Application of the Network Method to Heat Conduction Processes With Polynomial and Potential-Exponentially Varying Thermal Properties

Nonlinear transient heat conduction in a finite slab with potential-exponential temperature-dependent specific heat and thermal conductivity is investigated numerically by using the network method. A general network model for this process is proposed, whatever the exponent of the temperature-dependent functions may be, including initial and boundary conditions. With this network model and using the electrical circuit simulation program PSPICE, time-dependent temperature and heat flux profiles at any location can be obtained. This approach allows us to solve this conduction problem by a general, efficient, and relatively simple method. To show the accuracy of the network method, a comparison is made of the present results and those obtained by other methods for a particular case.