Effect of thermal convection on directional solidification of succinonitrile-acetone alloys: Comparison between experimental and numerical studies

In directional growth, the coupling of convection and solid-liquid interfac e morphology is pointed out. Experimental and numerical results are compare d. Experimentally, the solid-liquid interface of transparent succinonitrile -acetone samples is characterized in situ by direct observation and interfe rometric techniques to study its motion. Numerically, the computational mod el based on the enthalpy-porosity formulation and finite volume approximati on developed for a configuration close to experimental one. Effect of conve ction on solid-liquid interface morphology is studied in terms of modificat ion of macroscopic inter-face shape and position which in turn influences t he morphological instability dynamics.