Determination of Structural Composite Thermal Properties Using an Oscillating Boundary Temperature

The oscillating boundary temperature (OBT) method can be used to simultaneously determine transient thermal properties of composite materials.  These properties include thermal diffusivity, conductivity, specific heat, and internal heat generation.  This technique allows for the decoupling of the temperature rise from the internal heat generation from the effect of the forced boundary condition.  This method was originally devised for the determination of the transient thermal properites as functions of time and temperature in concrete, but it has applications for many material systems, espcecially where there is heat generation, and may find applications in other structural materials, polymeric composites, and biological tissues.