The fundamental heat conduction solution for a thermal shock on a finite orthotropic cylindrical thin shell

Abstract

Because graphites have excellent thermal, nuclear, and thermal shock resistance, and actually get stronger as temperature increases to about 4000°F, they are frequently used as components of reactors. The crystal structure of graphite has orthotropic symmetry, and this property must be included in the analysis or design of components using this material. Besides, ribbed steel containment vessels in nuclear reactors can be analyzed as shell structures with orthotropic properties. In this paper, the problem of a thermal shock on an orthotropic thin cylindrical shell is investigated. Its fundamental solution for a thermal shock on a thin orthotropic shell of finite length is obtained for each of various boundary conditions, by methods of transform calculus and by the method of reflections. The materials assumed for use in the numerical examples are grades ATJ and ZTA graphite, which can be considered as orthotropic media. Curves for heat storage and temperature distribution in a thin cylindrical shell of finite length are plotted as functions of time. They exhibit the effects of thermally orthotropic property of the material upon the heat dissipation in the shell.