A Study of the Feasibility of Parameter Sensitivity Analysis of the Diffusion Equation as Applied to Problems in Nuclear Thermal Vulnerability.

Abstract

Calculational determination of the nuclear thermal vulnerability of Army equipment requires a knowledge of the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the constituant materials. Since the temperature dependence of these properties for most materials is not known, constant values are often used in heat transfer calculations. The report describes a study that was conducted to formulate general rules for predicting the sensitivity of the calculated temperatures to changes in these parameters. It was concluded that problem geometry is the governing parameter in heat transfer calculations. Therefore, it is recommended that either of two approaches be used: (1) a worst case analysis or (2) the use of several values of specific heat and thermal conductivity to generate an envelope in which the actual value would be. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0768784

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey H. Grotte

Organizations

  • Ballistic Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Equipment
  • Conductivity
  • Diffusion
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equations
  • Geometry
  • Heat Transfer
  • Materials
  • Mathematics
  • Physical Properties
  • Sensitivity
  • Specific Heat
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Vulnerability

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.