Coupled Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element/Finite Volume Method for Transient Conjugate Heat Transfer

A coupled finite volume/dual reciprocity boundary element method is developed to solve the transient conjugate heat transfer problem of convective heat transfer over and conduction heat transfer within a solid body. In this approach, the flowfield and forced convection heat transfer external to the body are resolved by numerically solving the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations using a finite volume method, whereas the temperature field within the body is resolved by numerically solving the heat conduction equation using a dual reciprocity boundary element method. The boundary discretization utilized to generate the computational grid for the external flowfield provides the boundary discretization required for the boundary element method. Coupling of the two fields is accomplished by enforcing interface continuity of heat flux and temperature. Transient heat transfer data needed to verify the code were obtained in a series of experiments that are reported. Details of the experimental setup and test conditions are provided. Numerical simulations of the experiments show good agreement with obtained experimental data. (Author)