Effect of included media on thermal conductance of contact joints.

Abstract

Whenever an engineer turns to the available literature for information concerning heat flow across a joint formed by two pieces of material in simple contact, he is apt to read a phrase similar to this, The resistance to the flow of heat between two solid surfaces in simple mechanical contact is highly unpredictable. Thus the problem of thermal contact resistance which has concerned engineers for a century or more continues to be important in conventional design and may be the critical design factor in nuclear power work where extremely high heat fluxes are encountered. Yet, as Dr. Glasstone implies, much information remains still uncovered concerning heat flow across such an interface.