Finite element approximation of a Stefan problem with degenerate Joule heating
We consider a fully practical finite element approximation of the following degenerate system subject to an initial condition on the temperature, u, and boundary conditions on both u and the electric potential, ϕ. In the above p(u) is the enthalpy incorporating the latent heat of melting, α(u) > 0 is the temperature dependent heat conductivity, and σ(u) > 0 is the electrical conductivity. The latter is zero in the frozen zone, u ≤ 0, which gives rise to the degeneracy in this Stefan...