Abstract

In this study, melting of finite-length aluminum nanowires is investigated using a mechanics-based phase field (PF) model in which the deviatoric transformation strain provides a driving force for melting. The interface tension and variable surface energy boundary conditions (VSEBCs) are included. Evolution of the melt solution is obtained by solving the coupled system of Ginzburg–Landau equation for melting, elasticity equations and a kinetic equation for deviatoric transformation strain using COMSOL multiphysics software. Melting temperature is calculated for various nanowire lengths and radii which shows a good agreement with molecular dynamics (MD) and analytical data. Effect of the VSEBCs and insulation boundary conditions (IBCs) on melting temperature is investigated, which revealed that the variable surface energy (VSE) is the main factor in dependence of the melting temperature on the nanowire length. The deviatoric transformation strain also shows a length-dependent effect on the melting temperature. The obtained results help for a better understanding of melting mechanism of nanowires and their thermal applications.

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