SOLVING THE STEFAN PROBLEM WITH THE RADIAL BASIS FUNCTION COLLOCATION MEHOD

Abstract

In this paper the classical Stefan problem in its enthalpy formulations is solved with the radial basis function collocation method. The phase change is treated using the general source-based method of V.R. Voller & C.R. Swaminathan. Tests include numerical convergence studies for the two-dimensional Dirichlet jump problem with a solid-liquid phase change. The numerical results are compared with a semi-analytical solution given by K.A. Rathjen & L.M. Jiji, and with finite-volume method. The suitability of the radial basis function collocation method is demonstrated using a realistic engineering problem involving a charging tank for latent cool thermal storage.