Finite element methods for unsteady solidification problems arising in prediction of morphological structure (Q1111874): Difference between revisions

Galerkin finite element methods are presented for calculation of the dynamic transitions between planar and deep two-dimensional cellular interface morphologies in directional solidification of a binary alloy from models that include solute transport, the phase diagram, and the interfacial free energy between melt and crystals. The unknown melt-solid interface shape is accounted for in the finite element formulation by mapping the equations to a fixed domain. Novel nonorthogonal transformations are introduced combining cylindrical and Cartesian coordinate interface representations for approximating the deep cellular interfaces that evolve from a planar solidification front. The algorithm for time integration combines a fully implicit Adams-Moulton algorithm with the isotherm-Newton method for solving the nonlinear set of differential-algebraic equations that result from the spatial discretization of the moving-boundary problem. The fully implicit scheme is found to be more accurate and efficient than an explicit predictor- corrector algorithm. Sample calculations show the connectivity between families of shapes with resonant spatial wavelengths.