A New Electrical Analog Method to Study Two-Dimensional Heat-Conduction in Solids

An electrical network model consisting of electrical resistances is used to
demonstrate the steady and two-dimensional heat conduction field in solids. The
governing equation being Fourier's field equation of conduction in partial deferential
form is replaced by a finite-difference equation with the help of this network. The
nodal points of the network are connected to a set of sockets on the same board
as the resistances. Different geometrical shapes can be formed by connecting these
sockets together. A D-C electric current is supplied to the model in order to
stimulate an electrical field analogous to the heat conduction field.
Experiments on a rectangular fin and a chimney cross-sections arc reported.
The advantages of present model over the electrolytic-bath and the conducting
paper models are shown. It is possible to build a network model to study the heat
conduction in non-isotropic solids. This method also can be easily extended to take
care of unsteady heat conduction conditions.