Nonlinear diffusion controlled particle growth -- a variational and asymptotic approach (Q1385987)

Nonlinear diffusion controlled particle growth problems, in which the diffusion coefficient in the matrix phase varies with composition, are examined. The growth of an expanding ellipsoid, initially of zero size, is considered, limiting cases of which include planar, cylindrical and spherical growth. The theory for dendritic growth is also given. Variational principles are applied to generate numerical solutions to the full nonlinear problems. Explicit formulae, relating to fast and slow growth, are derived using perturbation techniques, and obtained for a general class of diffusion coefficient, dependent upon composition. The theory is applied to a planar growth problem in which the diffusion profile is discontinuous, and the exact solution is used to judge the accuracy associated with the variational theory.