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 = pt, 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, 2t, 3t, ...

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 Tmp1, n Tmp1, n Tmp, n 1 Tmp, n 1 1 4Fo 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 = pt, 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
A0
Hence, for the two-dimensional interior node:

1 4Fo 0 or Fo 1/ 4

x 2
Therefore t
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 Tmp1,1n Tmp1,1n Tmp,n11 Tmp,n11 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 2t -- -- -- --
3 3t -- -- -- --
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Steady state -- -- -- -- --
Problem: Finite-Difference Equation

Problem 5.109: Derivation of explicit form of finite-difference equation

for a nodal point in a thin, electrically conducting rod
confined by a vacuum enclosure.

KNOWN: Thin rod of diameter D, initially in equilibrium with its surroundings, Tsur,
suddenly passes a current I; rod is in vacuum enclosure and has prescribed electrical
resistivity, e, and other thermophysical properties.
FIND: Transient, finite-difference equation for node m.

SCHEMATIC:
Problem: Finite-Difference Equation (cont.)

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) One-dimensional, transient conduction in rod, (2) Surroundings are

much larger than rod, (3) Constant properties.

ANALYSIS: Applying conservation of energy to a nodal region of volume Ac x,

where Ac D 2 / 4,

Ein Eout Eg Est

Hence, with Eg I 2 Re , where Re ex /Ac , and use of

the forward-difference representation for the time derivative,

2 Tmp +1 Tmp
qa qb qrad I Re cV
t

p
Tm- p
1 Tm Tmp+1 Tmp 4 4 I 2 e x cA x Tm - Tm .
p+1 p
kAc kAc Dx Tmp Tsur c
x x Ac t

Dividing each term by cAc x/t and solving for Tmp+1 ,

Tmp+1
k t

c x2
p
Tm- p

1 m+1 c
T


k t
2
x 2
1
p
Tm

Ac
T
c m
D t p 4 4 I 2 e t
Tsur

.
Ac c
2
Problem: Finite-Difference Equation (cont.)

2
or, with Fo = t/x ,

1

Tm Fo Tm-1 Tm+1 1 2 Fo Tm
p+ p p p Dx 2
kAc
p 4


4 I 2 ex 2
Fo Tm Tsur

2
kAc
Fo. <

Basing the stability criterion on the coefficient of the Tmp term, it would follow that
Fo .

4
However, stability is also affected by the nonlinear term, Tmp , and smaller values
of Fo may be needed to insure a stable solution.
Problem: Implicit Finite-Difference Method

Problem 5.121: Use of implicit finite-difference method to determine transient

response of an acrylic sheet suddenly brought into contact with
a hot steel plate.

KNOWN: Dimensions and properties of acrylic (A) and steel (B) plates. Initial temperatures.

FIND: Using 20 equally-spaced nodes, find time needed to bring external surface of acrylic
to Tsoft = 90C. Plot the spatially-averaged acrylic and steel plate temperatures for 0 t 300 s.

Schematic :

LA = LB = 5 mm Ti,A = 20C Ti,B = 300C

Problem: Softening Acrylic (cont.)

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Transient conditions, (2) One-dimensional conduction, (3) Constant

properties, (4) Negligible contact resistance.

PROPERTIES: Acrylic (given): A = 1990 kg/m3, cA = 1470 J/kgK and kA = 0.21 W/mK.
Steel (given): B = 7800 kg/m3, cB = 500 J/kgK and kB = 45 W/mK.

ANALYSIS: We begin by writing energy balances on each of the 20 control volumes using the implicit method,

Node 1:
A cA

p 1
y T1 T1
p

kA T2p 1 T1p 1
2 t y

Nodes 2 9:

A cA y
T n
p 1
Tnp k TA
p 1
n 1 Tnp 1 k T
A
p 1
n 1 Tnp 1
t y y

Node 10:

A cA y
p 1
10 T10
T p
k T A 9
p 1
T10p 1 T p 1 p 1
11 T10
t y Rt
Problem: Softening Acrylic (cont.)

Node 11:

c y
T p 1
11 T11
p
T p 1 p 1
10 T11 k T B
p 1 p 1
12 T11
Rt
B B
t y

Nodes 12 19:

c y
T n
p 1
Tnp k T
B
p 1
n 1 Tnp 1 k TB
p 1
n 1 Tnp 1
B B
t y y

Node 20:

BcB

p 1
y T20 T20
p

kB T19p 1 T20p 1
2 t y
where

y / 2 y / 2 2L 2 5 103 m
Rt and y 0.526 mm
kA kB N 1 19
Problem: Softening Acrylic (cont.)

The average temperature in each material may be expressed as

L
1
T
L T ( y)dy
y 0

or, in finite difference form

1 y
TA T1 2 T2 y T3y T4 y T5 y T6 y T7 y T8 y T9 y T10 y
LA

and

1 y
TB T y T y T y T y T y T y T y T y T y T
2
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
LB
Problem: Softening Acrylic (cont.)

The preceding equations were solved using the implicit method. The average temperatures of the
acrylic and steel, as well as the back side (insulated) surface temperature of the acrylic (T1) are
shown below.

<

From the simulation, we also find that the surface of the acrylic reaches Tsoft = 90C <
at t = 87 s.

COMMENTS: (1) Ultimately, the temperatures of the two plates will reach the same value.
The steady-state temperature may be found by recognizing the energy gained by the acrylic is lost
by the steel, LAcA(Tss Ti,A) = LBcB(Ti,B Tss) yielding Tss = 180C. (2) Can you explain the behavior
shown in the graph?