A generalized analysis of close-contact melting processes in two-dimensional axisymmetric geometries

By introducing three shape factors and one volume parameter, the unified ma thematical description of close-contact melting processes in two;dimensiona l axisymmetric geometries is performed and a general expression of melting rate is obtained. The validity of this expression is confirmed by the avail able analytical results for six typical geometries respectively, which incl ude the both cases of internal melting and external melting. The limits of the model is also discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.