3.

2 March 2, 2005: Moving Body, Stability

Recall: vacuum arc remelting. Setup, geometry, frame of reference, relative z-velocity uz < 0. Convective
q =“H
u” or ρcp
u, Back up a couple of steps:
flux

∂T ∂2T ∂T
ρcp = k 2 − ρcp uz + q̇ (3.9)
∂t ∂z ∂z
Cancel ρcp :
∂T ∂2T ∂T q̇
= α 2 − uz + (3.10)
∂t ∂z ∂z ρcp
Go through terms: regular accumulation, regular second derivative with thermal diffusivity. Next the con-
vective term, discuss in terms of units and derivatives. Rewrite again in terms of substantial derivative:

DT ∂2T q̇
=α 2 + (3.11)
Dt ∂z ρcp

Steady-state, no generation: temperature depends only on z, not t:

d2 T dT
α 2
− uz =0 (3.12)
dz dz
Simple solution using the characteristic polynomial, R = 0, uz /α. Result:
�u z�
z
T = A + B exp (3.13)
α
Fit to boundary conditions: z = 0 ⇒ T = TM , z = ∞ ⇒ T = Ti so use erf-style:
T − Ti �u z �
z
= exp (3.14)
TM − Ti α
2
Lengthscale=α/uz . Graph, noting that uz is negative. Titanium α = 0.1 cms , uz ∼ 5 min
cm
= 121 cm
s , so
α/uz = 1.2cm, about 1/2 inch. So only the bottom few centimeters are heated at all, even at this low
velocity!
Heat flux into the bottom:
∂T uz �u z�
z
qz = −k = −k(Tm − Ti ) exp = −ρcp uz (Tm − Ti ) (3.15)
∂z α α
Note ρcp (Tm −Ti ) is the enthalpy per unit volume to heat metal to its melting point. Mult by uz for enthalpy
per unit area to heat metal coming at a rate of uz , which is a cool result.
This is heat flux into the solid. What about into the liquid? Remember last time:
dX
q
s · n
ˆ − q

· n
ˆ = −ρ∆HM (3.16)
dt
Replace dX/dt with uz and we’re done, need to supply the heat of melting and of getting to this temperature.
Here larger

q
than

qs , both positive, so dX/dt positive.

Stability Is the VAR melt front stable? What if we have a bump, or groove?
Solidification: is the growing solid shell stable?
What about a solid particle growing into an undercooled liquid?
What about alloy solidification?

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