Robust Direct Numerical Simulation of Viscoelastic Flows

Many technical processes involve viscoelastic flows, which makes the subject interesting for CFD. Despite the complex fluid rheology and related numerical problems in solving the constitutive equations, recent stabilization approaches allow for a robust simulation of viscoelastic flows in the technical relevant range at high degrees of fluid elasticity. A recent general‐purpose numerical stabilization framework, based on the finite‐volume method of OpenFOAM is presented and its capability for the robust simulation of viscoelastic single‐, as well as two‐phase flows is shown. Recent numerical stabilization approaches provide new opportunities for CFD of viscoelastic flows in industrial polymer processing. Numerical methods in CFD are prone to stability issues above some limiting degree of fluid elasticity. A numerical stabilization framework for the direct numerical simulation of highly viscoelastic flows is presented.