A two-dimensional analytical solution for the transient short-hot-wire method

Unlike the conventional transient hot-wire method for measuring thermal conductivity, the transient short-hot-wire method uses only one short thermal-conductivity cell. Until now, this method has depended on numerical solutions of the two-dimensional unsteady heat conduction equation to account for end effects. In order to provide an alternative and to confirm the validity of the numerical solutions, a two-dimensional analytical solution for unsteady-state heat conduction is derived using Laplace and finite Fourier transforms. An isothermal boundary condition is assumed for the end of the cell, where the hot wire connects to the supporting leads. The radial temperature gradient in the wire is neglected. A high-resolution finite-volume numerical solution is found to be in excellent agreement with the present analytical solution.