Ignition of a Combustible Half Space

Author(s): W. E. Olmstead
Source: SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, Vol. 43, No. 1 (Feb., 1983), pp. 1-15
Published by: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2101140 .
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SIAM J. APPL. MATH. ? 1983 SocietyforIndustrialand Applied Mathematics
Vol.43,No. 1,February
1983 0036-1399/83/4301-0001
$01.25/0

IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE*

W. E. OLMSTEADt

Abstract.A halfspaceofcombustible materialis subjected

toan arbitrary fluxattheboundary
energy
whereconvection heatlossis also allowed.An asymptotic analysis
ofthetemperaturegrowthrevealstwo
conditionsnecessaryforignition to occur.Cases ofbothlargeand orderunityLewisnumber are shown
to lead to a nonlinear
integral equationgoverning thethermalrunaway. Some globaland asymptotic
properties equationareobtained.
oftheintegral
1. Introduction.The problemto be examinedis thatof theignition of a half
space(x _ 0) ofcombustible material subjectedto an arbitrary
energy fluxat one end
(x = 0). Energyloss is allowedthrough convection (or linearradiation)at thesame
end. In nondimensional formthetemperature 0(x,t) of thematerialand themass
fraction ofunexpended thesystem
fuelY(x, t) satisfy

(1.1) d-=da +AYe-10, x>0, t>0,

(1.2)
ay
-=L
_la2Y 1 -1
d -B- AYeE/, x >0, t>0,
at ax

(1.3) 8(0,t)= aO(0,t)-h(t), O(oo,t)=1, O(x,0)=1,

ax

(1.4) -y(0 t)=fY(0,t),

tY(o, t) = 1, Y(x, 0)=1.
ax
Both the temperature and massfraction have been normalized by their(constant)
initialvalues.Theexponential termin(1.1) and(1.2) representsa first
orderArrhenius-
typechemicalreaction.The nondimensional parameters A, B, L, E >0 respectively
denotetheDamkohlernumber, theheat-release parameter, theLewisnumberand
the activation energy(normalized by theinitialtemperature and thegas constant).
The parameters a, j3 _ 0 allowforboundary lossesofheatandmassrespectively. The
imposedenergyfluxh(t) represents energyinputat theboundary whenever h(t)> 0.
We willrequireonlythath'(t) be continuous.
The first analytical resultsforthistypeofproblemwereobtainedbyLinianand
Williams[1]. Theyconsidered an uncoupledversionof (1.1)-(1.4) withY - 1, and a
boundarycondition at x = 0 corresponding to constantenergyflux(h(t) 1) and no
heatloss (a = 0). Usingasymptotic analysisbasedon largeactivation energy(E >>1),
theyinvestigated thegrowth ofthetemperature. In theearlyphaseofgrowth, called
theinertstage,theypointedoutthatthereactiontermis insignificant andthesolution
evolvesas ifA = 0. The nextphase,calledthetransition stage,occursas thetem-
peraturenearsa critical valuesuchthatthereactiontermcan no longerbe ignored.
In thetransition stage,theyconsidered thetemperature to be someperturbation of
thatobtainedfromtheinertstate.Thisled to a nonlinear integralequationforthe
perturbation of the temperature at x = 0. Theiranalysisof thisnonlinearintegral
* Receivedby theeditorsOctober9, 1981. This researchwas supported
by theNationalScience
FoundationundergrantMCS-8002759,the U.S. Departmentof EnergyundergrantDE-AC02-
78ER04650, theNationalAeronautics and Space AdministrationundercontractNAS-33881and the
Office ofNavalResearchundergrantN00014-80-C-0196.
t DepartmentofEngineering
SciencesandAppliedMathematics, Northwestern
University,
Evanston,
Illinois60201.

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2 W. E. OLMSTEAD

equation revealed that as some critical time is reached, its solution becomes
unbounded.This "thermalrunaway"marksa breakdownin the perturbation scheme
of the transition stage,and hence signalsignition.
More recently,Kapila [2] has more thoroughlyexaminedthe problemfor the
full system(1.1)-(1.4) with constantenergyflux(h(t)-1) and no boundarylosses
(a =1 = 0). His basic analysisalso takes advantageof the simplificationsarisingfrom
settingL = 1; although,he does indicatehow deviationsfromthisspecial case affect
the results.The asymptoticanalysisin [2] of the inertand transitionsstages appears
to be more systematicthan that of [1], althoughthe same resultsare confirmed.
Kapila's investigation also coversthefullevolutionoftheproblemthroughtheignition
and post-ignition stages.
Kassoy and Poland [3] have also considereda systemsomewhatlike (1.1)-(1.4)
for a finiteregion (lxiI 1). For (1.2) theydrop the spatial derivativetermas might
be appropriatefor L = , and accordinglyin (1.4) theyhave no spatial boundary
conditionson Y. Theirboundaryconditionsdiffer from(1.3) in thatO(x,t) is specified
at x = +1.
The investigation-here is concernedonly withthe evolutionto ignitionof the
temperaturegovernedby the generalizedsystem(1. 1)-(1.4) forE >>1. We will allow
forthe cases whereL is 0(1) and 0(E112) as E -* o, and also treatthe case of L = X
in a spiritsimilarto [3]. Our resultsreveal certainconditionsinvolvinga and h(t)
whichindicatewhetheror not ignitionwill occur. This mightbe expected,because
insufficient energyinfluxor sufficientlylargelosses at theboundarycould preventthe
temperaturefromachievinga level where the reaction term becomes significant.
However,whenignitiondoes occur,we findthat,in all cases considered,the thermal
runawayis governedby the same nonlinearintegralequation derivedin [1] and [2].
While some aspects of this canonical integralequation have been examinedin
[1],[2] and [4],wewillinvestigate itfurtherhere.Some globaland asymptotic properties
of the solutionwill be obtained. We will also ptovide some resultsrelativeto the
criticalvalue of timeat whichthe solutionbecomes unbounded.Priorworkhas been
limitedto a numericaldetermination of thatvalue.
2. Large activationenergyanalysis with order unityLewis number.For the
situationof E >>1 and A >>1, an asymptoticanalysisof a systemsimilarto (1. 1)-(1.4)
has been exmployedby Kapila [2] as a refinement of the methodsused by Lini'anand
Williams[1]. The approach used here forthe more generalproblemwill be like that
of [2]. Thus we set
E1/2
(2.1) A =A0 e10c,
oc

where 6c > 1 is the criticaltemperaturenear which the reaction term becomes

of the smallparameter
This also motivatesthe definition
significant.
2

(2.2)

whichwill be used as the basis of an asymptoticanalysisof (1.1)-(1.4) in the limit

e - 0. The 0(1) constantAO will be specifiedlater. We will considera, 13and B to
be 0(1) in e. Ultimately,we will treatthe threecases in whichL is 0(1), 0(E-1/2)
and L = co;however,we beginwiththe assumptionthatL is 0(1).
In the initialor inertstage of the problem,with6 sufficiently
less than 6c, the
reactiontermwillbe exponentially small.This uncouplesthesystemintotwoindepen-

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 3

dentproblems forthetemperature andfuelmassfraction.

Theseinertstagesolutions
6, and Y, satisfy
(1.1)-(1.4)withA - 0 andaregivenby
t
(2.3) 61(x,t) = 1 + Ga(X, t-s)[h(s)- a] ds,
0
L-lt

(2.4) Y,(XIt) G=1-| (x,L1 lt-s) ds, t'O,0 .

x _O-
0

Here Gy(x,t) is a Green'sfunction

fortheheatequation,

(2.5) Gy(x t)= erfc[1/2 +Ytl/2]0.

e7-x2ye4x+t
(nt)~ ~ ~~2
Whilein theinertstage,we havethat6 = 61 + 0(e and Y = Y, +0 (e -l/?) -l/?)

withthissituation untilsuchtimethat6 becomescomparableto 6,. Since

persisting
6z attainsitsmaximum value at x = 0, a naturalchoiceforthecriticaltimet, near
whichthereactiontermbecomessignificant is givenby
t,c
tc)= 1+
1< 6ic= 81'(01 G.a(Otc,-s)[h(s) - a] ds
o
(2.6) t
=e=ta2cer
erfc(a!t' 2+ G(O
catJ~u..Sn)S
G. tc- s) h(s) ds.
0
It is importantto pointout thatsomeinterpretation of (2.6) is needed.Depending
uponh(t) and a, theremaybe no tcforwhich(2.6) is satisfied, thereby implying no
thermalrunaway.Indeedthiswillbe reflected laterin our criteriaforignition. On
theotherhandtherecouldbe morethanone valueoftcsatisfying (2.6). In thatcase
we clearlywanttheminimum valueoftcsatisfying (2.6).
Significant
departuresfromtheinertsolutions6, and Y, willoccuronlywhen6
nearsOc.Assuming thatthisdoes occur,we nextconsiderthetransition stagewhere
theperturbationsoftheinertsolutionsarenolongerexponentially small.To investigate
thisnextstage,we employan asymptotic structure whichis essentially thesame as
thatusedin [2]. Withthereactionreactiontermfirst becoming significantnearx = 0
and t = tc,newindependent variables6 and r areintroduced as

(2.7) x=e4, t=tc+er, 6>0, T>--0- .

6

(2.1), (2.2) and(2.7) into(1.1) and (1.2) we find

Substituting
j2a 2
(2.8) ed
a,r aW
+63/2AoYexp e c

(2.9) ~~~ay _la2Y 32 r62[0_ _0_1

(2.9) dY=L -2--e322B-'AoY exp|-[6c 6]j.

To continue
theanalysisforthecase whenL is 0(1), considertheexpansions

(2.10) 0 = 0,I(ee, tc+ Er) + e<o (6, r) + E 3/2<1(6, T) +...

(2.11) E 1
Y=Y r)+ 3/2 )+.

To utilizethesein (2.8) and (2.9), we need appropriate of 6, and Y, as

expansions

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4 W. E. OLMSTEAD

E -+0. It follows
from(2.3) that
(2.12) (E6, tc +Er) = 0, +E(ar-b6)+o(E),
where
(2.13) a=-(?'tc)=Ga(Oxtc)[h(O)-a]+ G. (0, tc-s)h'(s) ds,
ato0
(2.14) b= - (, tc)=h(tc)-ae atc erfc(at2 )-a Ga (0Otc- s)h (s) ds.
ax ) ?aj
From(2.4) itfollowsthat
(2.15) YI(E6, tC+Er) = YI(O, tc)+(1), YI(O,tc)=e Lltc erfc(3L"24'2).
In viewof(2.12) and(2.15),we findthatthereactiontermtakestheform

(2.16) Y expt ' [0c-1@-0 l = Y,(0,tc)exp [spo(e,T)+ar - b(+ o(l) .

The nextstepis to investigate

thesequenceofboundary valueproblemsassociated
withE,E whicharise from(2.8) and (2.9) togetherwiththe appropriate
boundaryandinitialconditions.
For O(E) itfollowsthat

(2.17) afP2(6,T) , > 'r>-0oo P00((,

ad (?')=?' -t=?'

az az0
- (0 r)=0
(2.18) e20({,)=O, (>0, r>-0o, z0(6I-oo)=O.

Here theconditions at 6 = Co havebeenignoredsincethisinnerexpansioncannotbe

expectedto meetthem.An appropriate matchingto an outerexpansion
willbe made
later.Solving(2.17) and(2.18) yields
(2.19) 'po(6,r) =fo(r), fo-00) = 0, zo(e, r) = go(r), go(-0) =0.

For O(E 3/2) itfollowsthat

2
(2.a (, T) =-Ao Y1(0, t,) efo ()+ar-bC, > 0 >
(2.20)
d (0, r) = , 01(,-) = ?,1

2
((, r) =B'LAoY1(0 tc)efo(r)+a-b, 6>0, T>-00,
(2.21)
az1
df1(?' )=?' zl(63, -00)=0.

at4 = Co havebeenignored.
Hereagaintheconditions Solving(2.20) and(2.21) yields

0 =Ao
T) y,(0 t ) ( +- eb() efo(r)+ar +fl(T), f(-00) )
bb
(2.22)
Zj(, T) = ( + e-b)
L YI(0, (tc() efo(T)+aT + g (T), gl(-00) = 0,

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 5

whilerequiring
that
(2.23) a>0, b>0.
The firstof theserequirementsis neededto satisfytheinitialcondition, whilethe
secondprevents thesolutionfrombecoming exponentially largeas 6 -+oo andthereby
allowinga matching to an outersolutionwhichis to follow.These conditions have
an important physical
implication
whichwillbe discussedlater.
To obtaintheappropriate behavioras oo, a newscalingis introduced as
(2.24) -112X, X > 0.

Then(2.8) and (2.9) taketheform

ao a2o
= 6
(2.25) ad= e 1/2AoYexp -

2
a~ 1a2Y r
(2.26) a =L 61/2B lAoYexp jLc[ -1 t]}.

Considertheexpansions
(2.27) 6 = 6 (E' 12X,tc+ ET) + E4o(X, T) +E 12'D(X,T)
(2.28) Y =YI(E'12X, tc+ ET)+ EZo(X, T) +E3Z1(X, )+*
Usingtheseas wellas (2.12) and (2.15) we findthatthereactiontermtakestheform

(2.29) Y exp{ c[0-1[l

-'1]j = Y1(0,tc)exp(X {exp [(Do(X ) + ar] +o ()}.

Thus,it is seen thatthereactiontermis exponentiallysmallas E -+0 forall X >0,

andhenceinsignificantindeterminingtheoutersolution.Theneedforrequiring b> 0
in (2.23) becomesapparenthere.
We can nowproceedto investigate thesequenceof boundaryvalue problems
associatedwithe,E3/2,* , whicharisefrom(2.25) and (2.26) together withthe
appropriate boundaryand initialconditions.
For ourpurposeit is onlynecessary to
considertheO(e) contribution.To thatorderitfollowsthat

(2.30) 2 > , T >-X, = 0,

4Do(oo,r) Do(X,-oo) = 0,
ar aX

(2.31.) az0 a2z0X>,I-o

LTd=x2,
'- =0, Zo(X
ZO(00,T) (-o= -0) = 0.

Here therehas notbeen anycondition prescribed for(D0or Zo at X = 0, sincethe

to
behaviorthereis be determined byasymptotic matchingto theinnersolution.For
thatmatchingconsider
(232 (Do(X T)+ e3/?l(X, r)+ . .. -l/2 r) -/XT
e po>(e +6e3/24
0(e
(2.32)
e[fo (T) - Ao YI,( tc)Xe fo(,)+aT, +0(E 3/2)

eZo (X, T) +e32Zl(X,r) +*... = ezo(e -12X T) + e 32z(e 12X, T) +

E go(T)+LAO YI(O tc)Xefo()+ar] + 0(E3/2).

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6 W. E. OLMSTEAD

itfollowsthat
Fromtheserelations

(2.34) (Do(O,r) = fo(r), -Do (0, r)- Ao-Yj(Otc) dfo(r)+ar

ax b
aZ0 LAoY1(O,
tc)fo) +a
(2.35) Z0(O,'r)= goT), -(0, r) e
ax 'bB eo~
of(2.34) is that
The implication

) = tc)e4)o(?,x)+ar
(2.36) -Do(0 AoYr(),
ax 'b
whichis thenused as a nonlinearboundaryconditionon bO(X,r) to supplement
(2.30). It is thenpossibleto expressthesolutionofthatproblemintheform

(2.37) 4 (X,r)=AoYI(O tc) e ?( ' ) ]d

4(t-o)

where4D(O,ca)= fo(r) mustbe determined

fromthenonlinear
integral
equation
(2.38) AY1(O, tc) 'r
foQr)=~~A efo(a)+aa
(2.38) fo(r)= J 1/2k _)1/2 da.

Exceptfordifferent parameters thisis thesameintegral equationobtainedin [1] and

[2] forthespecialcase ofh(t) - 1, a = 0. We willinvestigate
itssolutionlater.
Withfo(r) determinedby(2.38),itfollowsthat

(, L'12A0Y1(0,tc) exp[4L+fo o(or)+a]

andhencego(r)is givenby
L1/2A0Y(0 tc)
= -J
(2.40) go(r)
r efo(a)+a )1/2
-(D)o(0,r)
1/2
f(.
0) 112do-
bB 0 1/2(, B B
3. LargeactivationenergyanalysiswithlargeLewisnumber.The resultsof ? 2
are based uponL being0(1) in e. Here we willexaminetwosituations whereL is
thesameschemeas in ? 2. When
large.WhenL is O(e -1/2) we can followessentially
L = oo,thespatialderivative conditions
termin(1.2) isdeletedandthespatialboundary
in (1.4) areignored.
We beginbysetting
(3.1) L= -1/2Lo.

It thenfollowsthatno changein theanalysisof? 2 for6 is requiredto theorderthat

we haveconsidered there.SomeminorchangesintheanalysisforY areneeded.The
inertsolutiontakestheform
61/2L olt

(3.2) YI(X,t)= 1- G (X,'2 L t-s) ds,

fromwhichfollows

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 7

Equation(2.9) becomes
2 (2~
(3.4) Los'12 Y
sLoa B-AoYexp rc-

and (2.11) is replacedby

(3.5) I
Y(Be, tc+CT)+ ?3/ r)+sz1(e?
ZO(e, T)+*
The expansionofthereactiontermgivenin (2.16) is thesameexceptthatY1(0,tc)is
replacedbyunity.
For 0(?3/4) itfollowsthat

(3.6) a2
df2(5e,T) =9 f,{>9 ?, >-00
az0
dg ?'r) = ?' Z?(e'-00)= ?

by
whichis satisfied
(3.7) Zo(e, r) = go(T), go(-oo) = 0.
For O(e) itfollowsthat
2
(.=LO B
BlAo efo(r)+ar-bC >0 T >-00,

(3.8)
-z (?,
az T) = ?, Z1(el-0) = O,
by
whichis satisfied

(3.9) zj(q, T)==LoA e( +e-b )efo(T)+aT + g,(T), g(-O) =0.

As before,thedetermination behavioras (or

of the appropriate requiresa
ofthespatialvariables.Fortheanalysisof0,thescalingis thesameas (2.24)
rescaling
forY we mustuse
leadingto (2.25); however,
(3.10) 4t= ? 14X', X'>O.

Then(2.26) is replacedby

(3.11) d
Lo-=
aya2y ./2LoB-'AoY exp cw o1
-

smallas e -* forallX' > 0. Theexpansion

termisexponentially
As beforethereaction
(3.12) y = Y(S 314X', tc + ET) + s 3/4Zo(X,, 'r) + sZl (X', r) +
replaces(2.28).
For 0(8 3/4) itfollowsthat
aZ0 a2z0 >
(3.13)Lo ax- 2 X > 0, >-o0, ZO(o,oT) =0, Zo(X',-o0) = 0.

to theinnersolution.Thatis
The behaviorofZo as X' -* is foundbymatching
3/ Zo(X'I T) + BZA(X', r) +**. = E 34zo(e 2X, T) + e(e '14X, r)+~ **.

(3.14) g
=e3/4 [go() + B Xef + (e

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8 W. E. OLMSTEAD

Fromthisfollows

(3.15) Z0(O,i) = go(r), -(0 (0-)= '

BoAefo(T)+aT
ax' Bb
for6 isthesameas in? 2 withYI(O, tC)= 1,fo(r) is againdetermined
Sincetheanalysis
equation(2.38).Thenitfollowsthat
bytheintegral
1

L112A'~exp[ L4( )+fo (0) + ao-]

(3.16) ZO(X',r)=L 0j l1p 1/2( dro-,

andhencego(r)is givenby
L 1/2AO T
_1/2
_1/2
ef_(_)+a_ _

bB ir1/2(r-a)/ B B
ThisconcludestheanalysisforL being0 (e 1/2). It has been similarto thatof ? 2,
andindeedtheproblemhasbeenreducedto to thesameintegral equation(2.38).
Nextwe considerthesituationwhereL = 0). Forthiscase we replace(1.2) by

(3.18) aY = B-1AYe -E10 x >0,

at t>0

and (1.4) by

(3.19) Y(x, 0) = 1.

Thesetogether with(1.1) and (1.3) comprise thesystem to be examinedforthiscase.

A similar system hasbeeninvestigated in[3] fora finitedomainanddifferent boundary
conditions.
Utilizing thesamerelations forA, s, 01, 6, 6 and X as introduced
in ? 2, we again
arriveat (2.8) while(2.9) is replacedby

(3.20) d _ 112B A0Y exp | c 1]}

The same expansionof 6 as in (2.10) can be used and no expansionforY is

ofthereactionexponential,
needed.Instead,aftersimplification (3.20) canbe solved
forY andsubstitutedintotheexpandedformof(2.8). As in ? 2,
2

Integrating at X =
(3.20) subjectto theinitialcondition -00 yields
[ 1 -2B'1A j a) + ao-be] do + o(esl/2)
J
Y =exp [(po(1, exp
(3.22) = 1 -e 1lA0
['po(2,
oA exp + ao-- be]do-+ o(e 1/2)
_00

Upon utilizingthisexpansionin (2.8), we findthatthedetermination of'poand

'pl arethesameas thatof ? 2 withY1(0, tc) = 1. Also theouterexpansion(2.27) and
thematching are thesameas in ? 2. Thisagainleads to thesameintegral equation
(2.38) withYI(0, tc) = 1.

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 9

ThusithasbeenfoundthatinboththecasesoflargeLewisnumberconsidered,
thesameintegralequationoccursas foundfortheorderunitycase. It shouldalso be
emphasizedthattheanalysishereagainrequireda > 0, b > 0 as in ? 2.
4. Analysisoftheintegral
equation.The resultsof ? 2 and ? 3 haveshownthat
the O(E) perturbationof the temperature6 above the inertsolution6I is governed
bythenonlinear integral equation(2.38). Here someoftheproperties
ofitssolution
willbe investigated.
It is convenientto introduce newvariables

(4.1) u(q) =fo(T), = aT +log (Aom) > ,

where
Y(0, tc) = e32L-tc erfc(3L 112t2), L = 0(1),
L = 0 (E 112) orL o
Then(2.38) takestheform
rXe U(C)+C
4.3) u(71)=J 1/2( _;1/2 4.

In [1] someasymptotic analysisof (4.2), as corrected

in [2], together
withsome
numerical analysishas beendone.Theseresultsindicatethatthereis a critical value
'I * such thatu (qr) becomes logarithmicallyunboundedas 'q 'r *. In particular, -

u() = -2 l- u
+ log T1] +o(1), *

withqr* havingbeen numericallyevaluated as

(4.5) 71* -0.43 1.

It shouldbe notedthat 1*is a numberindependent ofanyoftheparameters ofthe

original problem.
In [1] and[2], q * has also playeda rolein thespecification ofAo. In thatwork,
Ao hasbeenchosenso thatq = q * corresponds to r = 0. In termsoftheoriginaltime
variable,thismeansthattheignition timecoincideswithtc.Whilethisspecification
has someadvantage, italso hasthedisadvantage thatAo itselfwillthendependupon
tc and henceOc.Thustherelationship (2.1) whichdetermines 6c takeson a rather
complicated form.
Ourpreference hereis simply to set
(4.6) Ao= 19
whichsimplifies(2.1). Then the ignitiontimet* is givenby

(4.7) t t + EC -- log 1 2

In thisway,Ocis straightforwardly
determined by(2.1) withtcfollowing
from(2.6).
Then (4.7) describestheignition
timeas a perturbation of tc dependentupon the
parameters a, b andm.
Thereis an alternative
formof(4.3) thatis useful.Consider

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10 W. E. OLMSTEAD

(4.3) becomes
whereupon
* e
(4.9) v(p) =p1/2e 1/2J _ dc.

Theanalysis conditions
sufficient
of(4.3) isbegunbyfinding fora unique,bounded
it must
solution.Thiswillyielda lowerboundon i*. Clearlyif(4.3) has a solution,
be a nonnegative.Thus we can considerfunctionsu(7) whichare continuous and
0 _ u(Qq) 'M. Then

(4.10) TU (71)-| or 1/2( _e-.)1/2d- M| 0 T/

12 l2d M

Hence thisoperatormaps the indicatedspace intoitselfprovidedthatexp(ri)

M exp (-M) or
(4.11) q -M + log M ' 1.
Thenuponexamination ofthecontraction oftheoperatorit followsthat
properties
foranyul(i7) andU2(q) inthespace

(4.12) sup ITu1-Tu2= sup 1/7' e-0/2 e sup juU-u21,

X}>-00 71>-00 00 IT
X (>-oO

whenever
whereUt(q)lies betweenuj(q) and U2(rq). Thus we have a contraction
exp (M+i)< 1 or
(4.13) 1<-M.
(4.11) and (4.13) corresponds
The largestvalue of q1satisfying to M= 1. We then
concludethatthereexistsa uniquecontinuous solutionof (4.3), 0 < u(q) 1, for
-o < r < - 1. Fromthisitcanthenbe inferred that
(4.14) 1.
Lateran improvementuponthisestimate willbe made.
To nextshowthatu (71)is alwaysincreasing, to yield
(4.3) is differentiated
In7 eU(t)+t
(4.15) U'(q1)= u (71)+ 1/2( _;1/2 UV;) d;.

Since u(-oo)=0 and u(q)>0, -oo < <7*, thenit mustbe thatu'(71)>0 forsome
interval,-Oo < 77< 771.Suppose thatu'(q1l)= 0, then(4.15) implies

(4.16) 0=u&(i)+ J 7
122
e (C+t
U

__
1/2 U'(;) d;

sinceit impliesu (77l)<0. Thuswe concludethatno such

But (4.16) is contradictory
77m and
exists hence
(4.17) u'(q)>0,0 1 >-co.
To obtainan upperboundon q *, let us supposethat(4.3) has a continuous
on 11*can be deduced.By notingthat
solutionon (-oo, q *) and see whatlimitation
(4.18) ( pfl/2>(n* pfl/2, p <77 <1 *,
itthenfollowsfrom(4.3) that
(4.19) u(71)=Tu(q) I(n7), -oo<7 <i

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 11

where
1 gX' e u(p)+p
(4.20) I 7 -rl/ o 2dp

ofI(q) and(4.19) follows

Fromthisdefinition
1 eu()+Y 1 e
(4.21) I'(71)= --1- ,* *_ 112-
1/2(n 11-7 =
/r7
(*_71/2
q* )12

ofthisdifferential
Integration gives
inequality

(4.22) 1-e 1T" /2 *J(, e 2dp =e'*erfc[(r1*-r1)lI2]

As -*, I& )eI(r1*)>0

I (4.22) impliesthat
and erfc[(q*i1 )l/2]_*1;therefore,
el?1 or
(4.23) 71*-?
Thuswe havean upperboundon q * to complement(4.14).
behaviorofu(7) as 7 -+ -oc, assumethat
To obtaintheasymptotic
(4.24) u(7) =cle' +c2e2 +c3e3" +... 7 C-O.

From(4.3) thenfollows

|71/2( _;1/2 d; = 1/2(,q;)/ [1 +c,Cl+ (C2 +-Cl2 e 2f+ ** d;

(4.25) +oI211+2 2+Coe311+..
7 C1
+ 2.+C+C2 t

2 2V213
Equating(4.24) and (4.25) impliesthat
1
(4.26) C1=1, C2= - C3= ,29
v 2i 21F3
To obtain the asymptoticbehavior of u(q) as q - 71*, it is more convenientto
investigate limitforsimilartypesofintegral
(4.9) as p -* cc.Thisasymptotic equations
hasbeenexamined byHandelsman andOlmstead[5] andOlmsteadandHandelsman
[6]. Assumethat
v(p) = log{C p 1/2+ Cp -1/2 +R (p)}
(4.27) ll lC C2 1+po,
(4.27) ~~= log p+ log C1+ Cp -+***, p -+ 009

whereR (p) = O(p-3/2) as p -* cc.From(4.9) follows

P e V(W)-W-1*
(42)
(4.28) p l1/2en _12 eeX dw = 7E[CjFj(p) +C2F2(p)+P(p)],
1/2(

where

F (p) e
=p1/2 dw =e -1/2PKo(.-
o( p
(4.29) )1/2

= log p + (2 log 2- y)- 'log p +O (p ),

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12 W. E. OLMSTEAD

(4.30) Fd(p)=p12 e )1/2 2d=pF(p)=1+2-

2 logp+OOP- ), p-*O
o(P-@ P

o-
e wR
(4.31) ~112JP ew'l R (w) dw I (w)
(4.3 1) P(p@)= p l dw+ O( -+
_dp3/2 ), e09
Here Ko(1/2p) is a modifiedBessel function withy beingEuler's constant.The
asymptotic behavior fromexpansion
in(4.29) and(4.30)follows oftheBesselfunction;
whilein (4.31) resultsfrom[6] havebeenutilized.
Upon equating(4.27) and (4.28),itfollowsthatO(log p) and O(p-1 logp) yield
1/2 -
(4.32) C2 = Cl e
2'
while0(1) yields

(4.33) logCi = -[log 1/2+ l1 ] =

lo

Thislatterresulthasnoparticularuseotherthantoimply relationship
someconsistency
betweentheunknowns q * andR (p).
behavior
In termsofu(7), theresults(4.27) and (4.32) yieldtheasymptotic

(4.34) U(7) = -o (7+ log * n -+*q

- Tl*-7) 1-/2)+ _+0?( * _nP
This resultis compatiblewith(4.4) and agreeswitha moreextensiveexpansion
considered byKapila[4].
To improveuponthelowerboundforq * givenby (4.14), an upperboundon
u (,) is sought.Towardthatgoal,consider(4.15) andutilizeu'(71)>0 to obtain

u
(4.35)u'(,q)- u(u()' e |) co 1/2() - /2d = e rn 1u/2(();1/2 d;.
operatorin (4.3) yields
oftheintegral
Inversion

(4.36) e ' d J dC.1/2(?l;)1/2d.

Thusfollows

(4.37) u'(71) - u(71)_5

e2u(-n)+2,n 'q > - ,0 lim e -"u(71)=1,
wherethe differential
inequalityhas been amendedwithan initialconditioncom-
behaviorofu(r) givenby(4.24).
patiblewiththeasymptotic
The differential (4.37) suggests
inequality of
theconsideration

(4.38) U'1) - U(n) = e2U(n)+2n, 1> - o, lim e-"U(q) = 1,

let
as a meansto obtainan upperboundon u(71).To establishthatrelationship,
=
w() u()-U(,q) so that
(4.39) w'(ri) - w(rq)' e2,(e2u('") -e2U( )) =2e2"+2i1(")W( 0

ofthisinequality
liesbetweenu (7) and U(rq).Integration
whereut(-q) gives

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 13

where

(4.41) q() - J (1+ 2e

-N
2C+2u(0)) d; - r +N+e 2u(j) (e2- -e-2N), -N<j <

Sinceonlyq < 0 is ofinterest,

then
(4.42) q(q)-N +e2,70D
andhence

(4.43) w(7) _exp[e2u('t)1lim eNW(-N) = 0.

that
Thisestablishes
(4.44) u(1)_ U(q), 71>-??
of thisupperbound is that U(71)-+ oo as 1 -*
The significance and therefore
(4.45) r** c
differential
To analyzethenonlinear isused,
equation(4.38),a changeofvariables
(4.46) y(r) = exp [V2e U(Qq)], r = 1 + 12e".
(4.38) to theform
Thisconverts
(4.47) y'(r)=[y (r)]', r> 1, y(1) = e
thaty(r)-* Xo
be solved,itdoeshavetheproperty
Whilethisproblemcannotexplicitly
as r r * = 1 + V2e" The object here is to obtain a lower bound on r** and hence
on 71*. To achieve that,considera relatedproblem

(4.48) 9'(r)= (r)], r> 1, 9(1) = e

Thisproblemhasthesolution
wherer>1 is a constant.
Vr2 (FP1)V-2(
9(r)=e )(r -
A

(4.49) [1-e r-

and A(r)- oo as r- rwhere

(4.50) r= 1+ e-(r-)(r_1)-l
In a manneranalogousto thatusedto showthatu(re)'-U&i), itfollowsthat
(4.51) y(r)=9(r), 1-=r <minQ P).
Since ; decreasesmonotonically r, thissuggeststhatwe taker r;
withincreasing
whereupon, r is givenbythetranscendental
equation
(4.52) r- 1 =e-
whosesolutionis
(4.53) ;=ir = 1.318**
Theninviewof(4.51) itfollowsthatr= r**,andhence

(4.54) 71**>'log,--o0.797.**

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14 W. E. OLMSTEAD

Thus we have been able to establishthat

(4.55) -0.797 **- 71*'- ?,
whichis compatiblewiththe numericallycomputedvalue givenby (4.5).
5. Summaryand conclusions. Our investigationof the system(1.1)-(1.4) has
focusedupon the evolutionof the temperatureO(x,t) throughthe inertand transition
stagesto ignition.The cases of bothlarge and orderunityLewis numberhave allowed
a similarline of analysis.The end-temperature 0(0, t) in each case is givenby
(5.1) 0(0, t) = oI (0, t) + Efo(r) + O (e ),
givenby(2.3), and fo(ir)is thesolutionofa nonlinearintegral
where01(0,t) is explicitly
equation (4.3). The temperatureremainsnear theinertsolutionuntilit nearsa critical
value 0, at a some time t,. Here 0, is given by (2.1) withAO = 1, and then t, is
determinedas the minimumvalue satisfying (2.6).
Two key requirementsof the asymptoticanalysisare indicatedin (2.23), namely
that

(5.2) 0 < a = t(O, tc)= G. (0, tc)[h(0) - a] + G (0, tc- s)h'(s) ds

at 0c~ j~

and
(53) ~~ao1 t

(5.3) 0 < b - -)(0, (thc) - aecr2 erfc(at'/2)2 -aJ G (0,tc - s)h(s) ds.
ax ?
These conditionshave some interesting physicalimplications,sincetheanalysisimplies
thattheyare necessaryfora transitionwhichleads to ignition.By (5.2) it is implied
thatthe end temperaturemustbe strictly increasingwithtime as the criticallevel 0c
is attained.This also supportsthe requirementthat tc be the minimumvalue of t
satisfying(2.6), because 01(0,tc) would need to be nondecreasingat the firstinstance
that the level of 0c is reached. In (5.3) it is impliedthattheremustbe an influxof
heat at the boundarywhenthe criticallevel is attained,therebysuggestingthatsome
additionalheatingis requiredto carrythe processon to ignition.
In thetransition stagefo(ir)becomes increasingly important,and indeedfo(ir)-e X
as re- * is a signalof ignition.The ignitiontimet* = tc+ Er* is givenby (4.7) as

1
(5.4) t* t + E [7 log (Tb)].

Here 71*is a number,independentof any parameter,whichis determinedfromthe

nonlinerintegralequation forfo(ir).The constantm is given by (4.2). It has been
shownthat

(5.5) -0797*
7*,

whichis consistentwiththe numericallycalculatedvalue (4.5).

The conditionsa>0, b >0 play a significantrole in the determinationof t*.
Keeping in mindthatthe perturbationtermin (5.4) is to be small comparedto tc,we
can seek the relationshipof small values of a or b to the value of tc.In particular,
the propertiesof 01 are such thatifeithera is increasedor h is decreased (forall t),
thenboth a and b are decreased withtcbeingincreased.This suggeststhatthe onset
of ignitioncan thusbe indefinitelydelayed.

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 IGNITION OF A COMBUSTIBLE HALF SPACE 15

As to thegeneralbehavioroffo(r),itfollowsfrom(4.17) that
(5.6) f,(T)>0, r>-O0.
From(4.24) and(4.26) follows

(5.7) fo(T)=e aT
+ -) 2aT + d_ ( b 3aT

+ 2 m) e e
..

f()=m + 21-3 ~m 'r +-oo

while(4.34) gives
1 * * 2a'/2\
(5.8) fo(T)=--log(Tr-r)-( +log 1/2 1+ ' T > *,
2 ~~~Ir ia(r -,r)
where

(5.9) T* 71-log109 (12)]2

The problem(1.1)-(1.4) investigated herehas a considerablymoregeneralform

and widerscopeof application thanhas beenpreviously considered.The resultsare
in agreement withthe constantheat flux,no boundaryloss situationexaminedby
Liinanand Williams[1] and Kapila [2]. Owingto thisgenerality,itmightbe thought
thattheseresultscould be comparedwithsome morerecentworkof Linianand
Williams[7] on ignitionby a stepchangein thesurfacetemperature. Formally this
wouldcorrespond to specifying h(t)= a60 in (1.3) and theninterpretingtheresults
givenherein thelimita -e 00. Unfortunately,theasymptotic analysiscarriedouthere
does notholdin thatlimit;however, themodifications neededto considerthatcase
arecurrentlybeinginvestigated.
Acknowledgments. Considerableinsightinto this problemhas been gained
throughdiscussions A. K. Kapilaof RensselaerPolytechnic
withProfessor Institute.
ThomasJ. Maharof Northwestern
Creditis also due Professor forhis
University
towardfindingthe lowerbound on 71* in ? 4.
contribution

REFERENCES
[1] A. LI1AN AND F. A. WILLIAMS, Theory
ofignition solidbyconstant
ofa reactive energy
flux,
Combustion
Sci. Tech., 3 (1971), pp. 91-98.
[2] A. K. KAPILA, Evolutionofdeflagration
in a coldcombustible toa uniform
subjected energy
flux,Int.
J.Engrg.Sci.,19 (1981),pp.495-509.
[3] D. R. KASSOY AND J. POLAND, Thethermal explosion bya constant
confined temperature
boundary:
I-The inductionperiodsolution,thisJournal,39 (1980), pp. 412-425.
[4] A. K. KAPILA, Privatecommunication.
[5] R. A. HANDELSMAN AND W. E. OLMSTEAD, Asymptotic to a class of nonlinear
solution Volterra
integralequations,thisJournal,22 (1972), pp. 373-384.
[6] W. E. OLMSTEAD AND R. A. HANDELSMAN, Asymptotic to a class ofnonlinear
solution Volterra
integralequationsII, thisJournal,30 (1976), pp. 180-189.
[7] A. LI*IAN AND F. A. WILLIAMS, Ignition solidexposedtoa stepinsurface
ofa reactive temperature,
thisJournal,36 (1979), pp. 587-603.

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