Multi-dimensional heat flux reconstruction using narrow-band thermochromic liquid crystal thermography

Abstract

An inverse algorithm is developed to reconstruct multi-dimensional surface heat flux using transient surface temperature measurements provided by narrow-band thermal liquid crystals (TLC) or phase-change material (PCM). In this thermographic technique, the information provided is the time it took a certain location to reach the characteristic temperature of the TLC or PCM. A quadratic functional to be minimized is formulated. The Levenberg-Marquardt method and genetic algorithms are used to minimize the functional. It is shown that GA's can be used successfully to retrieve surface heat flux distributions with significant error in input times to arrival at the TLC or PCM critical temperature.

Keywords:

• Inverse problems
• Boundary elements
• Thermochromic liquid crystals

^*This paper was presented at the 10th Symposium on Inverse Problems in Engineering, held at the University of Texas, Arlington, June, 2000.

^†Address for correspondence: Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, P. O. Box 162450, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA. kassab@ mail.ucf.edu

^*This paper was presented at the 10th Symposium on Inverse Problems in Engineering, held at the University of Texas, Arlington, June, 2000.

^†Address for correspondence: Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, P. O. Box 162450, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA. kassab@ mail.ucf.edu

Notes

^*This paper was presented at the 10th Symposium on Inverse Problems in Engineering, held at the University of Texas, Arlington, June, 2000.

^†Address for correspondence: Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, P. O. Box 162450, Orlando, Florida 32816-2450, USA. kassab@ mail.ucf.edu