A simple and efficient numerical model for thermal contact resistance based on diffuse interface immersed boundary method

Abstract

Thermal contact resistance between two adjacent materials is one of the major concerns in a large variety of practical situations in heat transfer. The presence of this resistance yields a temperature jump across the interface. Due to this discontinuity, numerical modelling of thermal contact resistance runs into difficulties. In this work, we propose a simple and efficient numerical model to account for thermal contact resistance at immersed interfaces in multi-material heat transfer. The present model is based on the diffuse interface method. The effect of contact resistance between two adjacent materials is accounted for in the mixing laws of the thermal conductivity and the heat capacity. The model is validated through different test cases, including both steady and unsteady conduction, and applied to simulation of chill cooling and solidification of a steel sample on board the International Space Station.