In a particular application it is desirable to minimize the effects of the thermal contact resistance between two plane mating surfaces as shown in part

(a) Of the schematic. An engineer suggests that the overall resistance to heat transfer can be reduced by cutting relatively deep linear grooves in each surface resulting in the interlocking fin-like structure shown in part

(b) Of the schematic. If the grooves in material A are of the same width as the grooves in material B, evaluate the merit of the proposed scheme using an appropriate analysis.

Contact resistance Contact resistance Material A Material B (a) (b)