MEAM 22 Modelling and Simulation How does heat propagate through a solid metal bar over time, and how can a distributed thermal system be converted into a dynamic simulation model?
A copper bar is heated electrically at one end while losing heat to surrounding air through convection along its surface. Divide the bar into five thermal segments, derive the coupled differential equations including conduction between segments and convective losses, and implement the system in MATLAB/Simulink.
John Williams answered .
2026-01-26
The first segment also receives electrical input power. This forms a coupled system of first-order ODEs where temperatures rise, then reach steady state when conduction from left equals total convective losses. Changing the heat transfer coefficient alters cooling strength and lowers steady temperatures..................