The thermal contact conductance of dissimilar metals
Somers, Robert R., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia
Flack, Ronald, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Scott, Timothy, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Stoner, Glenn E., School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Kauzlarich, James J., School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Sexton, Michael R., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Military Institute
A research program was undertaken to examine the thermal conductance and directional bias of contacts between dissimilar metals. Experimental contact conductance values were obtained for five dissimilar metal pairs (aluminum/stainless steel, stainless steel/zircaloy, aluminum/ zircaloy, brass/zircaloy, and magnesium/zircaloy) over a contact pressure range of 33. 9 psi to 813. 7 psi and for heat flux magnitudes through the junction of 0.77 MBTU/hr-ft2 to 15. 4 MBTU/hr-ft2 . This data exhibited thermal rectification for all five bimetallic combinations.
The experimental data was utilized to evaluate the analytical methods for predicting the thermal conductance of dissimilar metal contacts which have been published in the literature to date. The results of this analysis indicate that none of these techniques can accurately predict the thermal conductance or rectification of bimetallic junctions over a wide range of contact conditions.
PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Metals -- Thermal properties
English
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
1983
