Numerical simulations of thermosolutal instability during directional solidification of a binary alloy (Q1094992)

A finite element model is used for the study of thermosolutal convection in binary alloys during vertical directional solidification under the assumption of a planar undeformable interface with constant growth velocity. The fluid region is modeled as a two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow that satisfies the Boussinesq approximation, coupled with two convective-diffusion equations for thermal and solute transport. Results obtained for the case of an infinitely wide layer of fluid, assuming that the flow is cyclic in that direction, are in excellent agreement with previously calculated ones and give the first independent verification of the results. Calculations for a finite layer of fluid, bounded by solid adiabatic vertical walls, are also performed, and the results discussed.