Analytical solution of the Cattaneo - Vernotte equation (non-Fourier heat conduction)

Abstract

The theory of Fourier heat conduction predicts accurately the temperature profiles of a system in a non-equilibrium steady state. However, in the case of transient states at the nanoscale, its applicability is significantly limited. The limitation of the classical Fourier’s theory was overcome by C. Cattaneo and P. Vernotte who developed the theory of non-Fourier heat conduction in 1958. Although this new theory has been used in various thermal science areas, it requires considerable mathematical skills for calculating analytical solutions. The aim of this study was the identification of a newer and a simpler type of solution for the hyperbolic partial differential equations of the non-Fourier heat conduction. This constitutes the first trial in a series of planned studies. By inspecting each term included in the proposed solution, the theoretical feasibility of the solution was achieved. The new analytical solution for the non-Fourier heat conduction is a simple exponential function that is compared to the existing data for justification. Although the proposed solution partially satisfies the Cattaneo–Vernotte equation, it cannot simulate a thermal wave behavior. However, the results of this study indicate that it is possible to obtain the theoretical solution of the Cattaneo–Vernotte equation by improving the form of the proposed solution.