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Virginia Tech

Uncertainty and Confidence Intervals of the Monte Carlo Ray-Trace Method in Radiation Heat Transfer

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The primary objective of the work reported here is to develop a methodology to predict the uncertainty associated with radiation heat transfer problems solved using the Monte Carlo ray-trace method (MCRT). Four equations are developed to predict the uncertainty of the distribution factor from one surface to another, the global uncertainty of all the distribution factors in an enclosure, the uncertainty of the net heat flux from a surface, and the global uncertainty of the net heat flux from all the surfaces in an enclosure, respectively. Numerical experiments are performed to successfully validate these equations and to study the impact of various parameters such as the number of surfaces in an enclosure, the number of energy bundles traced in the MCRT model, the fractional uncertainty of emissivity and temperature, and the temperature distribution in the enclosure. Finally, the methodology is successfully applied to a detailed MCRT model of a CERES-like radiometer.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2002

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sanchez, Maria Cristina
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Mahan, James Robert
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Day, Martin V.
  • Priestley, Kory J.
  • Thole, Karen A.
  • Scott, Elaine P.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-12062002-211117
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/29956

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sanchez, Maria Cristina. Uncertainty and Confidence Intervals of the Monte Carlo Ray-Trace Method in Radiation Heat Transfer. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/29956