We consider a fully practical finite element approximation of the following degenerate system$$\frac{\partial }{\partial t}\rho \left(u\right)-\nabla .\left(\alpha \left(u\right)\nabla u\right)\ni \sigma \left(u\right){\left|\nabla \phi \right|}^2,\nabla .\left(\sigma \left(u\right)\nabla \phi \right)=0$$subject to an initial condition on the temperature, $u$, and boundary conditions on both $u$ and the electric potential, $\phi$. In the above $\rho \left(u\right)$ is the enthalpy incorporating the latent heat of melting, $\alpha \left(u\right)\>0$ is the temperature dependent heat conductivity, and $\sigma \left(u\right)\ge 0$ is the electrical conductivity. The latter is zero in the frozen zone, $u\le 0$, which gives rise to the degeneracy in this Stefan system. In addition to showing stability...

We consider a fully practical finite element approximation of the following degenerate system $$\frac{\partial }{\partial t}\rho \left(u\right)-\nabla .\left(\alpha \left(u\right)\nabla u\right)\ni \sigma \left(u\right){\left|\nabla \phi \right|}^2,\nabla .\left(\sigma \left(u\right)\nabla \phi \right)=0$$ 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...

Regularity results of free boundaries for Stefan type problems are discussed. The influence that curvature may have on the behavior of the free boundary is studied and various open problems are also mentioned.