Chapter 3

Two-Dimensional, Steady-State
Conduction
 3.1 General considerations

• Two-dimensional conduction:
– Temperature distribution is characterized by two spatial coordinates,
e.g., T (x, y).
– Heat flux vector is characterized by two directional components,
e.g., q x and q y .
• Heat transfer in a long, prismatic solid with two isothermal surfaces
and two insulated surfaces:

Note the shapes of lines of constant temperature (isotherms) and heat flow lines
(adiabats).
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 3.2 The Heat Equation and Methods of Solution

• Assuming steady-state, two-dimensional conduction in a rectangular domain

with constant thermal conductivity and heat generation, the heat equation is :
 2T  2T q
+ 2 + =0 (3.1)
• Solution Methods: x 2
y k
– Exact/Analytical: Separation of Variables
➢ Limited to simple geometries and boundary conditions.

– Approximate/Graphical (q = 0): Flux Plotting

➢ Of limited value for quantitative considerations but a quick aid to
establishing physical insights.

– Approximate/Numerical: Finite-Difference, Finite Element or Boundary

Element Method.
➢ Most useful approach and adaptable to any level of complexity.

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 3.3 Exact Solution : Separation of Variables

Physical Problem

Separation of Variables Method

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 3.4 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.

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 3.4 The Finite-Difference Method
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.

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 3.4 The Finite-Difference Method
The Nodal Network and Finite-Difference Approximation

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?

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 3.4 The Finite-Difference 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 :

E in + E g = 0 (3.2)
L
Consider application to an interior nodal = (one that exchanges heat by
point
Rt ,cond
conduction with four, equidistant nodal points):kA

 2T  2T q
+ + =0
x 2 y 2 k
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 3.4 The Finite-Difference Method
Solutions Methods
• Matrix Inversion: Expression of system of N finite-difference equations for
N unknown nodal temperatures as:
 AT  = C  (3.3)
Coefficient Solution Vector Right-hand Side Vector of Constants
Matrix (NxN) (T1,T2, …TN) (C1,C2…CN)

Solution T  =  A−1 C  (3.4)

• Gauss-Seidel Iteration: 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
Ti( ) = i −  Tj( ) −  Tj( k −1)
k
(3.5)
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
(3.6)
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 3.5 Shape factor between two isothermal surfaces

In general, solving analytically 2D or 3D heat equation is time-consuming and, usually,

impossible.
Therefore, solutions are reported in terms of a shape factor S or a steady-state
dimensionless conduction.

T1 − T2
q = Sk (T1 − T2 ) =
(1/ Sk )

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 3.5 Shape factor between two isothermal surfaces

Shape factors for typical geometrical systems

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 3.5 Shape factor between two isothermal surfaces

Shape factors for typical geometrical systems (continued)

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 3.5 Shape factor between two isothermal surfaces

Shape factors for typical geometrical systems (continued)

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 3.5 Shape factor between two isothermal surfaces

Shape factors for typical geometrical systems (continued)

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 Typical problems
Problem 3.1
2D steady state conduction problem
For the 2D, steady-state and without heat generation problem, the conduction
heat equation is given by  2T  2T
+ =0
x 2
y 2

Question : Determine T (x, y) within the plane (i.e. ∂T / ∂z = 0),

as shown in the figure, by using finite difference method. Fluid h=100 W/m2.K
T∞ = 100 °C

k = 1W/m.K
y 90 mm

TS = 50 °C
x
60 mm
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 Typical problems
1) Nodal network or Grid point (discretization of the computation domain)
Consider a grid point with step size Dx = Dy = 30 mm : 1

Fluid
Dy
Interior Node : 2
2
1
Dx

1
3
Dy Boundary Node : 1
Dy/2

Dx Dx

2
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 Typical problems

2) Finite difference equations (Algebraic equations)

Based on the energy balance (i.e. Eq (3.2), the following equations can be obtained

Node 1 : 𝐵𝑖 + 2 𝑇1 − 𝑇2 = 𝐵𝑖𝑇∞ + 𝑇𝑆
Where, Bi = hDx/k, known as the Biot number,
which will be studied in Chapter 4.

Node 2 : 𝑇1 − 4𝑇2 + 𝑇3 = −2𝑇𝑆

Node 3 : 𝑇2 − 4𝑇3 = −3𝑇𝑆

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 Typical problems
3) Solve the resulting set of algebraic equations

5𝑇1 − 𝑇2 = 350
Direct Method 5 −1 0 𝑇1 350
𝑇1 − 4𝑇2 + 𝑇3 = −100
1 −4 1 𝑇2 = −100
𝑇2 − 4𝑇3 = −150 0 1 −4 𝑇3 −150
𝑇1 81.69 °𝐶
𝑇2 = 58.45°𝐶
𝑇3 52.11°𝐶

Iterative Method : Gauss Seidel

k 𝑇 𝑘 (°C) 𝑘
𝑇2 (°𝐶)
𝑘
𝑇3 (°𝐶)
1
𝑘 𝑘−1
𝑇1 = (𝑇2 +350)/5 0 50 50 50
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘−1 1 80 57.5 51.11
𝑇2 = 𝑇1 + 𝑇3 + 100)/4
2 81.5 58.15 52.04
𝑘 𝑘
𝑇3 = (𝑇2 + 150)/4 3
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..