RKPM numerical simulation for photothermal characteristic of n-octadecane with melting process

To establish coupling algorithm of radiation and conduction for one-dimensional translucent material with phase change, to understand the melting process of n-octadecane with infrared irradiation source, and to obtain the temperature distribution in the material, the modified equivalent heat capacity method is used for latent heat absorption and release with transient heat transfer, the gradient refractive index method is used for radiative transfer in variable refractive index medium, and a calculation method is established for phase change process of coupling radiation and conduction of one-dimensional semitransparent materials based on the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM). The temperature response characteristics of n-octadecane with phase change were measured experimentally under the infrared radiation heating condition to verify the accuracy of numerical method. The results show that numerical simulation values match the experimental values well both in the temperature level and time characteristics, indicating that the method has very good accuracy. The selection of convective heat transfer coefficient has a certain influence on the simulation results.