Finite Difference Method: One-Dimensional Steady-State

Heat Diffusion with Uniform Heat Generation

Problem Statement
We aim to solve the one-dimensional steady-state heat diffusion equation for a copper rod of
length 0.1 m with fixed boundary temperatures and uniform heat generation.
The governing equation is:
2
d T Q
2
+ =0
dx k
where:

● Q : Uniform heat generation rate (W/m ​3)

● k : Thermal conductivity of copper ¿ 401 W /m⋅ K

Boundary Conditions
● Temperature at the left boundary T ( 0 )=0 ° C

● Temperature at the right boundary T ( 0.1 )=100 °C

Rod Properties
● Length L=0.1 m

● Thermal conductivity k =401 W /m ⋅ K

4 3
● Heat generation rate Q=5 × 10 W /m

1. Discretization of the Governing Equation

2
d T
We discretize the second derivative 2 using the finite difference method. Let the rod length
dx
L=0.1 m be divided into 4 equal segments, giving 5 equally spaced nodes (including boundary
points).

Grid and Nodal Representation

● Node 1: x 1=0 m (left boundary, T 1=0 ° C )

● Node 2: x 2=0.025 m
 ● Node 3: x 3=0.05 m

● Node 4: x 4 =0.075 m

● Node 5: x 5=0.1 m (right boundary, T 5=100 ° C )

Let $\Delta x$ be the grid spacing:

L
Δx= =0.025 m
4
The finite difference approximation for the second derivative is:

d T T i +1−2T i +T i−1
2

2
≈
dx ( Δx )2

Substituting this into the governing equation:

T i +1−2T i +T i−1 Q
+ =0
( Δx )2 k

Simplify:
2
−Q⋅ ( Δx )
T i+1−2 T i+T i−1=
k

2. Writing Equations for 5 Nodes

Boundary conditions:

● T 1=0 ° C

● T 5=100 ° C

Using the finite difference approximation, write equations for internal nodes:

Node 2 (i=2):
2
−Q⋅ ( Δx )
T 3−2 T 2 +T 1=
k

Substitute T 1=0:
2
−Q ⋅ ( Δx )
T 3−2 T 2=
k

Node 3 (i=3):
 2
−Q ⋅ ( Δx )
T 4−2 T 3+ T 2=
k

Node 4 (i=4):
2
−Q ⋅ ( Δx )
T 5−2 T 4+ T 3=
k

Substitute T 5=100:
2
−Q ⋅ ( Δx )
100−2T 4 +T 3=
k

3. Matrix Formulation
Express the equations for internal nodes in matrix form:

[ ]
2 2 2
−Q ⋅ ( Δx ) Q⋅ ( Δx ) Q ⋅ ( Δx )
[ −2 10 1−21 0 1−2 ] [ T 2 T 3 T 4 ]= − −100−
k k k

Let:

[ ]
2 2 2
−Q ⋅ ( Δx ) Q⋅ ( Δx ) Q ⋅ ( Δx )
A=[−21 0 1−2 1 01−2 ] ,T =[ T 2 T 3 T 4 ] , B= − −100−
k k k

The matrix equation becomes:

A ⋅T =B

4. Solving Using Matrix Inversion

Find T using the matrix inverse:
−1
T=A ⋅B

Inverse of Matrix A :
−1
A =[ −0.75−0.5−0.25−0.5−1−0.5−0.25−0.5−0.75 ]

Solution for T :
Substitute values:

● Δx=0.025 m

● k =401 W /mK
4 3
● Q=5 × 10 W /m
 2 4 2
Q⋅ ( Δx ) 5 ×10 ⋅ ( 0.025 )
= =0.078 ° C
k 401
B=[ −0.078−0.078−100−0.078 ] =[ −0.078−0.078−100.078 ]

Perform matrix multiplication:

T =[ −0.75−0.5−0.25−0.5−1−0.5−0.25−0.5−0.75 ] ⋅ [ −0.078−0.078−100.078 ]

Solve for T :
T =[ 24.96 49.92 74.88 ]

Thus:
T 2=24.96 °C ,T 3=49.92° C ,T 4=74.88° C

5. Analytical Solution
2
d T Q
The general solution of 2
+ =0 is:
dx k
−Q 2
T ( x )= x +C 1 x +C2
2k
Using boundary conditions:

● At x=0 , T =0 : C 2=0

● At x=0.1 , T =100:
4
−5 ×10 ( )2
100= 0.1 +C 1 ⋅0.1
2⋅ 401
Solve for C1C_1:
100=−6.23+0.1 C 1 ⟹C 1=1062.3

Thus:
4
−5 ×10 2
T ( x )= x + 1062.3 x
2 ⋅ 401

Temperature at Nodes:
● T 1=T ( 0 )=0 ° C

● T 2=T ( 0.025 )=24.96 °C

● T 3=T ( 0.05 )=49.92 ° C

 ● T 4=T ( 0.075 )=74.88 ° C

● T 5=T ( 0.1 ) =100 ° C

6. Comparison of Solutions
Nod Numerical Solution (T Analytical Solution (T
e ) )
1 0 0
2 24.96 24.96
3 49.92 49.92
4 74.88 74.88
5 100 100

7. Conclusion
The numerical and analytical solutions match perfectly, even with uniform heat generation,
confirming the accuracy of the finite difference method for this problem.

8 . Code
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# Parameters
L = 0.1 # Length of the rod (m)
k = 401 # Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)
Q = [5e7, 8e7, 5e4] # Heat generation rate (W/m^3)
T_left = 0 # Dirichlet boundary condition at x=0 (°C)
T_right = 100 # Dirichlet boundary condition at x=L (°C)
N = 25 # Number of nodes (including boundary nodes)

# Discretization
dx = L / (N - 1)
x = np.linspace(0, L, N)

# Markers and colors

markers = ['s', 'o', '^']
colors = ['hotpink', 'limegreen', 'orange']

# Plotting
plt.figure(figsize=(8, 8))

for i, q in enumerate(Q):
# Coefficient matrix A and right-hand side vector B
A = np.zeros((N, N))
B = np.zeros(N)
 for j in range(1, N - 1):
A[j, j - 1] = 1
A[j, j] = -2
A[j, j + 1] = 1
B[j] = -q * dx**2 / k

# Apply boundary conditions

A[0, 0] = 1
B[0] = T_left
A[N - 1, N - 1] = 1
B[N - 1] = T_right

# Solve the system

T_numerical = np.linalg.solve(A, B)

# Analytical solution
C1 = (T_right - T_left + (q / (2 * k)) * L**2) / L
C2 = T_left
T_analytical = -(q / (2 * k)) * x**2 + C1 * x + C2

# Plotting with specified marker and color

plt.scatter(x, T_numerical, color=colors[i], marker=markers[i],
label=f'Numerical Solution {q} $W/m^3$')
plt.plot(x, T_analytical, color=colors[i], linestyle='-',
label=f'Analytical Solution {q} $W/m^3$')

plt.xlabel("Position (m)")
plt.ylabel("Temperature (°C)")
plt.title("Temperature Distribution in a Rod with Uniform Heat Generation")
plt.legend()
plt.grid()
plt.show()