Diffusion in composite media: Solution with simple eigenvalues and eigenfunctions (Q1197742)

A method was presented to solve the governing equations of the form \((1/x^ s)(\partial/\partial x)(x^ s k(x)\partial T/\partial x)=\rho(x)c_ p(x)\partial T/\partial t\) for transition temperature distribution in composite media. The method is based on the technique of Sturm-Liouville finite integral transforms and uses the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions which arise naturally from the geometry of the problem. The method was originally proposed by \textit{D. D. Do} [Chem. Eng. Sci. 39, 1519 ff. (1984)]. The governing equations must be integrated twice to remove the necessity of differentiating the discontinuous coefficient functions. There is no difficulty to find all eigenvalues. As examples the temperature profiles were calculated and plotted for a three layered slab, a two layered cylinder, and a two layered sphere.