Modelling of free boundary problems for phase change with diffuse interfaces

Abstract

We present a continuum thermodynamical framework for simulating multiphase Stefan problem. For alloy solidification, which is marked by a diffuse interface called the mushy zone, we present a phase filed like formalism which comprises a set of macroscopic conservation equations with an order parameter which can account for the solid, liquid, and the mushy zones with the help of a phase function defined on the basis of the liquid fraction, the Gibbs relation, and the phase diagram with local approximations. Using the above formalism for alloy solidification, the width of the diffuse interface (mushy zone) was computed rather accurately for iron-carbon and ammonium chloride-water binary alloys and validated against experimental data from literature.