On the use of spreadsheets in heat conduction analysis

Detailed methodology and different techniques for simply utilizing the widely available and user friendly spreadsheet programs in heat conduction analysis are presented. Evaluation of analytical and numerical solution of heat conduction problems via spreadsheets is investigated. Detailed techniques of obtaining spreadsheet numerical solutions for one- and two-dimensional steady and transient heat conduction problems are introduced. A new technique of marching the transient numerical solution with time, in a single layer spreadsheet, for one- and two-dimensional heat conduction is explained. Creating macros that automate the spreadsheet processes, particularly calculations, is detailed. Utilization of the powerful graphical facility that is built in the spreadsheets to graphically represent the obtained solutions is outlined.