CONFAC II. A GENERAL COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF RADIANT- INTERCHANGE CONFIGURATION AND FORM FACTORS
Abstract
A numerical method is derived from the determination of the geometric radiant-interchange factors used in radiant heat transfer and illumination. A FORTRAN II digital computer program utilizing this method is developed which provides a rapid and accurate means of computation of configuration and form factors. The source of flux may be any general plane polygon and the receiver may be any general plane or nonplanar polygon, the surface of an arbitrary polyhedron, or an arbitrary combination of such surfaces. It is therefore possible to accurately determine configuration and form factors from a plane surface to another surface occluded by complex intervening surfaces. Form factors are computed rapidly -- averaging less than two seconds on the IBM 7094 for simple, unobstructed plane surfaces, and less than 30 seconds for simple polyhedra. Also, means are provided to internally generate a variety of regular polygons or polyhedra and to transform surface spatial coordinates for convenience of data entry and/or motion simulation. Simplicity of data entry, flexibility of application, and economy of operation are principal features of this program. Sample problems illustrating these important aspects are provided.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0440411
Entities
People
- Kempton A. Toups