EDICT for 3D computation of two-fluid interfaces

We present the 3D implementation and applications of the enhanced-discretiz ation interface-capturing technique (EDICT) in computation of unsteady flow s with two-fluid interfaces. In such computations, EDICT can be used as a v ery effective method, which combines the flexibility and efficiency of inte rface-capturing techniques with the accuracy provided by enhanced discretiz ation at the interfaces. A stabilized finite element interface-capturing te chnique is used as the base formulation to solve, over a typically nonmovin g mesh, the Navier-Stokes equations and an advection equation governing the interface function. To increase the accuracy in modeling the interfaces, w e use finite element functions with multiple components at and near the int erfaces, with each component coming from a different level of mesh refineme nt. With its parallel implementation on advanced high-performance computing platforms such as the CRAY T3E, EDICT is a powerful tool for the simulatio n of a complex, 3D unsteady how problems with two fluid-interfaces, includi ng free surfaces. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.