A new virtual–pulse time integral methodology for linear transient heat transfer problems

The present article introduces a new and effective virtual–pulse (VIP) time integral methodology of computation for linear transient heat transfer analysis and serves to lay down the theoretical basis for subsequent applications to general heat transfer problems. For expository purposes, attention is purposely restricted to linear models. For this class of problems, the proposed methodology is explicit, unconditionally stable, and possesses second–order accuracy for a general heat loading situation. Unlike past approaches and ongoing practices, the methodology offers several computationally attractive yet accurate features, and, promises to be an attractive alternative for heat transfer analysts.