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Models - Heat.heat Conduction in Slab

The document describes a model of heat conduction in a finite slab over time. The model domain represents a slab with initial uniform temperature that is lowered at the boundaries at time zero. Dimensionless variables are introduced and the model equation and initial/boundary conditions are presented. Temperature profiles from the model match the analytical solution and demonstrate the use of a smoothed step function at the boundaries.

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Harold Valenzuela Coloma
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111 views6 pages

Models - Heat.heat Conduction in Slab

The document describes a model of heat conduction in a finite slab over time. The model domain represents a slab with initial uniform temperature that is lowered at the boundaries at time zero. Dimensionless variables are introduced and the model equation and initial/boundary conditions are presented. Temperature profiles from the model match the analytical solution and demonstrate the use of a smoothed step function at the boundaries.

Uploaded by

Harold Valenzuela Coloma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

Heat Conduction in a Finite Slab


Introduction
This simple example covers the heat conduction in a finite slab, modeling how the
temperature varies with time. You first set up the problem in COMSOL Multiphysics
and then compare it to the analytical solution given in Ref. 1.
In addition, this example model also shows how to avoid oscillations due to a jump
between initial and boundary conditions by using a smoothed step function.

Model Definition
The model domain is defined between x = -b and x = b. The initial temperature is
constant, equal to T0, over the whole domain; see the figure below. At time t = 0, the
temperature at both boundaries is lowered to T1.

T(b,0)=T1

T(-b,0)=T1

Figure 1: Modeling domain.


To compare the modeling results to the literature (Ref. 1), introduce new
dimensionless variables according to the following definitions:
T1 T
x
t
= -------------------, = ---, = -----2T1 T0
b
b
The model equation then becomes
2

-----
= ---------2

with the associated initial condition


= 0, = 1

2012 COMSOL

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HEAT CONDUCTION IN A FINITE SLAB

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

To model the temperature decrease at the boundaries use a smoothed step function of
time f().
= 1, = f ( )
This method is usually more realistic from a physical point of view than the sudden
change in the temperature, and it is also better from a numerical point of view.

Results and Discussion


Figure 2 shows the temperature as a function of position at the dimensionless times
= 0.01, 0.04, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6. In this plot, the slabs center is situated at x = 0
with its end faces located a x = -1 and x = 1. The temperature profiles shown in the
graph are identical to the analytical solution given in Carslaw and Jaeger (Ref. 1).

Figure 2: Temperature profiles.

Reference
1. H.S. Carslaw and J.C. Jaeger, Conduction of heat in Solids, 2nd ed., Oxford
University Press, p. 101, 1959.

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HEAT CONDUCTION IN A FINITE SLAB

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

Model Library path: Heat_Transfer_Module/Tutorial_Models/


heat_conduction_in_slab

Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.


2 Click the 1D button.
3 Click Next.
4 In the Add physics tree, select Heat Transfer>Heat Transfer in Solids (ht).
5 Click Next.
6 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Time Dependent.
7 Click Finish.
MODEL 1

The Heat Transfer in Solids interface can be used for solving the dimensionless
equations. You can switch of the dimensions using the following commands:
1 In the Model Builder window, click Model 1.
2 In the Model settings window, locate the Model Settings section.
3 From the Unit system list, choose None.
GEOMETRY 1

Interval 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Geometry 1 and choose
Interval.
2 In the Interval settings window, locate the Interval section.
3 In the Left endpoint edit field, type -1.
4 Click the Build All button.
5 Right-click Model 1>Geometry 1>Interval 1 and choose Rename.
6 Go to the Rename Interval dialog box and type Slab in the New name edit field.
7 Click OK.

2012 COMSOL

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HEAT CONDUCTION IN A FINITE SLAB

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

DEFINITIONS

Add a step function for use in the boundary conditions.

Step 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Definitions and choose
Functions>Step.
2 In the Step settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the Location edit field, type 5e-4.
4 In the From edit field, type 1.
5 In the To edit field, type 0.
6 Click to expand the Smoothing section. In the Size of transition zone edit field, type
1e3.

Optionally, you can inspect the shape of the step function.


7 Click the Plot button.

H E A T TR A N S F E R I N S O L I D S

Heat Transfer in Solids 1


1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Heat Transfer in Solids click Heat
Transfer in Solids 1.
2 In the Heat Transfer in Solids settings window, locate the Heat Conduction section.

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HEAT CONDUCTION IN A FINITE SLAB

2012 COMSOL

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

3 From the k list, choose User defined. In the associated edit field, type 1.
4 Locate the Thermodynamics section. From the list, choose User defined. In the

associated edit field, type 1.


5 From the Cp list, choose User defined. In the associated edit field, type 1.

Initial Values 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Heat Transfer in Solids click Initial Values
1.
2 In the Initial Values settings window, locate the Initial Values section.
3 In the T edit field, type 1.

Temperature 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Heat Transfer in Solids and choose the

boundary condition Temperature.


2 Select Boundaries 1 and 2 only.
3 In the Temperature settings window, locate the Temperature section.
4 In the T0 edit field, type step1(t).
MESH 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 click Mesh 1.


2 In the Mesh settings window, locate the Mesh Settings section.
3 From the Element size list, choose Finer.
4 Click the Build All button.
STUDY 1

Step 1: Time Dependent


1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Time Dependent.
2 In the Time Dependent settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Times edit field, type range(0,0.01,1).

To make sure that the transition of the boundary temperature from 1 to zero is
represented correctly by the transient solver, use the initial time step that is smaller
than the transition zone of the step function.

Solver 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Show Default Solver.

2012 COMSOL

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HEAT CONDUCTION IN A FINITE SLAB

Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3

2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Solver 1 node, then click Time-Dependent
Solver 1.
3 In the Time-Dependent Solver settings window, click to expand the Time Stepping

section.
4 Select the Initial step check box.
5 In the associated edit field, type 0.00010.
6 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.

The default plot shows the temperature distribution along the slab for all time steps.
You can compare the COMSOL Multiphysics solution to that of Ref. 1 by plotting
the temperature for a given set of output times, as in Figure 2.
RESULTS

Temperature (ht)
1 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
2 From the Time selection list, choose From list.
3 In the Times list, choose 0.01, 0.04, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6.
4 Click the Plot button.
5 In the Model Builder window, expand the Temperature (ht) node, then click Line
Graph 1.
6 In the Line Graph settings window, click to expand the Legends section.
7 Select the Show legends check box.
8 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line markers subsection.

From the Marker list, choose Cycle.

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HEAT CONDUCTION IN A FINITE SLAB

2012 COMSOL

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