Parallel simulation of two-phase flow problems using the finite element method

Abstract

Parallel computation of unsteady, two-phase flow problems are performed using stabilized finite element method. The finite element formulations are written for fix meshes and are based on the Navier-Stokes equations and an advection equation governing the motion of the interface function. The interface function, with two distinct values serve as an marker identifying each fluid This function is advected with fluid velocity through out the computational domain. To increase the accuracy of the method, an interface-sharpening/mass conservation algorithm is designed. The method has been implemented on the CRAY T3E and also IBM SP/6000 using the MPI libraries. We show the effectiveness of the method in simulating complex 3D problems, such as two-fluid interface in a centrifuge tube, operation stability of a partially-filled tanker truck driving over a bump and hydrodynamics stability of ships.