
156 
Analytical solutions 
~ 
0.4 
..... 
~ 
o  I 
5"" 
:E 
~ 
0.3 
~-a 
","0:: 
"t:I  ::; 
Q) 
0 
N.Cl 
~ 
~0.2 
§ 
''-:: 
o  e 
z 
8-
'" 
~ 
0.1 
0.2 
0.3 
Normalized time 
-r-tv
2
/D 
e=0.05 
e-0.15 
e-0.25 
0.4 
FIG.  3.6.  Variation  of  nonnalized  position 
of 
evaporating  boundary  with  nonnalized 
time: heat difiusivity D 
= 
Kt 
pC 
Oi) 
Stefan's problem for a sphere.  The detennination of the time taken 
to 
complete 
the 
inward solidification  of  a  molten sphere,  initially  at 
the 
fusion temperature, presents mathematical difficulties.  For example, 
the 
analyses by Pedroso and Domoto (1973) and by Riley, Smith, and Poots 
(1974) break down before the centre freezes.  Stewartson and Waechter 
(1976)  developed  a  complete  asymptotic  theory for  large  latent heat 
which  adequately  describes  the final  temperature profile  and they also 
detennined the first four terms of 
the 
asymptotic expansion of 
the 
time 
to 
complete freezing.  We outline here 
the 
essential  features  of their ap-
proach. More manipulative detail 
is given  by Stewartson and Waechter 
(1976). 
The liquid sphere 
O:s:;; 
r*:s:;; 
a 
is 
at 
the 
fusion temperature n  throughout 
and 
at 
time t* = 0 the surface temperature 
is 
dropped 
to 
and maintained 
at 
T\t. 
Convection and density changes 
on 
solidification are neglected as 
usual,  and radial  heat 
flow 
is 
assumed.  Non-dimensional variables  are 
defined 
to 
be 
r= 
r*/a, 
S=S*/a, 
T*-n 
r* 
8(r, 
t)= 
T*-T* 
-, 
F  w
a 
where S*(t*)  denotes the solidification  boundary and 
K, 
p,  c  are heat 
conductivity, density, and specific heat respectively. 
The 
problem 
is 
then