An investigation of interface-sharpening schemes for multi-phase mixture flows

This work evaluates several approaches for sharp phase interface-capturing in computations of multi-phase mixture flows. Attention is focused on algebraic interface-capturing strategies that fit directly within a finite-volume MUSCL-type framework, in which dimension-by-dimension reconstruction of interface states based on extrapolated fluid properties is the norm. In this scope, linear, sine-wave, and tangent hyperbola volume-fraction reconstructions are examined for a range of problems, including advection of a volume-fraction discontinuity, the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, a dam-break problem, an axisymmetric jet instability, the Rayleigh instability, and flow within an aerated-liquid injector. An implicit dual-time stepping approach, applied directly to a preconditioned form of the governing equations, is used for time-advancement. The results show that the sharpening strategies are successful in providing two-to-three-cell capturing of volume-fraction discontinuities. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.