Thermal contact resistance (TCR) is very important in many
engineering fields [1–3]. TCR is primarily caused by the imperfect
contact between two surfaces due to the presence of microscopic
asperities characteristic of engineering surfaces, and it has not
been widely studied in terms of theory, computation and experiment
until recently. Bahrami et al. reviewed the thermal joint
resistance models for nonconforming rough surfaces [4]. Madhusudana
summarized previous work on thermal contact conductance
[5]. Fieberg and Kneer developed an approach to derive the thermal
contact resistance under high temperature and high pressure
conditions [6]. Kim et al. proposed a method of thermal contact
conductance evaluation in fin-tube heat exchangers [7]. A predictive
model for estimating thermal contact resistance had been
developed and experimentally validated by Singhal et al. [8]. Ayers
and Fletcher reviewed the thermal contact resistance of composite
cylinders [9]. Temizer and Wiggers developed a computational
contact homogenization technique to predict the macroscopic
thermal response of contact interfaces [10]. Bendada et al. combined
experimental and numerical approaches to evaluate the
thermal contact resistance between polymer and mold [11].
It is noted that former researches always focus on low or intermediate
temperatures (less than 300 C), while internal interface
temperature of the thermal protection structures of heat-pipecooled
leading edges could reach 500 C. It is very necessary to take
a look at the high temperature thermal contact resistance between
high thermal conductivity C/C material and superalloy Inconel 600,
which is widely used in heat-pipe-cooled leading edge thermal
protection structures.