Solution of radiative problems using variational based finite element method

The calculation of temperature distributions for systems exchanging radiation heat requires as a first step the determination of the heat fluxes caused by radiation at its surfaces. The functional of the variational principle is the starting point of a numerical solution method. By using finite element procedures a system of linear equations is derived, which supplies an approximation of the radiosity. Having the radiosity, the heat flux at the surfaces, which governs the boundary condition for the temperature distribution in the structure, can be calculated. A method of determining the view-factors using the concept of the finite element method is also given.