Simulation of Flows With Free Surfaces

Abstract

Flows with free surfaces are often encountered in engineering and environment, in many variations. In this manuscript we present the state-of-the-art in simulating flows with free surfaces in complex geometries. The two major groups of methods for computing free surface flows – interface-tracking and interface-capturing – are briefly described. The emphasis is on presenting the advantages and disadvantages of each class with respect to particular application areas, ranging from the micro-scale (droplet and jets) to large-scale flows (ocean waves). Results from selected applications are used to demonstrate the quality of obtainable solutions.