This note is concerned with a fixed-grid finite difference method for the solution of one-dimensional free boundary problems. The method solves for the field variables and the location of the boundary in separate steps. As a result of this decoupling, the nonlinear part of the algorithm involves only a scalar unknown, which is the location of the moving boundary. A number of examples are used to study the applicability of the method. The method is particularly useful for moving boundary problems with various conditions at the front.

Issue Section:
Technical Briefs
Keywords:
boundary-value problems, finite difference methods, heat transfer, two-phase flow, Stefan problems, parabolic systems
Topics:
Algorithms, Boundary-value problems, Finite difference methods, Scalars, Stability, Heat transfer, Two-phase flow
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