Conduction

Conduction is the transfer of heat through collisions between atoms/molecules and the diffusion of atoms/molecules of high energy. It is mainly defined by Fourier's Law.

It can occur inside a fluid or a solid. See ME3304 S24 Lecture Note (1) Introduction for more info.

One Dimensional

For one-dimensional (x direction only), steady-state, heat diffusion we find that depends on the temperature difference across the solid, the area perpendicular to the flow - , and a material property (which we will call for now).

Thus we can calculate the heat transfer rate as the following:

Again, is a material property referred to as the thermal conductivity coefficient. The minus sign is due to heat always being transferred from hot to cold.

We can convert this to heat flux by moving the area over.

Two Dimensional

With Heat Generation

Interactive Graph
Table Of Contents
Conduction
One Dimensional
Two Dimensional
With Heat Generation