FEM and Free Surface Flow

Three basic approaches:

1. Fixed mesh and free boundary is tracked
2. Deformed spatial mesh using a 3-stage iterative cycle
Stage 1: Assume shape of free boundary
Stage 2: BVP solved after discarding 1 BC on free boundary
Stage 3: Shape of boundary is updated using previously
neglected BC
Cylce repeated until convergence is acheived

3. Deformed mesh and define nodes on free boundary

Nodes give extra degrees of freedom
Field variables and boundary position solved simultaneously
using a Newton-Rapson interative procedure

FEM and Free Surfaces: New Approach

Combination of FEM and VOF technique

FEM solves for the field variables on a deforming boundary
VOF used to advect the boundary interface

Advantages:
Simulate Large Surface Deformations (i.e. Mergering and
Breaking)
Accurate implementation of Boundary Conditions
Increases computational efficiency

FEM-VOF: Governing Equations

Governing Equations (non-dimensional form)

Continuity

u 1

r v 0
z r r

Navier-Stokes (Momentum)
u
u
u
p 1 2u 1 u

u v


r

2
t
z
r
z Re z
r r
z

v v v
p 1 2v 1 v
v

u v 2 r

2
t
z r
r Re z r r z
r

FEM-VOF: Boundary Conditions

BCs are given by:

u F ( z, r )
on S1
v G( z, r )

zz 2 u
1 u v

p nz
nr

2
U Re z
Re r z

on S 2
rr
1 u v
2 v

rr =

nz
p nr

U 2 Re r z
Re r

zz =

Surface Traction is related to Radii of Curvatures

Rc'
1 1
Rc'
1 1
zz
nz
nz and rr
nr
nz
2
'
2
U
We Rc
U
We Rc'

Radius of Curvature is defined as:

1
1
1

Rc R1 R2

1 dr dz
R

2 1.5

d 2 r dz 2

dr
and R2 r 1

dz

2 .5

FEM-VOF: Formulation

Two restictions
1. Solution in terms of primitive variables based on linear
quadrilateral elements
2. Model must handle: pressure, velocity, velcoity gradient
and stress boundary conditions directly

Penalty function
u 1

r v

z
r

where O 109

Apply Galerkin Method to Momentum equations

FEM-VOF: Mesh Generation

Master element: Isoparametric linear quadrilateral

element
9 possible cases regarding intersection points

FEM-VOF: Surface Advection

Once velocities obtained

FLAIR

interface is advected using

Velocities at nodes NOT adequate for advection technique

Calculate mean velocity fom two node velocities

master element in
Axisymmetric r-z planeu mapped
d u dto
plane
23

23

23

FEM-VOF: Moving Nodes

Governing Equations for Moving Nodes:

Motion only in R-direction
u
u
c 1 u
p 1 2u 1 u
u
v
r

t
z
t r
z Re z 2 r r
r
v
v
c 1 v
p 1 2 v 1 v
v
u v
r
2 r
2
t
z
t r
r Re z r r
r
r

Extra terms will modify finite element formulation

C22

vn N i
e

vn vn

N j
d
r

c 1
ri
t

FEM-VOF: Solution Procedure

1: Specify inital surface geometry and velocities

2: Determine inital f-field based on geometry
3: Using FLAIR reconstruct surface interface
4: Mesh domain
5: Solve for nodal velocities using the Navier-Stokes Eqs.
6: Transform nodal velocities to cell face velocities
7: Determine new f-field by advecting old f-field using
FLAIR
8: Reconstruct new surface interface
9: Increment time and repeat 4-8 until done

FEM-VOF: Algorithm Steps

0

.98 .86

.59

.15

.91

0
.91

.25 .15

.89

.67 .16

.95 .19

.55

Conclusion

Volume of Fluid (VOF) Methods:

Reconstructs interface surfaces

Able to handle large surface deformation
Easy implementation
Many forms exist

Hybrid FEM-VOF technique for Free Surface Flows

Combination eliminates short-comings of each method
Handles BCs accurately
Handles Large Surface Deformation (i.e. Merging & Breakup)

Accurate and versatile