A material interface transition algorithm for multiphase flow

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/FEDSM2008-55304· OSTI ID:960507

Francois, Marianne M ^[1]; Lowrie, Robert B ^[1]; Dendy, Edward D ^[1]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory

Volume tracking method, also referred to as the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method introduces 'numerical surface tension' that breaks a filament into a series of droplets whenever the filament is under-resolved. Adaptive mesh refinement can help avoid under-resolution, but a fully-developed flow will still generate filaments that cannot be resolved without enormous computational cost. We propose a complementary new approach that consists of transitioning to a continuous interface representation (i.e. without interface reconstruction) in regions of under-resolved interfacial curvature where volume tracking has become erroneous. The price of the continuous interface treatment is a small amount of numerica'l mass diffusion, even if the physical interface is immiscible. However, we have found that for certain measures, the overall accuracy is greatly improved by using our transitioning algorithm. The algorithm is developed in the context of the single fluid formulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical standard vortices advection test cases and Rayleigh-Taylor instability computations are presented to illustrate the transition algorithm potential.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 960507
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-08-05116; LA-UR-08-5116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
ACCURACY
ADVECTION
ALGORITHMS
COST
DIFFUSION
DROPLETS
ENGINEERING
FILAMENTS
FLUIDS
INTERFACES
MASS
MATERIALS
MULTIPHASE FLOW
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
PRICES
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SURFACE TENSION
VOLUME
VORTICES