The Laser Flash Method with Repeated Pulses—Optimal Experimental Design Analysis

The paper deals with analytical aspects of the laser flash method with repeated pulses, which is a photothermal experimental method for measurement of the thermal diffusivity of solids. It concentrates on the data reduction—an estimation of the thermal diffusivity from the experimental data. Special attention is given to the technique of correction of the width and shape of the heat pulses. Results of sensitivity and optimal experimental design analysis are discussed in detail. It focuses on questions of the influence of setting the experimental parameters, heat pulse period and the number of applied heat pulses, to the sensitivity of the method as well as the optimum time of duration of an experiment.