An Oscillating Boundary Temperature Method for the Determination of Transient Thermal Conductivity and Internal Heat Generation with a Comparison to a Transient Hot-Wire Method

Abstract

An oscillating boundary temperature (OBT) method is proposed to simultaneously determine transient thermal properties including thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, internal heat generation, and volumetric heat capacity for exothermic solids and semi-solids over a narrow, controlled temperature range by using internal temperature measurements of the thermal wave. A comparison of this method and a transient hot-wire (THW) method is conducted in the presence of heat generation using physical properties which change over time. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods are discussed. The OBT method is potentially useful for the analysis of exothermic solid or semi-solid materials such as hydrating (freshly mixed) cement and concrete, polymers and composites undergoing polymerization reactions, and biological tissues.