Finite Element Simulations of Free Surface Flows With Surface Tension in Complex Geometries

Abstract

The finite-element program, ANSYS/FLOTRAN, has been enhanced at Release 5.7 to predict free surface flows with surface tension in complex geometries. The two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes and energy equations are solved in both Cartesian and axisymmetric coordinate systems. At Release 5.6, the free surface capabilities have been incorporated into ANSYS/FLOTRAN using the CLEAR-VOF algorithm. The main contribution of this work is to implement a surface tension model into ANSYS/FLOTRAN to study free surface flows with surface tension in complex geometries. Both normal and tangential components of surface tension forces are modeled at the interface through a continuum surface force (CSF) model. This new algorithm is first validated with two model problems: a droplet in equilibrium and an oscillating droplet. For the first problem, the computed pressure value is compared with the theoretical value, whereas for the second problem, the oscillation frequency is compared with both the analytical solution and experimental data. The computer program is then applied to thermocapillary flows in two types of trapezoidal cavities to investigate the interesting flow and heat transfer characteristics. Systematic calculations are performed to study the influence of Marangoni number, capillary number and static contact angle on Marangoni convection.