Assessment of interface capturing methods in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes - A case study

Abstract

This paper reports on an exemplary study of the performance of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) computer codes for the case study of interfacial flows including surface tension. The finite volume codes of ANSYS, Inc., Fluent and CFX have been eval- uated by performing CFD-simulations of collapsing water columns with and without an obstacle within enclosures. In both of these computer codes, the interfaces are treat- ed by the volume of fluid method. The main difference is attributed to the absence of any surface reconstruction algorithms in ANSYS, Inc., CFX. Rather, the so-called "compressive scheme" is applied instead to overcome numerical diffusion and smear- ing of the interface. ANSYS, Inc., Fluent, however, employs the geometric reconstruction algorithm based on the Piecewise Linear Interface Construction (PLIC) method. The study assesses the simulation results obtained through the two computer codes by comparing against experimental observations and measurements as well as numerical predictions from other CFD codes if available.