GROWTH OF A SOLID FROM A LINE HEAT SINK IN A BINARY ALLOY

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical study on the growth of a solid from a line heat sink immersed in a binary alloy. The numerical model takes into account macroscopically the existence of a mushy zone separating the solid region from the liquid region. This zone consists of a mixture of liquid and dendrites. Interesting results shed light on the dependence of the thickness and the temperature of the mushy zone on several important dimensionless groups representing the physical parameters of the problem. It is found that the effect of some of these groups on the solidification process is significant and difficult to predict a priori. The mushy zone disappears when the values of the problem parameters are outside certain ranges.