OPTIMAL EXPERIMENTAL-DESIGN FOR ESTIMATING THERMAL-PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

Design of optimal transient experiments is needed for the efficient estimation of thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of composite materials. One criterion for optimal experiments is the minimization of the area (or volume) of the confidence region. The experimental designs are transient and involve both finite and semi-finite geometries with finite duration heating. Two cases are considered for the finite body: one-dimensional heat conduction within cured composite materials and one-dimensional heat conduction within composite materials undergoing curing. The optimal dimensionless heating and experimental times at the heated boundary and the optimal location of the temperatures sensors are determined.