Application of the level set method to the finite element solution of two-phase flows

This paper presents a method to solve two-phase flows using the finite elem ent method. On one hand, the algorithm used to solve the Navier-Stokes equa tions provides the neccessary stabilization for using the efficient and acc urate three-node triangles for both the velocity and pressure fields. On th e other hand, the interface position is described by the zero-level set of an indicator function. To maintain accuracy, even for large-density ratios, the pseudoconcentration function is corrected at the end of each time step using an algorithm successfully used in the finite difference context. Cou pling of both problems is solved in a staggered way. As demonstrated by the solution of a number of numerical tests, the procedure allows dealing with problems involving two interacting fluids with a large-density ratio. Copy right (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.