A Software Tool for Determining Steady-State Temperature Distributions in a Square Domain by the Finite-Difference Method

Abstract

This paper presents the development of an interactive program (called SSTDD) to solve two-dimensional conduction heat transfer equations in a square domain using the finite-difference method. The development of the tool (based on a computer-aided design package), on a Visual BASIC 6.0 platform, involved the application of the heat transfer equations and the appropriate boundary conditions to a square domain. The finite-difference method was used to express the elliptic differential equation in a form suitable for numerical solution. The system of linear equations generated was solved by the Gauss–Seidel iterative technique. The SSTDD model was tested by using problems solved by conventional analytical techniques. The results generated by the model and the analytical method were in good agreement. Hence the model can be used to solve practical engineering problems, with good accuracy, and also as a demonstration tool to students in the area of design and heat transfer of mechanical engineering.