Propagator matrices for some geothermal problems

Summary In problems of linear flow of heat in inhomogeneous media, the governing equation is a second order ordinary differential equation with variable coefficients. When transformed into a set of first order ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients, the problem becomes amenable to an elegant method of propagator matrices. In this paper the propagator matrices for some steady and unsteady heat conduction problems (including a case of heat generation by an irreversible first order reaction) having conductivity and heat generation functions as piecewise continuous, have been described.