A new alternative numerical approach applied to free-moving boundary problems

In this paper, the heat conduction problem of a buried pipe due to a sudden change in the free surface temperature is analyzed. Three main parameters were analyzed, the depth of the buried pipe, the free surface temperature and the radius of the pipe. The shape and the movement of the freezing surface is investigated through new numerical front tracking algorithm and mesh refinement for the free surface. The boundary element method is used as a numerical tool in he analysis, Results show a good agreement with the physical behavior of the problem, especially as no analytical solution is available for such a problem.