AN IMPROVED LEVEL SET METHOD FOR INCOMPRESSIBLE 2-PHASE FLOWS

A level set method for capturing the interface between two fluids is c ombined with a variable density projection method to allow for computa tion of a two-phase flow where the interface can merge/break and the f low can have a high Reynolds number. A distance function formulation o f the level set method enables us to compute flows with large density ratios (1000/1) and flows that are surface tension driven, with no emo tional involvement. Recent work has improved the accuracy of the dista nce function formulation and the accuracy of the advection scheme. We compute flows involving air bubbles and water drops, among others. We validate our code against experiments and theory. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.