Discontinuous finite element method for transient conductive heat transfer in layered media with thermal contact resistance

Research on accurately solving the transient conductive heat transfer problem in layered media has both sci-entific and engineering significance. Numerical algorithms up to date usually suffer from additional dubious treatments when dealing with the temperature discontinuity induced by the thermal contact resistance (TCR) between the inner interface. In this paper, we extend the discontinuous finite element method (DFEM) to solve the problem of transient conductive heat transfer in a layered slab with TCR interfaces. The correctness of the DFEM for handling the TCR-induced temperature discontinuity is verified at first. Then we utilize the DFEM to solve the transient conductive heat transfer problem in a three-layered medium subjected to Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary conditions, respectively. The time-dependent temperature along the slab and the temper-ature discontinuity across the TCR interfaces are captured and analyzed. Results indicate the present DFEM can naturally capture the TCR interface-induced temperature discontinuities accurately. The time-dependent tem-perature and temperature discontinuities across the TCR interfaces presented in this work can serve as bench-marks for later research on conductive heat transfer in layered media.

Automated summary

This paper studies the accurate solution to the transient conductive heat transfer problem in layered media and extends the use of the discontinuous finite element method to handle the thermal contact resistance interfaces. Through experiments, the effectiveness of this method is verified and benchmark temperature data are provided for future research on conductive heat transfer in layered media.