Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng.

Kamel Guedri Heat Transfe:r Lab Manual

EXPERIMENT #4
DETERMINATION OF CONTACT RESISTANCE

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to understand and to calculate the contact resistance.

INTRODUCTION
Energy in the form of heat travels from a region of high temperature to a region of low
temperature. When one dimensional flow exists, the heat transfer rate can be described by
Fourier's law of heat conduction. Fourier's Law is an experimentally observed law which
predicts a linear temperature distribution in one dimension for a constant heat flux. Its
experimental verification is the subject of this experiment.

THEORY
The equation that governs the heat flow is known as Fourier's Law, and in the axial
direction it is written as

(1)

where qx is the rate of heat conduction in the x-direction, k is the thermal conductivity of
the material, Ax is the cross-sectional area normal to the x-direction, and dT/dx is the
temperature gradient in the x-direction. The negative sign indicates that heat is
transferred in the direction of decreasing temperature. Temperature is measured at
discrete points along the rod in this experiment.

Figure 1 is a sketch of temperature versus distance for two materials touching each other
at a location labeled "interface". Data points are graphed and a "best line" is drawn
through them for both materials. The lines are extrapolated to the interface. Data for the
material on the left indicates that the interface temperature is Ti, while data for the other

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfe:r Lab Manual

material indicates an interface temperature of Tir. The difference in these two

temperatures is due to what is called the "contact resistance" to heat transfer.

Figure 1: Determination of interface temperatures from the measured

temperature values.

The contact resistance Rtc is found from the one dimensional conduction equation:

(2)

APPARATUS
The apparatus for this experiment is the P.A. Hilton H940 Heat Conduction Unit,
described in Experiment #1.
Figure 5.1 is a sketch of the apparatus used in this experiment. It consists of three
separable sections. The center section is removable. The left end section contains a brass
rod, and an electrical heater. The heat input to the heater can be controlled and measured.
The right end section is also made of brass, and contains a hollowed out cavity with water
tubes attached. Thus heat flows through from the heater through the left end section, then
through the center section, and finally through the right end section to the water.

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfe:r Lab Manual

The entire apparatus is insulated so that one-dimensional heat conduction is well

approximated. The end sections contain instrumentation for measuring temperature. The
rods in the end sections have a diameter of 25 mm while the distance between adjacent
temperature measurements is 10 mm. The center section is 30 mm long. Temperature
versus length readings can be obtained with this apparatus. Several experiments can be
performed depending on what is used in the center section.

Figure 2: A schematic of the apparatus used to verify Fourier's Law of Conduction.

PROCEDURE
1. Apply a very small amount (a drop) of thermal conducting paste to make a thin
layer on each side of the brass sample of 30 mm length and 13 mm diameter and
spread it uniformly.
2. Insert the sample into the test unit and allow cooling water to flow through the
test unit.
3. Connect the nine thermocouples in the appropriate order.
4. Adjust the power control knob to deliver 10 W to the test unit and allow the unit
to reach steady state (approximately 20 minutes).
5. Record the temperatures at each of the six thermocouples and the power input.

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Mechanical Engineering Dep. Dr. Eng. Kamel Guedri Heat Transfe:r Lab Manual

RESULTS
1. The apparatus used in this experiment has 3 materials in series, and so there are
two interfaces. Plot temperature versus distance along the rods.
2. Determine the associated temperatures for both interfaces, and calculate the
contact resistances.
3. Compare to values found in a textbook.
4. Does thermal conductivity vary with temperature? If so, should ΔT/Δx vary
instead of being constant? If the rod itself is tapered, then what should be constant
in addition to or instead of ΔT/Δx?
5. Are the values for both contact resistances equal? Should they be?

RAW DATA TABLES

Table 1: Raw Data for Experiment #4

q T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9
(W) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

ASSIGNED READING:
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer; Incropera and DeWitt; pp. 3-6, pp. 58-67, App. A.

SAFETY GUIDELINES:
1. To avoid burns, do not touch any metal or plastic surfaces on the hot end of the
sample or test unit.
2. Avoid using a high cooling water flow to prevent disconnection of the hose from
the test unit.
3. Do not exceed 20 W power delivery under any circumstances, and do not allow
the temperature to go above 100 °C at any of the thermocouple locations.
4. Avoid using too much conducting paste as this may ‘fry’ the unit.

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