Specially tailored transfinite element formulations for hyperbolic heat conduction involving non-Fourier effects

The phenomenon of hyperbolic heat conduction in contrast to the classical (parabolic) form of Fourier heat conduction involves thermal energy transport which propagates only at finite speeds as opposed to an infinite speed of thermal energy transport. To accommodate the finite speed of thermal wave propagation, a more precise form of heat flux law is involved, thereby modifying the heat flux originally postulated in the classical theory of heat conduction. As a consequence, for hyperbolic heat conduction problems, the thermal energy propagates with very sharp discontinuities at the wave front. The primary purpose of the present paper is to provide accurate solutions to a class of one-dimensional hyperbolic heat conduction problems involving non-Fourier effects which can precisely help understand the true response and furthermore can be effectively used for representative benchmark tests and for validating alternate schemes. As a consequence, the present paper purposely describes modeling/analysis formulations via specially tailored hybrid computations for accurately modeling the sharp discontinuities of the propagating thermal wave front.