An exact analytical solution for two-dimensional, unsteady, multilayer heat conduction in spherical coordinates

Analytical series solution is proposed for the transient boundary-value problem of multilayer heat conduction in r–θ spherical coordinates. Spatially non-uniform, but time-independent, volumetric heat sources may exist in the concentric layers. Proposed solution is valid for any combination of homogenous boundary conditions of the first or second kind in the θ -direction. However, inhomogeneous boundary conditions of the first, second or third kind may be applied at the inner and outer radial boundaries of the concentric layers. It is noted that the proposed solution is “free” from imaginary eigenvalues. Real eigenvalues are obtained by virtue of precluded explicit dependence of radial eigenvalues on those in the θ-direction. Solution is shown to be relatively simple for the most common spherical geometries−(multilayer) hemisphere and full sphere. An illustrative problem of heat conduction in a three-layer hemisphere is solved. Results along with the isotherms are shown graphically and discussed.