A space-time extension of a conservative two-fluid cut-cell method for moving diffusion problems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a space-time extension of a conservative cut-cell finite-volume method for two-phase diffusion problems with moving interfaces, ensuring strict conservation and high accuracy in evolving geometries.

Contribution

It develops a novel space-time formulation that handles moving boundaries on fixed grids, maintaining conservation and accuracy for multiphase diffusion problems.

Findings

Demonstrates super-linear spatial accuracy.

Shows robustness under topology changes.

Ensures conservation across interfaces and coefficient jumps.

Abstract

We present a space-time extension of a conservative Cartesian cut-cell finite-volume method for two-phase diffusion problems with prescribed interface motion. The formulation follows a two-fluid approach: one scalar field is solved in each phase with discontinuous material properties, coupled by sharp interface conditions enforcing flux continuity and jump laws. To handle moving boundaries on a fixed Cartesian grid, the discrete balance is written over phase-restricted space-time control volumes, whose geometric moments (swept volumes and apertures) are used as weights in the finite-volume operators. This construction naturally accounts for the creation and destruction of cut cells (fresh/dead-cell events) and yields strict discrete conservation. The resulting scheme retains the algebraic structure of the static cut-cell formulation while incorporating motion through local geometric weights and interface coupling operators. A series of verification and validation tests in two and three dimensions demonstrate super-linear accuracy in space, robust behavior under repeated topology changes and conservation across strong coefficient jumps and moving interfaces. The proposed space-time cut-cell framework provides a conservative building block for multiphase transport in evolving geometries and a foundation for future free-boundary extensions such as Stefan-type phase change.