blockRegNonZeroPower

Information

Block that approximates y=|x|ⁿ where 0 < n < 2 so that

• y(0) is not equal to zero.
• dy/dx is bounded and continuous everywhere.

This block replaces y=|x|ⁿ in the interval -δ...+δ by a 4-th order polynomial that has the same function value and the first and second derivative at x=± δ.

A typical use of this block is to replace the function for the convective heat transfer coefficient for forced or free convection that is of the form h=c |dT|ⁿ for some constant c and exponent 0 < n ≤ 1. By using this block, the original function that has an infinite derivative near zero and that takes on zero at the origin is replaced by a function with a bounded derivative and a non-zero value at the origin. Physically, the region -δ...+δ may be interpreted as the region where heat conduction dominates convection in the boundary layer.

See the package Examples for the graph.

Parameters

Revisions

• November 2, 2022, by Michael Wetter:
  Set minimum and maximum attribute on n, improved assertion and documentation.
  This is for Buildings, #3135.
• November 29, 2013 by Marcus Fuchs:
  Implementation based on Buildings.Utilities.Math.Functions.regNonZeroPower.