Comparative analysis of thermal behaviour in functionally graded material fin under convective-radiative heat transfer: Homotopy perturbation method

Abstract

In this study, the thermal characteristics of a fully wet, moving longitudinal fin made from linear Functionally Graded Material (FGM) is explored. The fin response to convective-radiative heat transfer is examined through three distinct FGM scenarios namely, a Homogeneous material (HM), Functionally Graded Material I (FGM I) having greater thermal grading near the base, and Functionally Graded Material II (FGM II) having increased thermal grading towards the tip. The derived energy equation is a second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation is solved using the Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM) compared with results found in the existing literature. The fin thermal profile has been graphically analysed for the thermal conductivity grading parameter (β), Peclet number (Pe) and other pertinent parameters. It is found that the temperature distribution along the fin is highest for the FGM II fin and lowest for the HM fin, with the FGM I fin displaying intermediate values. Efficiency of the fin (η) is discovered to be lowest in the case of HM fin structures followed by FGM I and FGM II fin structures at the base and vice versa at the tip. The results show significant potential of HPM which benefits the manufacture and design of FGM fin structures.