1 Limitations
Analytical solution methods are limited to highly simplified problems in simple
geometries (Fig. 5–2). The geometry must be such that its entire surface
can be described mathematically in a coordinate system by setting the variables
equal to constants. That is, it must fit into a coordinate system perfectly
with nothing sticking out or in. In the case of one-dimensional heat conduction
in a solid sphere of radius r0, for example, the entire outer surface can be
described by r r0. Likewise, the surfaces of a finite solid cylinder of radius
r0 and height H can be described by r r0 for the side surface and z 0 and
z H for the bottom and top surfaces, respectively. Even minor complications
in geometry can make an analytical solution impossible. For example, a
spherical object with an extrusion like a handle at some location is impossible
to handle analytically since the boundary conditions in this case cannot be expressed
in any familiar coordinate system.
Even in simple geometries, heat transfer problems cannot be solved analytically
if the thermal conditions are not sufficiently simple. For example, the
consideration of the variation of thermal conductivity with temperature, the
variation of the heat transfer coefficient over the surface, or the radiation heat
transfer on the surfaces can make it impossible to obtain an analytical solution.
Therefore, analytical solutions are limited to problems that are simple or
can be simplified with reasonable approximations.