Numerical study of influence of J×B force on melt layer under conditions relevant to ITER ELMs

The influence of the J×B force on the topographical modification of W targets during a type-I-like ELM in ITER has been studied numerically. A two-dimensional (2D) fluid dynamics model is employed by solving liquid hydrodynamic Navier-Stokes equation with the 2D heat conduction equation in addition to driving forces for surface topography, such as surface tension and pressure gradient, the J×B force is particularly addressed. The governing equations are solved with the finite volume method by adequate prediction of the moving solid-liquid interface. Numerical simulations are carried out for a range of type-I ELM characteristic parameters. Our results indicate that both the surface tension and the J×B force contributes to the melt motion of tungsten plates when the energy flux is under 3000 MW·m^-2, the surface tension is a major driving force while the pressure gradient is negligible. Our results also indicate that the J×B force makes the small hills grow at different rates at both the crater edges under a type-I-like ELM heat load with a Gaussian power density profile.