Non-dimensional size effects on the thermodynamic properties of solids

Although a number of analyses have been presented on the size effects on tr ansport properties like the thermal conductivity, very few studies have foc used on size effects on thermodynamic properties like the heat capacity. Th e present analysis considers the effect of size on thermodynamic properties when the dimension in one, two or all three directions is extremely small, leading to a reduction in the number of phonon wave vectors. The results a re presented in a novel non-dimensional form, so that the effect of dimensi on on the thermal properties of any material can be easily obtained once th e bulk properties are known. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.