A fluid-structure interaction problem with the melting of water around a
heated horizontal circular cylinder is analysed with numerical simulations.
Dynamic meshing was used for evolving the flow domain in time as the melting
front extended radially outward from the cylinder; a node shuffle algorithm was
used to retain mesh quality across the significant mesh deformation. We
simulated one case above the density inversion point of water and one case
below, yielding pear-shaped melting fronts due to thermal plumes either rising
or falling from the cylinder, respectively. Results were compared with previous
experimental studies and the melting front profiles matched reasonably well and
melting rates were in agreement. We confirm that natural convection plays a
significant role in the transport of energy as the melt zone increases, and
needs to be considered for accurately modelling phase change under these
conditions.Comment: Accepted for the 12th International Conference on CFD in Oil & Gas,
Metallurgical and Process Industries. SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway. May 30th -
June 1st, 201
