ON THE COMPLEX EIGEN-VALUES OF LUIKOV SYSTEM OF EQUATIONS

Abstract

In the analysis and solutions of heat and mass diffusion problems governed by the Luikov system of linear partial differential equations subject to linear type boundary conditions, the existence of complex roots has been overlooked in almost all of the solutions available in the literature. A methodology is presented for establishing the existence of complex roots in such systems. The effects of complex roots on the results on temperature and moisture distributions are illustrated with a specific example on contact drying of a sheet of moist porous material on a hot plate.