An inverse heat transfer model of thermal degradation within multifunctional tensioned cable structures

A method for the analysis of heat transfer within a multifunctional tensioned cable structure, resulting from external heating by the impingement of a hot gas, is presented. This method, which is based on inverse analysis, uses a conveniently applicable parametric model representation. The problem of failure prediction due to the thermal degradation of the various components within complex cable structures can be difficult due to the lack of information concerning both the anisotropic thermal properties that are typical of these composite structures, and the heat transfer between components internally. The method of analysis presented here provides a means of overcoming these difficulties and conveniently analyzing the performance of multifunctional tensioned cable structural elements that are subject to external heating. Prototype simulations of heat transfer within a complex cable structure using the inverse parametric model representation are presented.