Analysis of the factors affecting the interface deflection in the verticalBridgman configuration

A transient finite-element numerical simulation of the heat transfer and me lt convection has been performed for the vertical Bridgman growth configura tion in order to investigate the solid-liquid interface deflection. The num erical simulation is realized with the help of the finite element software FIDAP (TM). A free surface model is applied for the description of the movi ng solid-liquid interface. By a -dimensional analysis of the factors which affect the interface deflection, the influence of the nondimensional ratio delta = VpH/(k(L)G(L)) on the interface curvature is studied. The dimension less interface curvatures are computed for different values of the interfac e rate V-p, the latent heat of fusion H, the liquid thermal gradient G(L) a nd the thermal conductivity of liquid k(L). Finally a simple expression whi ch contains the quantity delta is proposed for the interface deflection.