Accurately predicting the behaviour of multiphase flows is a problem of immense industrial and scientific interest. Modern computers can now study the dynamics in great detail and these simulations yield unprecedented insight. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to direct numerical simulations of multiphase flows for researchers and graduate students. After a brief overview of the context and history the authors review the governing equations. A particular emphasis is placed on the ‘one-fluid' formulation where a single set of equations is used to describe the entire flow field and interface terms are included as singularity distributions. Several applications are discussed, showing how direct numerical simulations have helped researchers advance both our understanding and our ability to make predictions. The final chapter gives an overview of recent studies of flows with relatively complex physics, such as mass transfer and chemical reactions, solidification and boiling, and includes extensive references to current work.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 

2 Fluid mechanics with interfaces 

3 Numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations 

4 Advecting a fluid interface 

5 The volume-of-fluid method 

6 Advecting marker points: front tracking 

7 Surface tension 

8 Disperse bubbly flows 

9 Atomization and breakup 

10 Droplet collision, impact, and splashing 

11 Extensions 

Appendix A Interfaces: description and definitions

Appendix B Distributions concentrated on the interface

Appendix C Cube-chopping algorithm 

Appendix D The dynamics of liquid sheets: linearized theory 

About the Authors

Grétar Tryggvason is a Professor and Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts.

Ruben Scardovelli is an Associate Professor in the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Energetica, Nucleare e del Controllo Ambientale (DIENCA) of the Università degli Studi di Bologna.

Stéphane Zaleski is Professor of Mechanics at the University Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) in Paris and Head of the Jean Le Rond d'Alembert Institute (CNRS UMR 7190).