The Journal of the Australian Mathematical Society. Series B. Applied Mathematics

Table of Contents - 1983 - Volume 24, Issue 03  

Research Article

Thermal ignition in a reactive slab with unsymmetric boundary temperatures

K. K. Tama1 and P. B. Chapmana2

a1 Department of Mathematics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3G I, Canada.

a2 Department of Mathematics, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009.

Abstract

The problem of thermal ignition in a reactive slab with unsymmetric temperatures equal to 0 and T is considered. Steady state upper and lower solutions are constructed. It is found that T plays a critical role. Results similar to the case with symmetric boundary temperatures are expected when T is small. When T is sufficiently large, there is only one steady state upper or lower solution. The time dependent problem is then considered. Phenomena suggested by studying the upper and lower steady state solutions are confirmed.

(Received April 13 1981)

(Revised March 08 1982)