Benchmark solutions in CFD are indispensible for testing
and validation of new algorithms and codes. For flows
involving heat transfer coupled to solid-liquid phase change
such benchmark solutions do not exist. A set of benchmark
problems has recently been proposed for melting of metals
and waxes, but there are large discrepancies in the results
obtained by various researchers. Moreover, there has been a
controversy among researchers regarding the nature of the flow.
We are developing CFD codes and conducting extensive computational
studies in order to understand the nature of the flow, and to
establish benchmark solutions for one such benchmark problem,
the melting of tin in a squate cavity heated from a vertical side.
The issues involved are discussed in
EJDE Conf.10:55-69, 2003 ,
the controversy is resolved in
NHT B 44(3) 2003 (.pdf),
and a benchmark solution is presented in detail in
IJNMF 48:1283-1308 2005
( .pdf ).
Plots of streamlines and interface computed by three schemes on three grids:
Movie of the flow computed by centered scheme on two grids:
