Heat Transfer: Matlab 2D Conduction Question
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1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Having trouble with code as seen by the gaps left where it asks me to add things like the coefficient matrices. Any Numerical Conduction matlab wizzes out there?
A long square bar with cross-sectional dimensions of 30 mm x 30 mm has a specied temperature on each side, The temperatures are:
Tbottom = 100 C
Ttop = 150 C
Tleft = 250 C
Tright = 300 C
Assuming isothermal surfaces, write a software program to solve the heat equation to determine the two-dimensional steady-state spatial temperature distribution within the bar. Your analysis should use a finite difference discretization of the heat equation in the bar to establish a system of equations:
2. Relevant equations
AT = C
Must use Gauss-Seidel Method to solve the system of equations
3. The attempt at a solution
clear all
close all
%Specify grid size
Nx = 10;
Ny = 10;
%Specify boundary conditions
Tbottom = 100
Ttop = 150
Tleft = 250
Tright = 300
% initialize coefficient matrix and constant vector with zeros
A = zeros(Nx*Ny);
C = zeros(Nx*Ny,1);
% initial 'guess' for temperature distribution
T(1:Nx*Ny,1) = 100;
% Build coefficient matrix and constant vector
% inner nodes
for n = 2:(Ny-1)
for m = 2:(Nx-1)
i = (n-1)*Nx + m;
A(i,i+Nx) = 1;
A(i,i-Nx) = 1;
A(i,i+1) = 1;
A(i,i-1) = 1;
A(i,i) = -4;
end
end
% Edge nodes
% bottom
for m = 2:(Nx-1)
%n = 1
i = m;
A(i,i+Nx) = 1;
A(i,i+1) = 1;
A(i,i-1) = 1;
A(i,i) = -4;
C(i) = -Tbottom;
end
%top:
for m = 2:(Nx-1)
% n = Ny
i = (Ny-1)*Nx + m;
A(i,i-Nx) = 1;
A(i,i+1) = .5;
A(i,i-1) = .5;
A(i,i) = -5;
C(i) = -Ttop;
end
%left:
for n=2:(Ny-1)
%m = 1
i = (n-1)*Nx + 1;
A(i,i+Nx) = .5;
A(i,i+1) = 1;
A(i,i-Nx) = .5;
A(i,i) = -2;
end
%right:
for n=2:(Ny-1)
%m = Nx
i = (n-1)*Nx + Nx;
A(i,i+Nx) = 1;
A(i,i-1) = 1;
A(i,i-Nx) = 1;
A(i,i) = -4;
C(i) = -Tright;
DEFINE COEFFICIENT MATRIX AND CONSTANT VECTOR ELEMENTS HERE
end
% Corners
%bottom left (i=1):
i=1
A(i,Nx+i) = 1;
A(i,2) = 1;
A(i,1) = -4;
C(i) = -(Tbottom + Tleft);
%bottom right:
i = Nx
A(i,Nx+i) = 1;
A(i,2) = 1;
A(i,1) = -4;
C(Nx) = -(Tbottom + Tright);
%top left:
i = (Ny-1)*Nx + 1;
A(i,i+1) = .5
A(i,i) =
%top right:
i = Nx*Ny;
DEFINE COEFFICIENT MATRIX AND CONSTANT VECTOR ELEMENTS HERE
%Solve using Gauss-Seidel
residual = 100;
iterations = 0;
while (residual > 0.0001) % The residual criterion is 0.0001 in this example
7% You can test different values
iterations = iterations+1
%Transfer the previously computed temperatures to an array Told
Told = T;
%Update estimate of the temperature distribution
INSERT GAUSS-SEIDEL ITERATION HERE
%compute residual
deltaT = abs(T - Told);
residual = max(deltaT);
end
iterations % report the number of iterations that were executed
%Now transform T into 2-D network so it can be plotted.
delta_x = 0.03/(Nx+1)
delta_y = 0.03/(Ny+1)
for n=1:Ny
for m=1:Nx
i = (n-1)*Nx + m;
T2d(m,n) = T(i);
x(m) = m*delta_x;
y(n) = n*delta_y;
end
end
T2d
surf(x,y,T2d)
figure
contour(x,y,T2d)
10 Comments
Walter Roberson
on 27 Mar 2012
Please be more specific about the difference between what you observe and what you expect.
Charles
on 27 Mar 2012
Walter Roberson
on 27 Mar 2012
I am not familiar with heat transfer equations, so I have no idea if the coefficients "look right".
I _am_ familiar with many MATLAB error messages, and with tracing back _specific_ problems to causes (given inputs), but there isn't much I can help with unless you can clarify
Having trouble with code as seen by the gaps left where it asks me to add things like the coefficient matrices"
Geoff
on 27 Mar 2012
Most people here are probably not involved in your course, so we don't necessarily know what the correct values are. We are here to help with MatLab questions or issues, not to verify your results. I expect your results can be used to reproduce the initial conditions. That is verification. May I also suggest (if you doubt the correctness of your code) that you set breakpoints at relevant places (F12), run it, and check your intermediate values for sanity. Use F10 to step through code one line at a time, F5 to resume, Shift-F5 to cancel....
Charles
on 27 Mar 2012
Charles
on 28 Mar 2012
Image Analyst
on 28 Mar 2012
You mean like how to use the debugger? Like how to stop at breakpoints and how you can "check for wrong coefficient matrice values or something"? You can click in the margin to set a breakpoint and, after you've stopped at it, click in a variable and type control-D to check it's value in the variable editor, or look in the workspace panel.
bimal
on 5 Nov 2015
What if we have values for coefficient of conductivity (k) and convection coefficient (h). How can we modify codes

Jonathan Ayala
on 14 Nov 2019
Hello, any luck with modifying the code with values for K and h? I am working on a similar problem, Thanks.
ARJUN MODIA
on 23 Jun 2020
If we work on steady-state problem then the values of h & k will not affect your results. @ Jonathan and @ Bimal.
Answers (3)
Charles
on 28 Mar 2012
3 Comments
Charles
on 28 Mar 2012
Frank Mota
on 4 Nov 2017
the code wont run for me , is there something im doing wrong?
Max
on 7 Dec 2017
Charles: It's been a while since you posted this, and perhaps you've found the error - but you forgot to include the C vector update in your left edge, which is why the distribution looked odd!
Ahmed Hakim
on 17 Nov 2012
0 votes
Very nice Code
I would like to use SOR method for finding the optimum omega...can u help me?
thanks
ashwath suresh
on 16 Feb 2015
0 votes
Hi could you please explain how codes for inner nodes and edge nodes are given? why is the value for A(i,i)=-4
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