1

R. Paul Singh
HEAT CONDUCTION IN MULTILAYERED
SYSTEMS

COMPOSITE RECTANGULAR WALL

(IN SERIES)

kB kC kD
T0 T3
q
B C D q

x0 LB LC LD
x x1 x2 x3
T0

Temperature
T3

In a single layer, the rate of heat transfer is:

dT
q = kA
dx
Then
qdx
dT =
kA
or,
qx
T =
kA

qLD
TD =
kD A

T = TB + TC + TD
 2
R. Paul Singh
q LB LC LD
T0 T3 = + +
A k B kC k D
In the preceding equation, for the conditions described in the figure where q is positive in the right
direction and T0 >T3, LB, LC and LD will be negative values, (x0-x1, x1-x2, and x2-x3). Therefore,
B

Using the Resistance Concept:

T RcB RcC RcD T

0 T0 T3
q=
3
RcB + RcC + RcD

LD
RcD =
kD A

and

T0 T3
q=
LB L L
+ C + D
k B A kC A k D A