A coupled level set and volume-of-fluid method for computing 3D and axisymmetric incompressible two-phase flows

We present a coupled level set/volume-of-fluid (CLSVOF) method for computin g 3D and axisymmetric incompressible two-phase flows. This method combines some of the advantages of the volume-of-fluid method with the level set met hod to obtain a method which is generally superior to either method alone. We present direct comparisons between computations made with the CLSVOF met hod and computations made with the level set method, the volume-of-fluid me thod, and the boundary integral method. We also compare our computations to the exact solution for an oscillating ellipse due to Lamb and experimental results obtained for a rising gas bubble in liquid obtained by Hnat and Bu ckmaster. Our computational examples focus on flows in which surface tensio n forces and changes in topology are dominant features Of the flow. (C) 200 0 Academic Press.