SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS FOR THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTY MEASUREMENTS USING THE PERIODIC METHOD

The frequency do,nain provides an interesting alternative platform for measuring thermophysical properties. The resulting measurement techni que produces reasonably accurate thermophysical data from imprecise su rface information. Having a periodic heat flux input at one surface, t he thermal diffusivity is obtainable if temperature produces a measura ble periodic effect at another location. The analysis shows that only the phase shift is necessary to produce needed information while the b oundary conditions can affect the experimental results. This method, c as tested near room temperature using two different materials: Delrin and 304 stainless steel. The experiments yield accurate thermal diffus ivity data for both materials brit the data for Delrin exhibit smaller errors. Before performing the experiments, a sensitivity analysis,vas carried out to determine the best range of frequencies for an experim ental investigation.