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Abstract
An experimental study is reported of solidification of ammonium chloride-water solutions inside a rectangular enclosure. The phase-change and convection processes are studied through shadowgraph and flow visualization as well as temperature and concentration measurements. A number of different initial and boundary conditions are utilized in the experiments in order to obtain a representative data base of the system behavior. It is found that the solidification process induces a variety of double-diffusive convection phenomena in the liquid, including layers, plumes, and stable stratifications. The convection processes influence considerably the local solidification rates and can cause remelting in parts of the system. It is emphasized that many of the physical phenomena identified through the present experiments are expected to be of considerable importance in actual casting processes involving metallic alloys. Consequently, careful consideration must be given to these phenomena when developing more realistic models of solidification processes. The present experiments should serve as a data base for both qualitative and quantitative validation of such models.
