An r-adaptive finite element method for the solution of the two-dimensional phase-field equations

An adaptive moving mesh method is developed for the numerical solution of two-dimensional phase change problems modelled by the phase-field equations. The numerical algorithm is relatively simple and is shown to be more efficient than fixed grid methods. The phase-field equations are discretised by a Calerkin finite element method. An adaptivity criterion is used that ensures that the mesh spacing at the phase front scales with the diffuse interface thickness.