An energy-preserving level set method for multiphase flows

Abstract

The computation of multiphase flows presents a subtle energetic equilibrium between potential (i.e., surface) and kinetic energies. The use of traditional interface-capturing schemes provides no control over such a dynamic balance. In the spirit of the well-known symmetry-preserving and mimetic schemes, whose physics-compatible discretizations rely upon preserving the underlying mathematical structures of the space, we identify the corresponding structure and propose a new discretization strategy for curvature. The new scheme ensures conservation of mechanical energy (i.e., surface plus kinetic) up to temporal integration. Inviscid numerical simulations are performed to show the robustness of such a method.