In order to determine the thermal diffusivity of materials, especially solids and liquids at high temperatures, two extended containerless flash techniques that are applicable to levitated spherical specimen are proposed. The extended flash methods are modeled as an axisymmetric transient conduction heat transfer problem within the sphere. For the “single-step” method, analytic expressions for the temperature history on the surface of the sphere are obtained that are independent of the incident energy and the absorption layer thickness. It is shown that by knowing the sample diameter and recording the temperature transient history at least at two different points on the surface simultaneously, the thermal diffusivity can be determined. A detailed discussion of the effects of the various parameters is presented. For the “two-step” analysis the problem of nonlinearity of the radiative heat transfer boundary condition is overcome by replacing it with the measured time-dependent surface temperature data. Upon obtaining the temperature field the determination of the thermal diffusivity turns into a minimization problem. In performing the proposed two-step procedure there is a need to undertake a cool-down experiment. Results of an experimental study directed at determining the thermal diffusivity of high-temperature solid samples of pure Nickel and Inconel 718 superalloy near their melting temperatures using the single-step method are discussed. Based on close agreement with reliable data available in the literature, it is concluded that the proposed techniques can provide reliable thermal diffusivity data for high-temperature materials.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Papers
Containerless Thermal Diffusivity Determination of High-Temperature Levitated Spherical Specimen by Extended Flash Methods: Theory and Experimental Validation
F. Shen,
F. Shen
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5341
Search for other works by this author on:
J. M. Khodadadi,
J. M. Khodadadi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5341
Search for other works by this author on:
M. C. Woods,
M. C. Woods
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5341
Search for other works by this author on:
J. K. R. Weber,
J. K. R. Weber
Containerless Research, Inc., 910 University Place, Evanston, IL 60201-3149
Search for other works by this author on:
B. Q. Li
B. Q. Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, 2513 A CEBA Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6413
Search for other works by this author on:
F. Shen
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5341
J. M. Khodadadi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5341
M. C. Woods
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 201 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5341
J. K. R. Weber
Containerless Research, Inc., 910 University Place, Evanston, IL 60201-3149
B. Q. Li
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, 2513 A CEBA Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6413
J. Heat Transfer. May 1997, 119(2): 210-219 (10 pages)
Published Online: May 1, 1997
Article history
Received:
May 10, 1996
Revised:
December 20, 1996
Online:
December 5, 2007
Citation
Shen, F., Khodadadi, J. M., Woods, M. C., Weber, J. K. R., and Li, B. Q. (May 1, 1997). "Containerless Thermal Diffusivity Determination of High-Temperature Levitated Spherical Specimen by Extended Flash Methods: Theory and Experimental Validation." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. May 1997; 119(2): 210–219. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2824211
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
On Prof. Roop Mahajan's 80th Birthday
J. Heat Mass Transfer
Thermal Hydraulic Performance and Characteristics of a Microchannel Heat Exchanger: Experimental and Numerical Investigations
J. Heat Mass Transfer (February 2025)
Related Articles
Thermal Diffusivity Determination of High-Temperature Levitated Oblate Spheroidal Specimen by a Flash Method
J. Heat Transfer (August,1998)
Thermally Induced Optical Nonlinearity During Transient Heating of Thin Films
J. Heat Transfer (May,1994)
Accounting for Penetration of Laser Heating in Flash Thermal Diffusivity Experiments
J. Heat Transfer (February,1999)
Transient Heat Transfer in a Conducting Particle With Internal Radiant Absorption
J. Heat Transfer (May,1992)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Radiation
Thermal Management of Microelectronic Equipment
Radiation
Thermal Management of Microelectronic Equipment, Second Edition
How to Use this Book
Thermal Spreading and Contact Resistance: Fundamentals and Applications