Solution of multilayer diffusion problems via the Laplace transform (Q530334)

In the paper, a multilayer diffusion problem is studied using the Laplace transform . Nonhomogeneous outer boundary conditions (BCs) with arbitrary time-varying functions is considered. The paper is organized as follows: Section 1 is an introduction. In Section 2 the mathematical formulation of a multilayer diffusion problem and then its reformulation as a sequence of one-layer diffusion problems with BCs that include arbitrary time-dependent functions are given. A general one-layer problem with time-varying BCs is solved in Section 3. In Section 4 the particular case of the two-layer problem is considered and an illustrative example is given. In Section 5 the authors return to the multilayer diffusion problem in order to use the results of Sections 3 and 4 for finding the solution. Finally, a discussion on the determination of critical times and brief concluding remarks are given in Section 6.