Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 February 2009
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.