Numerical simulation of rheological behavior in melting metal using finite volume particle method

In multiphase flow analyses, rheological behavior has a significant influence on not only the heat and mass transfer but also the dynamics of the solid and fluid during melting and solidification. Based on previous work, it is possible to consider rheological behavior by estimating the viscosity of the liquid phase with its compositional development. The present study investigates this rheological behavior through simulations of multiphase heat transfer problems using the moving finite volume particle (FVP) method, by introducing a viscosity model that takes into account viscosity changes due to phase changes. To validate the applicability of this viscosity model, a series of melting experiments using Wood's metal are conducted, and the observed melting characteristics form the basis for computer simulations and 3D numerical analysis using the FVP method. Good agreement between simulation and experiment indicates that the proposed viscosity model reproduces well the rheological behavior during melting. (author)