A 3D finite-difference model for the effective thermal conductivity of thermal barrier coatings produced by plasma spraying

► A 3D image-based Finite Difference Model for analyzing the heat transfer mechanisms through a porous structure. ► The comparisons between the results obtained with Finite Elements method and the present FD method. ► The differences between the 2D calculated thermal conductivities and the 3D ones. ► A power law function for fitting the relation between 2D and 3D calculated data.