ABSTRACT

The governing equation for conductive-heat transfer without heat sources, assuming an isotropic medium, is

(13.1)

With the interpolation model and the finiteelement equation assumes the form

(13.2)

This equation is parabolic (first-order in the time rates), and implies that the temperature changes occur immediately at all points in the domain, but at smaller initial rates away from where the heat is added. This contrasts with the hyperbolic (second-order time rates) solid-mechanics equations, in which information propagates into the medium as finite velocity waves, and in which oscillatory response occurs in response to a perturbation.