cfdmfFTFoam: A front-tracking solver for multiphase flows on general unstructured grids in OpenFOAM

TL;DR

cfdmfFTFoam is a new open-source front-tracking solver integrated into OpenFOAM, enabling accurate multiphase flow simulations on unstructured grids with advanced algorithms and validation against benchmarks.

Contribution

The paper introduces cfdmfFTFoam, the first pure FTM solver for unstructured grids in OpenFOAM, with comprehensive algorithms and validation, expanding multiphase flow simulation capabilities.

Findings

Successfully integrated FTM into OpenFOAM for unstructured grids

Validated solver against standard multiphase flow benchmarks

Enhanced algorithms for front volume correction and surface tension computation

Abstract

The Front-Tracking Method (FTM) is a promising approach for numerical solution of multiphase flows, considering a trade-off between accuracy and computational cost. The existing open-source open-access software for FTM is scarce, due to complexity of the coding and algorithms, and is limited to structured Cartesian grids or connectivity-free front mesh hybrid FTMs. To provide a pure FTM solver on general unstructured grids, the Ftc3D FTM code has been integrated into the OpenFOAM CFD software by implementing necessary front mesh to Eulerian grid communication and front nodes advection algorithms, applicable to unstructured grids and for both serial and parallel runs. The new FTM package, called cfdmfFTFoam, has been further equipped with a variety of FTM sub-algorithms, including the front volume correction, remeshing, surface tension computation, indicator function construction, etc. Assessments and validations of the new solver are provided against several standard multiphase flow benchmarks. It is anticipated that cfdmfFTFoam would facilitate future research on and algorithm improvement in the field of FTM.