Transient two-dimensional heat conduction problems solved by the finite element method

A finite element weighted residual process has been used to solve transient linear and non-linear two-dimensional heat conduction problems. Rectangular prisms in a space-time domain were used as the finite elements. The weighting function was equal to the shape function defining the dependent variable approximation. The results are compared in tables with analytical, as well as other numerical data. The finite element method compared favourably with these results. It was found to be stable, convergent to the exact solution, easily programmed, and computationally fast. Finally, the method does not require constant parameters over the entire solution domain.