A new method for the discretization of nonlinear systems of partial differe
ntial equations occurring in the numerical simulation of two phase flows is
proposed. This method is based on a cell centered finite volume discretiza
tion on possibly unstructured meshes and aims to approximate three-dimensio
nal stationary and evolution problems in arbitrary geometries, We are able
to consider conservative and non-conservative systems of equations and the
method belongs to the class of shock-capturing upwind ones. In the paper we
put the emphasis on the treatment of terms involving first-order derivativ
es since we deal with the change of type (hyperbolic to non-hyperbolic). On
e of the features of the method is that it does not rely a priori on the hy
perbolic character of the convection operator. The method is illustrated on
a classical numerical benchmark and we refer to the bibliography concernin
g various and numerous applications in the context of two phase flows. (C)
2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.