ADAPTIVE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR CONJUGATE HEATTRANSFER

Abstract

Abstract This article presents an adaptive finite element method to solve conjugate heat transfer problems. Solutions are obtained in primitive variables using a high-order finite element approximation on unstructured grids. Two general estimators are developed for analyzing finite element solutions to conjugate heat transfer problems. The adaptive methodology is demonstrated on problems for which experimental measurements are available. The methodology is then applied to heat transfer predictions for two cases of practical interest. Notes Address correspondence to Professor Dominique Pelletier, Mechanical Engineering Department, P.O. Box 6079, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3A7, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]