An electrical-analog method for transient heat-flow analysis

Abstract

An electronic instnllncn t is described which pcrmits solut ion of lrans ient h eat-flow p roblems by use of direct ana logy to electrical networks. The instrum ent is of t he so-called " fast-time" type, simulat in g t he t ransient involved in times of the order of 10- 6 t hat of t he thermal prototype. A p hotoformer type of inp ut-signal generation is ubed and t his, together wi th a va ria ble-frequency master oscillator, permits fl exibility of inpu t -signal waveform and time scale. Some ap plications of t he in strument to t he fi eld of fire research are desc ri bed . The di scussion of e rrors includes consideration of t hose res ulting from t he lumping of circui t clements.