Journal of Porous Media

Finite-Amplitude Analysis of Convection in Rotating Mushy Layers for Small Variations in Retardability

ABSTRACT

We consider the solidification of a binary alloy in a mushy layer subject to Coriolis effects, a near-eutectic approximation, and large far-field temperature. We study the dynamics of the mushy layer in the form of small deviations from the mushy layer of uniform retardability. Finite-amplitude results obtained by using a weak nonlinear theory provide differential equations for the amplitude, corresponding to both stationary and oscillatory convection. In addition, the regions in which the forward bifurcation is stable are also computed for the mushy-layer parameter domain.