Low Order Finite Element Methods for the Navier-Stokes-Cahn-Hilliard Equations

TL;DR

This paper introduces low order finite element methods for the Navier-Stokes-Cahn-Hilliard equations, enabling efficient simulation of multiphase flows with controllable surface tension effects, validated through benchmark problems.

Contribution

It proposes two novel finite element formulations that decouple surface tension effects from phase transport, improving computational efficiency and flexibility.

Findings

Methods accurately reproduce benchmark results

Surface tension effects can be independently varied

Models perform well in both capillary and inertial regimes

Abstract

A computationally efficient, low order finite element formulation is developed for modelling the Navier-Stokes-Cahn-Hilliard equations, which have been established as a promising phase field modelling approach for simulation of immiscible multiphase flows. The present study suggests that traditional Navier-Stokes-Cahn-Hilliard models do not allow for surface tension effects to be neglected due to the presence of the surface tension parameter in the Cahn-Hilliard equation. This motivates the proposed formulation, which allows surface tension effects to be changed without affecting the behaviour of the phase transport. Two methods are proposed: The first uses stabilised SUPG/PSPG linear elements, while the second is based on mixed Taylor-Hood elements. The proposed models are applied to a number of benchmark and example problems, including both capillary regime in which surface tension effects are dominant, and inertial regime in which surface tension effects are negligibly small. All results obtained agree very well with reference solutions.