Effects of non-Fourier heat conduction and surface heating rate on thermoelastic waves in semi-infinite ceramics subject to thermal shock

Abstract Non-Fourier heat conduction has been observed in many fast heating experiments. This paper studies the thermoelastic fields of semi-infinite ceramics subjected to surface heating shock based on non-Fourier C–V model, which may have its root application for future thermal protection system of space vehicles. To simulate the surface heating process, a family of exponential functions is presented. Furthermore, the ratio of heating duration to thermal relaxation time, and the ratio of thermal wave speed to elastic wave speed are introduced to study the coupling effects of heating rate, non-Fourier heat conduction and inertia. Firstly, the time horizon and spatial scale where the non-Fourier effect is significant has been delimited. Secondly, it is demonstrated that the thermal stress component along depth increases and converges as the depth increasing. Thirdly, the domain where the maximum thermal stresses influenced by non-Fourier heat conduction are drawn by the critical lines in the plane of dimensionless heating duration vs thermoelastic wave speed. This study may be useful for designs of ceramic heat insulations.