(257au) Experimental and Computational Implementation of Heat Flow Control with Metastructures

Abstract

Based on the principles of transformation optics, which enables controlling the flow of electromagnetic waves, the possibility of heat flow control has received increasing attention in the academic community. Applying the same theoretical principles, the time dependent heat conduction equation has been shown to be invariant under curvilinear coordinate transformations. The fictitious transformed space that leads to the desired behavior can be mapped onto metamaterials, which will result in material structures having anisotropic thermal properties. An attempt to demonstrate the heat cloaking, concentration and rectification effects at the macro-scale will be performed, using both computational tools and validation of the results by experimental studies, for continuum metamaterials. For the computational component of the study, the structures are designed in Autodesk Inventor, and then imported to the COMSOL Multiphysics mechanical and thermal modules for FEM calculations. The experimental component involves engraving specific patterns, designed using the principles of transformation optics, onto metal plates for the continuum metamaterials. An experimental device was built by printing the specific patterns on fiberglass with copper using PCB manufacturing techniques. The generated plate’s capability to prevent an object from heating or to accumulate heat at the center of the structures is evaluated by IR thermography.  Experimental results were found to be as expected when contrasted with the simulations results. Both experimental and modeling results are described.