Dipartimento di Ingegneria

Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”

Numerical models for

engineering
Lesson 5

Similitude in Physical Models

Fin Heat Transfer: continuous/FD solutions

A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 1

 Outline

Engineering problems and Ordinary Differential

Equations

Examples of (1D) problems described by second order
differential equations with boundary values;

Finite Difference discretization of the equation for heat
transfer through a fin;

Finite Difference discretization of Neumann BC;

Physical approach to derive of FD approximations;

Conclusions

A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 2

 Engineering Problems (fairly simple ones!)

Axial deformation of a bar:

du
gL = a
dx x=L

Under specific conditions, the equation that describes the

deflection is:
d  du 
−  a  − g ( x) = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx 

where a is proportional the modulus E times the area A

of the section, and g is the friction or contact force on
the surface of the bar.
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 Engineering Problems (fairly simple ones!)

Transverse deflection of a wire:

u(x)

x
g(x)

Under specific conditions, the equation that describes the

wire’s deflection is:
d  du 
−  a  − g ( x) = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx 

Where a is the tension in the wire and g(x) is any distributed load

A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 4

 Engineering Problems (other simple examples!)

Flow through pipes for constant pressure gradient:

x

d  du 
− a − g = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx 

The velocity in a cross section of the pipe is the

unknown (primary variable), the source term g is given by
the pressure gradient, and a is the fluid viscosity

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 Engineering Problems (other simple examples!)

Flow through porous media (Darcy’s flow):

d  du 
− a − g = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx 

The fluid head along the mean flow direction is the

unknown (primary variable), the source term g is given by
the fluid flux, and a is the coefficient of permeability.

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 Engineering Problems (fairly simple ones!)

Heat transfer through a fin:

Ts h=hc+hi=cost
A

d  du 
− a  + c⋅u = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx 

The unknown it the temperature distribution along the
channel, a is proportional the thermal conductivity of the
fin’s material and c is proportional to the heat transfer
coefficient h
A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 7
 Engineering Problems (other simple examples!)

Contaminant transport :

d  du  du
− a −b − g = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx  dx

The concentration of a contaminant is the unknown

(primary variable), a is the diffusion coefficient and b is
the fluid in which the contaminant is transported,
diffuses or it is generated (source term g).
A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 8
 Mathematical Models

A general second order differential equation is:

d  du  du
−  a  + b + c⋅u − g = 0 0< x<L
dx  dx  dx

for which boundary conditions must be specified, in
order to have a unique solution, such as for instance:
u ( 0 ) = u0 for x=0 Dirichlet
du
a = qL for x = L Neumann
dx x=L

or...
du
a = hL ⋅ u ( L ) for x = L Robin
dx x=L
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 Engineering problems: Fin Heat Transfer

In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to derive the

equations that describe the phenomenon:

h=hc+hi=cost
Ts

Heat transferred to the

environment by
convection/radiation
Heat conduction through the fin T∞

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 Engineering problems: Fin Heat Transfer

The equation that describes heat transfer in a fin can be

derived from an energy balance on:
Qɺi →∞
Qɺ x Qɺ x + dx dT
Qɺ x = −k ⋅ A ⋅
dx x
i Qɺi →∞ = h ⋅ Aℓi ⋅ (Ti − T∞ )
x
ɺ dT
x Qx +∆x = −k ⋅ A ⋅
∆x dx x +∆x

From the a simple balance:
Qɺ net = Qɺ x −Qɺ x +∆x −Qɺ x →∞ = 0

the equation is derived for ∆x that goes to zero…

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 Engineering problems: Fin Heat Transfer

Students should derive the equations that describes heat

transfer through a fin, and describe the assumption to be
made ….

Which turns out to be:

d  dT ( x ) 
 −kA  + P h T ( x ) − T  = 0 0<x <L
  ℓ  ∞
dx  dx 

Under the assumptions of …

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 Engineering Problem: heat transfer in fins

Subject to specific boundary conditions:

T∞ is the temperature of the environment
Ts h=hc+hi=cost A
surface temperature x

on the surface the fin temp. is:T ( 0 ) = Ts

two possibilities at the end of the fin:
dT ( L ) dT dT
= =0 k = hL T ( L ) − T∞ 
dx dx L
dx L
Adiabatic surface Heat exchange through the tip surface
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 Engineering Problem: heat transfer through fins

We now want to solve the fin problem:

T∞ is the temperature of the environment
h=hc+hi=cost A
Ts
x
L

d 2T ( x ) Pℓ h
= ⋅ T ( x ) − T∞  0<x <L
2 kA
dx

Subject to the following boundary conditions:
dT
T ( 0 ) = Ts =0
dx L
Ts surface temperature Adiabatic surface
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 Heat transfer in a fin: non-dimensional form

The problem can be non-dimensionalized:

d 2T * 2
= (m *
) ⋅ (T * ) 0 < x* < 1
dx *2
where:
*
dT (m*)2=hPL2/(kA)
T* (0) = 1 =0
T*(x) dx *
x * =1 and x*=x/L

and the analytical solution is:

T*(0)=1 *
T ( x ) − T∞ cosh  m ( L − x ) 
T (x ) = =
TS − T∞ cosh ( m L )
e x + e −x
cosh x =
2

x
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 Heat transfer in a fin: Finite Differences

Discretizing in space with a uniform grid:

Ti*
0 i-1 i i+1 n

∆x* x*
1

Approximating the second derivative:

−Ti*+1 + 2Ti* − Ti*−1

+ m 2 ⋅ (Ti* ) = 0 for i=1,…, n-1
internal nodes
2
( ∆x )
*

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 Finite Differences: Physical interpretation

The same difference equation can be derived from physical

approach:
Qɺi →∞
Qɺi −1→i Qɺi →i +1 Ti +1 − Ti
ɺ
Qi →i +1 = −k ⋅ A ⋅
i-1 i i+1 ∆x
Qɺ i →∞ = h ⋅ Aℓi ⋅ ( Ti − T∞ )
∆x ∆x

the balance (equilibrium) equation for the i-element:

Qɺnet = Qɺi −1→i −Qɺi →i +1 −Qɺi →∞ = 0 =0

Ti − Ti −1 Ti +1 − Ti
−k ⋅ A ⋅ +k ⋅ A ⋅ −h ⋅ P ⋅ ∆x ⋅ (Ti − T∞ ) = 0
∆x ∆x
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 Finite Differences: Example

Reordering: −Ti +1 + 2Ti − Ti −1

+ m 2 ⋅ (Ti − T∞ ) ⋅ ∆x = 0
∆x

For a uniform grid we can write the equations as:

 2
−Ti −2 +  2 + ( m ⋅ ∆x )  Tɶi*−1 − Tɶi* = 0
ɶ * * node i-1
 

 2
−Ti −1 +  2 + ( m ⋅ ∆x )  Tɶi* − Tɶi*+1 = 0
ɶ * * node i
 

 2
−Ti +  2 + ( m ⋅ ∆x )  Tɶi*+1 − Tɶi*+ 2 = 0
ɶ * * node i+1
 

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 Finite Differences: Physical interpretation

The balance equation for the last node becomes:

ɺ Qɺ M →∞ ɺ TM − TM −1
QM −1→ M QM −1→ M = −k ⋅ A ⋅
∆x
M-1 M
x ∆x
Qɺ M →∞ = h ⋅ P ⋅ ⋅ (TM − T∞ )
2
Qɺ M →∞,L
∆x
∆x/2
Qɺ M →∞ = 0

Ti − Ti −1 ∆x
−k ⋅ A ⋅ −h ⋅ P ⋅ ⋅ (Ti − T∞ ) = 0
∆x 2

Reordering, and considering non-dimensional quantities:

−2 ⋅ TM −1 + 2 ⋅ TM + m 2 ⋅ ∆x 2 ⋅ TM = 0

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 Finite Differences: Example

An example is represented by a four nodes grid:

1 0 0 0  Tɶ*  
 1

  1 
  

   

  
  
−1   
 

  2 +(m⋅ ∆x)2  −1 0   Tɶ*
 
 0
   2  
 

  

   = 
 
   
 

0 −1  2
−1   Tɶ*  0
 2 +(m ⋅ ∆x)   3 
 
 

    
  
 
 

0 0 −2  2 +(m⋅ ∆x)  
2  
 Tɶ* 




0


  
 
 4   

Where the boundary conditions have been imposed

Which can be written as:  A  {T * } = {b }

 
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 Finite Differences: Example

In case the fin tip is not adiabatic:

d 2T *
= m 2 (T * ) 0 < x* < 1
dx *2
dT * hL L
T*(x)
T *
(0) = 1 = (T * )
dx * x * =1
k

T*(0)=1
Whose analytical solution is:

T ( x ) − T∞ cosh  m ( L − x )  + ( hL mk ) senh  m ( L − x ) 
*
T (x ) = =
TS − T∞ cosh ( m L ) + ( hL mk ) senh ( m L )

x
A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 21
 Finite Differences: Physical interpretation

The balance equation for the last node becomes:

ɺ Qɺ M →∞ ɺ TM − TM −1
QM −1→ M QM −1→ M = −k ⋅ A ⋅
∆x
M-1 M
x ∆x
Qɺ M →∞ = h ⋅ P ⋅ ⋅ (TM − T∞ )
2
Qɺ M →∞,L
∆x
∆x/2 Qɺ M →∞ = A ⋅ hL ⋅ (TM − T∞ )

Ti − Ti −1 ∆x
−k ⋅ A ⋅ −h ⋅P ⋅ ⋅ (TM − T∞ ) + A ⋅ hL ⋅ (TM − T∞ ) = 0
∆x 2

Reordering, and considering non-dimensional quantities:

−2 ⋅ TM −1 + 2 ⋅ TM + m 2 ⋅ ∆x 2 ⋅ TM + Bi ⋅ ∆x ⋅ TM = 0

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 Finite Differences: Example

Students should therefore be able to derive:

1 0 0 0  ɶ*
T 
 
1

  1 
 
 

  
  
   
 

−1  2 +(m⋅ ∆x)2    ɶ*
 
  
   −1 0   T2   
0
  
  
  
 = 
 
     
0 −1  2 +(m ⋅ ∆x)2  − 1  ɶ*
T 
 
0

    3 
 
 

    
  
 
 

0
 0 −2 .............  

 ɶ*
T





0


    4 
  

And implement the solution of this problem….

A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 23

 Coupled engineering problems

Students should also derive the differential equation

that describes thermal stress in a axially loaded bar,
considering that in this case the stress-strain law is:

σ ( x ) = E ( x )  ε ( x ) − α ( x )T ( x ) 

where “α” is the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Students can then discuss coupling a structural
problem of a bar axially loaded and the heat transfer in
a fin: derive the coupled problem with BCs

……

A.A. 2014/2015 NUMERICAL MODELS FOR ENGINEERING PROF. N. MASSAROTTI 24

 Problem: axially thermally loaded bar

For bar is thermally “loaded”, find the stress induced by

the temperature distribution along the bar:
u=0 u=0
T=1 α∆T
α∆
g(x)=..α∆ T=0

L
A
Unknowns- Temperature and deformation of the bar

Students should be able to solve the coupled problem…

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 Conclusions

Problems described by the same type of equations are

analogous and can be solved using the same methods;

It is fundamental to understand the physical meaning of
single terms appearing in the equations;

Finite difference equations can easily be derived from
physical considerations;

Analytical solutions for one dimensional problems
boundary value problems are very often available, and
can be used for verification of numerical solutions;

You should be able to solve any second order BVP!

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