A projection method for multiphase flows

Abstract

An Eulerian projection approach for incompressible variable-density two-phase flows is presented. The Navier-Stokes equations governing these flows are reformulated to take the form of the corresponding equations for the lighter phase with a constant density, which can be efficiently solved using standard numerical methods. The effect of the additional mass in the heavier phase is accounted for by a forcing term, which is determined from the solution of an artificial velocity field. This artificial field is subjected solely to inertial and gravity forces as well as the force coupling the flow field and the artificial field. The phase interface in this purely Eulerian approach is described using the level-set method. Results for two-dimensional simulations of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability are presented to validate the new method.

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