Similarity solutions describing the melting of a mushy layer

A model of the melting of a mushy region in the absence of fluid flow is pr esented. Similarity solutions are obtained which are used to describe melti ng from a hot plate with and without the generation of a completely molten region. These solutions are extended to describe the melting of a mushy reg ion in contact with a hot liquid. A significant feature of melting mushy re gions is that the phase change occurs internally by dissolution. Our soluti ons for melting of a mushy region are used to investigate this internal pha se change and are compared with the classical Neumann solutions for melting of a pure substance. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.