Green's functions and three-dimensional steady-state heat-conduction problems in a two-layered composite (Q701836)

Computer codes are often developed by the finite-element, finite-difference or boundary-element methods for finding numerical solutions of engineering problems. In the verification of such numerical codes, methods that are capable of generating numerical solutions of high accuracy are needed. This paper aims at providing such a method for steady-state heat conduction problems. More specifically, the authors study a boundary value problem for steady-state heat conduction in a three-dimensional, two-layered composite. Solutions of heat conduction problems are important in the design of modern engineering devices. First, the authors introduce the mathematical Problem A and its associated Green's functions. The main purpose of this paper is to present the method of Green's functions for layered composites as a method of high precision. It should be emphasized that Problem A merely serves as an example problem and the method introduced in this paper is capable of treating more general boundary value problems. Secondly, the authors represent solutions of Problem A in terms of Green's functions. Thirdly, they construct Green's functions in different forms by using different choices of the spatial eigenfunctions.