An efficient and simple refined model for temperature analysis in thin laminated composites

This paper presents a new refined and simple analytical model for heat conduction problems in multilayered structures based on an equivalent single layer approach, which permits satisfying both continuity conditions for temperature and normal heat flux at interfaces. Continuity conditions at layer interfaces for temperature are automatically assured from the Heaviside step function, while those for normal heat flux allow us to determine the N − 1 generalized temperatures associated to the Heaviside step function. Finally, using either third order polynomial or trigonometric functions in thickness of the laminate, boundary conditions at the top and bottom of the laminate are used to reduce the number of unknown functions, which is only two. Exact three-dimensional solutions have been calculated here for reference solutions. Numerical results to several problems show the efficacy of the approach on two-dimensional and three-dimensional heat conduction problems in comparison with exact calculations.