The Impact of the Digital Computer on Engineering Sciences: Part 2

Abstract

The Space Division of the North American Rockwell Corporation has developed a comprehensive computer-based heat transfer and thermal analysis capability especially for design support of the Apollo command module. The heat transfer analysis primarily centres about the solution of the diffusion equation using finite difference approximations. Since most problems encountered are non-linear in nature this approach has proved highly effective in producing accurate results economically. Recent studies, however, indicate that heat transfer problems are most successfully analysed by the finite element method. On the other hand, the finite element method in this field of application was not yet established when North American initiated this work. Lack of time does not allow a deserved discussion of this topic.