Nomenclature b = probe position, m c = specific heat capacity, J∕kg K k = thermal conductivity, W∕mK M = number of data points beyond the initial condition M f = multiplication factor N m = integer parameter N = truncation order P = maximum number of future time parameters q 0 0 = heat flux, W∕m 2 q 0 0 c = calibration net surface heat flux, W∕m 2 q 0 0 r = run net surface heat flux, W∕m 2 q 0 0 s = external heat source, W∕m 2 q 0 0 r; N;γ m = approximate run heat flux, W∕m 2 q 0 0 r;γ m = approximate run heat flux, W∕m 2 _q 0 0 r;γ m = approximate run heat flux rate, J∕m 2 r N;γ = residual function, J°C∕m 2 r N;γ m = residual function, J°C∕m 2 rq00 γ m;m1 j = cross-correlation function _r _q 0 0 γ m;m1 j = cross-correlation function T = temperature,°C T o = initial temperature,°C T co = initial condition in calibration test,°C T ro = initial condition in run test,°C t = time, s t max = maximum data collection time, s u = dummy time variable, s w = width of plate, m x = spatial coordinate, m α = thermal diffusivity, m 2 ∕s γ = future time parameter, s γ m = future time parameter, s γq00 γ m;m1 j = cross-correlation coefficient _ γ _q 0 0 γ m;m1 j = cross-correlation coefficient Δt = time sampling intervals, s δ = Dirac delta function θ = reduced temperature, T − T o ,°C ρ = density, kg∕m 3 Subscripts c = calibration r = run