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THERM3D -- A boundary element computer program for transient heat conduction problems

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10132515· OSTI ID:10132515
 [1]
  1. New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

The computer code THERM3D implements the direct boundary element method (BEM) to solve transient heat conduction problems in arbitrary three-dimensional domains. This particular implementation of the BEM avoids performing time-consuming domain integrations by approximating a ``generalized forcing function`` in the interior of the domain with the use of radial basis functions. An approximate particular solution is then constructed, and the original problem is transformed into a sequence of Laplace problems. The code is capable of handling a large variety of boundary conditions including isothermal, specified flux, convection, radiation, and combined convection and radiation conditions. The computer code is benchmarked by comparisons with analytic and finite element results.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
10132515
Report Number(s):
SAND--93-7072; ON: DE94008112; BR: GB0103012
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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