Abstract:

By utilizing a polynomial interpolation for the time variable in a partitioned small interval and boundary element approximation for the spatial variables,a new analyzing technique for transient heat conduction problems is presented in this paper. Compared with those boundary element formulation procedures based on time-dependent fundamental solutions, the proposed method has the advantages that a fundamental solution is simple and much easier to be obtained, the boundary element coefficient matrices require less labourious computations and repeated integration on the time variable disappears. The present method also has advantages over a forward-difference based solution procedure. Several numerical examples show that the solutions with the present method converge to the exact ones far quickly and a larger time step selection is permitted.

Key words: heat conduction, boundary element method, transient heating