Thermal Scaling of Transient Heat Transfer in a Round Cladded Rod with Modern Dimensional Analysis

Abstract

Heat transfer analysis can be studied efficiently with the help of so-called modern dimensional analysis (MDA), which offers a uniform and easy approach, without requiring in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon by only taking into account variables that may have some influence. After a brief presentation of the advantages of this method (MDA), the authors applied it to the study of heat transfer in straight bars of solid circular section, protected but not thermally protected with layers of intumescent paints. Two cases (two sets of independent variables) were considered, which could be easily tracked by experimental measurements. The main advantages of the model law obtained are presented, being characterized by flexibility, accuracy, and simplicity. Additionally, this law and the MDA approach allow us to obtain much more advantageous models from an experimental point of view, with the geometric analogy of the model with the prototype not being a necessary condition. To the best knowledge of the present authors there are no studies reporting the application of the MDA method as it was used in this paper to heat transfer.

Keywords

• geometric analogy
• similarity theory
• dimensional analysis
• model law
• heat transfer
• straight bar