Consider a <nonlinear diffusion equation> with uniform supply, $\phi h_t=D_m(h^m h_x)_x+R$, on $x>0$, with an absorbing boundary $h(0,t)=0$ and initially $h=0$. Far from the boundary, $h=Rt/\phi$. Balancing the <time derivative>, supply, and diffusion gives
$$
h=\frac{Rt}{\phi}F(\eta),\qquad \eta=\frac{x}{\ell(t)},\qquad \ell(t)=\left[\frac{D_mR^m t^{m+1}}{\phi^{m+1}}\right]^{1/2}.
$$
The <similarity solution> satisfies
$$
(F^mF')'+1-F+\frac{m+1}{2}\eta F'=0,\qquad F(0)=0,\qquad F(\infty)=1.
$$
The outward boundary <volume flux per unit width> is $Q=R\ell c_m$, where $c_m=\lim_{\eta\downarrow0}F^mF'$. Integrating the equation gives
$$
c_m=\frac{m+3}{2}\int_0^\infty(1-F)\,d\eta.
$$
Thus the growing region of depleted storage fixes the discharge prefactor, and $Q\propto t^{(m+1)/2}$.


 Forced filling similarity for power-law diffusion

ID: forced-filling-similarity-for-power-law-diffusion