The Effect of Curvature and Torsion on the Temperature Distribution in a Helix

Traditional analysis treats the helix as a straight wire with the effects of nonuniform heating, torsion, and large curvature ignored. Using a helical coordinate system the governing partial differential equation including these effects is derived. The equation is then solved numerically using the finite element method. The results indicate a strong dependence of the temperature on the torsion parameter when the curvature parameter is significant. As the curvature parameter increases, the temperature distribution becomes skew-symmetric and the maximum temperature in the helix increases. Nonuniform heating influences the temperature distribution independent of the curvature and torsion.