Fourier number
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The Fourier number (Fo) (also known as the Fourier modulus) in physics and engineering is a dimensionless number that characterizes heat conduction. Conceptually, it is the ratio of the heat conduction rate to the rate of thermal energy storage. It was named after the mathematician Joseph Fourier and is defined as:
where:
- α is the thermal diffusivity [m2/s]
- t is the characteristic time [s]
- d is the length through which conduction occurs [m]
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, Incropera & DeWitt
