on the solution of the inverse heat transfer prob-
lem. Before using the program, temperatures must be taken
in three interior points in a solid.
The authors do not discuss the accuracy of the solution
of the inverse heat conduction problem. There are many
papers presented recently considering the comparison of
methods of solution of the inverse conduction problem.5-6
In Table 3 the authors show the influence of errors in
the input on the accuracy of the computed thermal diffu-
sivity. It is clear that accuracy in determining the coeffi-
cients of the boundary functions will influence the accu-
racy of determining the thermal diffusivity.
The accuracy of the method depends also on how the
solid is heated and where the values of the temperature

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June 173

Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

are taken. It is hoped that this method and program will

find different applications in heat transfer education and
simulation problems.

References
Carslaw, H. S., Jaeger, J. S. ‘Conduction of heat in solids’ (2nd
edn), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1959
Luimov, A. V. (cd.), ‘Methods for determining thermal con-
ductivity and thermal diffusivity’, Energy , Moscow, 1973 (in
Russian)
Nikitenko, N. I., Kolodnyi, Ju. M. ‘Numerical solution of the in-
verse heat-conduction problem for determining thermal con-
stants’, .7. Eng~g P~zJ~s. 1978, 33 (6), 1461
Beck, J. V. ‘Transient determination of thermal properties’,
Nucl. Eng. Design 1966, 3, 313
Beck, J. V. ‘Criteria for comparison of methods of solution
of the inverse heat-conduction problem’, Nucl. k,‘ng. Design
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
1979,53,11
t, time (s)
Kolp, Ya., Lcbedcv, V. V. ‘Comparison of solutions of the
Figure 8 inverse heat-conduction problem by the methods of Tikhonov
and Sparrow’, High Temp. (USSR) 1973, 11, 2

Appendix 1
70- When the type of boundary function is known from equa-
tion (27) we can obtain the solution. The following
60- examples are treated further.

Example 1
Here we fit exponential functions at both points PI and
P,. Let:

f~(r) = &Al tl>

-El exp L-h

f;(f) = &Cl -AI ew [-A [I)

Using the integral transform technique we obtain the solu-
tion in the form:
1 I I I I I I I I I I
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 2(
t, time (s)
0(x> t) = Ee(l -x) f&x- f 2 sin(i7iX) exp[-(i.rr)*cYI]
Figure 9 i=l in

Table 3 Thermal diffusivity error (exact 01 = 0.8667 X 10e4)

Fitting Data error

AT= i 1°C AT=+ 2°C AT= t 3°C AT = t 4’C

Exponential 1 0.8553 X IO-” 0.8437 0.861627 0.856993

2 0.8443 x lo-’ 2.58% 0.8845 0.790567 8.78% 0.81657
3 0.8815” 0.9304 7.35% 0.882193 0.782297
4 0.8889 0.89308 0.927768 0.883915
5 0.8874 0.9077 0.929379 0.985973 13.7 6%

Parabolic 0.8568 0.8470 0.875656 0.878993

2 0.8448 0.8856 0.795346 8.23% 0.828412
3 0.8844 0.9326 7.60% 0.894724 0.784411
4 0.8880 0.9022 0.933835 0.904043
5 0.8896 2.64% 0.9125 0.936796 1.00498 15.95%

Cubic 1 0.8573 0.8476 0.872726 0.879814

2 0.8457 0.8842 0.797055 0.829263
3 0.8854 0.9318 7.51% 0.892569 0.786557
4 0.88777 0.9038 0.931985 0.901344
5 0.89023 2.71% 0.9132 0.937674 8.19% 1.00201 15.61%

Quartic 1 0.8511 0.83601 0.844998 0.836832

2 0.8478 0.8535 0.803909 0.807019
3 0.8826 0.9244 6.65% 0.846603 0.796426
4 0.8890 2.57% 0.8985 0.935892 7.98% 0.840402
5 0.8848 0.9032 0.923093 0.966434 11.51%

*Subsequent values in the table are scaled by IO-‘to give the thermal diffusivity

174 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June

 Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

x [E,-(- l)‘Ae] + EaEr exp(-Eal) The solution is:

sink@ZS - 111
X
sin-

2in ff x exp [-(in)’ c4~t]

+ EOEI c sin(inx) exp [-(in)‘at]
i=l (i.rr)‘.-E2
+t --I?- sin(i7rx) [f;(O) - (- l)‘,f;(O)]
j=r (in)” a
sin (GGFFI
-AoA, exp(--Azf) x exp [-(irr)2 crt]
sin 4Ar

-AoA, i
i=l
(-1)’
2irrcu
(in)’ cd- Az
sin (irrx) -&l&2 sin(krx) [f:(O)-(-I)‘f;‘(O)]

x exp [-(in)” at]

x exp [-(irr)‘&]
2
+ii - sin(iirx) [f;(O) - (- l)‘f;“(O)]
i=l (i7f)7 C13
Example 2
Here an exponential and a polynomial (quartic) func- x exp [-(in)* at]
tion are chosen. Let

and
fr(t) = EoU -El evW26) -&$G sin(kx)[f1)1)(0) - (- l)‘fp(O)]

x exp [-(in)” cd]

f*(t) = co + C,t + C*P + Cg3 + C4t4
where :

The solution is:

f2(f) -f1(t) x + f1(t>
RI@, t) =
l! O!
0(x, t) = Eo(l -x) -I-f*(t) x - zE, k sin(inx)
f;(t) -fl(t) x3 f{(t) x2
R2(x, t) = -
x [E. - (- l>’ fi(t)] exp [-(in)‘ort] 3! 2!

1
+ f;(t) -f;(t) + f;(t)
sin ]vVZX1 -x)1 -x
+ EoEl exp(-Eat) [ 3! 2!
sin&?&
f;‘(t) -flv) x5 I f;“(l) x4
in R3@, t> =
+2EoE,a( c sin(inx) exp [-(in)‘&] 5! 4!
i=l (i7r)*a-E2

1.
__ f;‘(t) -f;“(f) I f;‘(t) 1 x3
+RZ(x, r) + Rf(x, t) + G(x, r>+ R:(x, f> 3! ?’
I. 23

_?;I$ sin(inx) exp [-(in)2 at] t-

f;‘(t) -flow
-- f i’(t)
i S! 4!

f2v) -f:‘(t) + fl’(f) 1

+y zI $ sin(izC) exp [-(in)* (wt] --x
3! 2! I 2.3 I
fi”‘0) - f i”(t) x7 f;“(4x,
-y,F,s sin(inx) exp [-(in)2 at] R4(x, t) = -
7! 6!

15!
-f;“(t) I fll’(t) 1 x5
+
+y ,F,$$ sin(inx) exp [-(in)‘cM] 3! 2!

f;“(t) - filll(f) -- f I”(r)

Where Rz, R$, Rz and RT are given as R2, R3, R4 and R5
whenfr(t) = 0. S! 4!
The polynomials R,, R 3, R4 and R 5 are defined in the
following example.

Example 3 +
f;“(t) - f I”(9 + f ;“(t>
Here both functions are polynomials (quartic). Let: 7! 6!
f1(t) = co + C,t + Czt2 + C3t3 + CL/
f2(t) = A0 + A,t + A,t* + A3t3 + Az,t4

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June 175

Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

will find the others. The type of quartic polynomial is the

following:

+ .fi”‘(l>-f:“(t) CO+CI*TAU+C2*TAU**2-+C3*TAU**3

(, 3! +C4*TAU**4

The next function R5(x, t) can beGobtained in a similar The program finds all coefficients
way. The other variables used in the program are:
-N- the number of values of the time variable
-TN- the first value of the time variable
Appendix 2
-DT- the time step between successive time values
One-dimensional transient conduction -ZL- the distance between PI and P2
Do you want a program explanation? -Xl - the distance between Pl and P3
If you do, type 1, otherwise type 2 -A- the thermal diffusivity
1 -TO- the initial temperature when TAU = 0
Please type any key to continue
Program explanation
This program computes either the unknown thermal
-TIM- the reference temperature greater than any tempera-
diffusivity of a material or simulates the one-dimensional
ture attained within the material
unsteady heat transfer problem to find the temperature
-APMN- and -APMX- the smallest possible value of the
distribution in a solid. The choice depends on the user.
thermal diffusivity (greater than zero) and the largest one.
Before using the program, temperatures must be taken at
These are used as a starting point for a bisection method to
points Pl, P2 and P3 (see below) within a slab of material
find the unknown thermal diffusivity
as it is heated. These points must lie on a line normal to the
surface of the slab and the temperatures must be taken over
a range of values of the time variable.
PI P3 P2 Please type the number of values of the time variable N=?
____-* _~__-----*---__--_---*-----_ 5
What is the first value of the time variable TN= [set]
Please type any key to continue 0
Now type the time-step DT=?
To determine thermal diffusivity we use the method of 2
solving the inverse heat transfer problem. For this case the
Please type the distance between PI and P2 ZL =? [m]
energy equation is solved using two functions, which deter-
.l
mine the boundary conditions at PI and P2. These func-
tions which can be exponential or polynomial are found What is the value of initial temperature TO=? [“Cl
from the temperatures measured at Pl and P2. The other 20
experimental values at P3 are compared with the analytical Now type the value of reference temperature TMAX=? [“C’J
solution to find an accurate value for the thermal diffu- 80
sivity.
The program computes the minimum of the following Please check that the values you have typed are correct
function If you wish to change them type 1, otherwise type 2
F=SUM(Z-_(A))**2 2

where: 1. The sum is taken over the time values when the Please type the values of the temperature at PI T<Pl)=? [‘C]
28 35 41 45 48
temperatures are measured at P3
2. -T(A) - is the analytical solution function and A Are you sure that these values are correct?
is thermal diffusivity
Time Temperature
3. -Z- are the values of the temperature distribution
at the interior point P3 Q.OOOQO 28.00000
2.00000 35.00000
Please type any key to continue 4.QQOOQ 41.00000
6.00000 45.00000
8.QQOOO 48.00000
There are four function types for the boundary conditions
1. Exponential 2. Parabolic If you are type 1, otherwise type 2
3. Cubic 4. Quartic 1

You can choose any combination. We now estimate the temperature function at Pl
The type of exponential function is the following: There are four function types
EU*(l -El*EXP(-E2*TAU)) 1. Exponential 2. Parabolic
3. Cubic 4. Quartic
where: EO, El, E2 are coefficients to be found by curve
fitting, and TA I/ is scaled time variable TAU = T/ZL * * 2. Please type your choice
You have to input the first coefficient EO than the program 1

176 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June

 Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

These are the values of the nondimensional temperature Here are the coefficients CO, Cl,C2, C3. C4
TITA =(T- TO)/(TMAX- TO) Degree of polynomial is 4

TITA 0.133333 0.2500000.3500000.4166670.466667 CO = 0.439277E-09 Cl = O.l36806E-02

Type the first coefficient of the exponential function C2 = -O.l47569E-05 C3 = O.l73610E-09

between 0 and 1 EO=? (greater than the max. value of the C4 = 0.434028E - 12
nondimensional temperature)
.625 Please type any key to continue
We now fit the exponential function
Time Measured Computed Absolute Relative error (%)
EO*( l- EI*EXP(-E2*TAU)) tempera- tempera- error
tures tu res
tothe values of the non-dimensional temperatures TZTA,
where TAU is the scaled time variable. 0.00 20.000 20.000 0.000 0.131783&-06
2.00 33.000 33.000 0.000 -0.258230E - 06
Here are the coefficients EO, El, E2
4.00 40.000 40.000 0.000 0.275613E -06
EO=0.625000E+00 El=0.788292E+OO 6.00 43.000 43.000 0.000 -0.155942E -06
8.00 45.000 45.000 0.000 0.126878/Z - 07
E2 = - 0.142699E - 02
Least squares error = 0.248466E - 13
Please type any key to continue
Are you satisfied with these coefficients?
Time Measured Computed Absolute Relative error I%)
tempera- tempera- error
If you are type 1, otherwise type 2
tures tures 1
What kind of problem do you want to resolve?
0.00 28.000 27.939 -0.061 -0.217655E + 00
2.00 35.000 35.279 0.279 0.796017E + 00 1. To find unknown thermal diffusivity? - Type 1
4.00 41.000 40.796 -0.204 -0.497928E + 00 2. To find the temperature distribution? - Type 2
6.00 45.000 44.943 -0.057 -O.l26125E+OO 1
8.00 48.000 48.061 0.061 0.012878E + 00
Please type the distance between PI and P3 XI =? [m]
Lease squares error = 0.129943E + 00 .02
Please type the values of the temperature at P3 T(P3)=?
Are you satisfied with these coefficients? 20 23 27 30 33
If you are type 1, otherwise type 2
Are you sure that these values are correct?

Now type the values of the temperature at point P2 Time Temperature

T(P2) =? [“Cl
0.00000 20.00000
20 33 40 43 45 2.00000 23.00000
Are you sure that these values are correct? 4.00000 27.00000
6.00000 30.00000
8.00000 33.00000
Time Temperature

0.00000 20.00000 If you are type 1, otherwise type 2

2.00000 33.00000 1
4.00000 40.00000
6.00000 43.00000 Please type the smallest possible value of A and then the
8.00000 45.00000 largest one [m ** 2/set J
.00005 ,000 1
If you are type 1, otherwise type 2
Thermal diffusivity A = 0.7854586-04
Least squares difference between data of P3 and computed
We now estimate the temperature function at P2 solution = 0.216736E + 00
There are four function types
1. Exponential 2. Parabolic Time Measured Computed Absolute Relative error (%)
tempera- tempera- error
3. Cubic 4. Quartic
tures tures
Please type your choice
4 0.00 20.000 20.016 -0.016 -0.801628E - 01
2.00 23.000 22.938 0.062 0.269111 E + 00
These are the values of the nondimensional temperature 4.00 27.000 26.654 0.346 O.l28305E+Ol
6.00 30.000 30.107 -0.107 -0.356542E + 00
TITA =(T-TO)/(TMAX-TO) 8.00 33.000 33.285 -0.285 -0.863498E + 00

TITA 0.0000000.2166670.3333330.3833330.416667
We now fit the function Do you wish to obtain an additional solution?
If you wish type 1, otherwise type 2
CO+Cl*TAlJ+C2*TAU**2+C3*TAU**3 1
+C4*TAlJ**4 Do you want to change the input?
to the values of the non-dimensional temperatures TZTA If you do type 1, otherwise type 2
where TAU is the scaled time variable. 2

Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June 177

 Determination of thermal diffusivity: V. I. lordanov and A. P. Steward

Do you want to change the type of function Do you wish to obtain an additional solution?
If you do type 1, otherwise type 2 If you wish type 1, otherwise type 2
2 2
What kind of problem do you want to resolve? Do you want to stop the program?
1. To find unknown thermal diffusivity? - Type 1 If you do type 1, otherwise type 2
2. To find the temperature distribution? - Type 2 2
2 The next customer please! !
Type the thermal diffusivity of the solid A=? [m **2/set] Type 1 if you want to use the program, otherwise type 2
.0000785458 1

Temperature distribution

TlTA = FtTIME, X/L)

Relative distance = X/L

Time 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 .o

0 27.94 20.03 20.02 20.01 20.01 20.01 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00
2 35.28 27.37 22.94 20.94 20.24 20.06 20.09 20.41 21.63 25.14 33.00
4 40.80 32.32 26.65 23.26 21.51 20.87 21.14 22.51 25.60 31.23 40.00
6 44.94 36.37 30.11 25.95 23.56 22.69 23.24 25.34 29.26 35.19 43.00
8 48.06 39.71 33.28 28.78 26.10 25.12 25.78 28.10 32.11 37.76 45.00

178 Appl. Math. Modelling, 1984, Vol. 8, June