Flow focusing instability in a solidifying mushy layer

Abstract

The stability of the flow of interstitial liquid in a mushy layer driven by expansion or contraction upon solidification is analysed. The full perturbation equations are reduced in a particular aymptotic limit that allows the principal mechanisms controlling instability to be identified. Comparisons are made with the acid-etching instabilities in porous rocks. The full equations are then solved to determine the parametric dependences of the instability. It is found that, though the potential for instability exists, it is unlikely to occur in practice.