Thermal analysis of an innite slab during quenching

SUMMARY This paper deals with nite-element solution of two-dimensional convection{diusion equation in an innite domain, arising out of quenching of an innite slab. The solution gives the quench front temperature as a function of various model parameters, such as Biot number and Peclet number. The results show good agreement with available closed-form solutions, thus validates the numerical procedure adopted. It is therefore expected that the present method of solution may be extended to quenching problems involving heat generation and precursory cooling, etc., in various other geometries. Copyright ? 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.