Cahn-Hilliard Equation Research Articles

A Higher Order Nonconforming Virtual Element Method for the Cahn–Hilliard Equation

AbstractIn this paper we develop a fully nonconforming virtual element method of arbitrary approximation order for the two dimensional Cahn–Hilliard equation. We carry out the error analysis for the semidiscrete (continuous-in-time) scheme and verify the theoretical convergence result via numerical experiments. We present a fully discrete scheme which uses a convex splitting Runge–Kutta method to discretize in the temporal variable alongside the virtual element spatial discretization.

Numerical Simulation of Droplet Coalescence Using Meshless Radial Basis Function and Domain Decomposition Method

The present investigation of the dynamic two-binary droplet interactions has gained attention since its use to expand and improve several numerical methods. Generally, its interactions are classified into coalescence, bouncing, reflective, and stretching separation. This study simulated droplet coalescence using the meshless radial basis function (RBF) method. These methods are used to solve the Navier-Stokes equations combined with the Cahn-Hilliard equations to track the interface between two fluids. This work uses the fractional step method to calculate the pressure-velocity coupling in the Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical results were compared with the available data in the literature to validate the proposed method. Based on the validation, the proposed method conforms well with the literature. To identify further coalescence characteristics, the model considered different values in viscosity (2, 4, and 8 cP), collision velocity (1.5 m/s and 3 m/s), and surface tension (0.014, 0.028, and 0.056 N/m) parameters. The increasing viscosity was linearly proportional to the collision time, whereas increased surface tension and collision velocity shortened the collision time.

Stochastic Cahn–Hilliard and conserved Allen–Cahn equations with logarithmic potential and conservative noise*

Abstract We investigate the Cahn–Hilliard and the conserved Allen–Cahn equations with logarithmic type potential and conservative noise in a periodic domain. These features ensure that the order parameter takes its values in the physical range and, albeit the stochastic nature of the problems, that the total mass is conserved almost surely in time. For the Cahn–Hilliard equation, existence and uniqueness of probabilistically-strong solutions is shown up to the three-dimensional case. For the conserved Allen–Cahn equation, under a restriction on the noise magnitude, existence of martingale solutions is proved even in dimension three, while existence and uniqueness of probabilistically-strong solutions holds in dimension one and two. The analysis is carried out by studying the Cahn–Hilliard/conserved Allen–Cahn equations jointly, that is a linear combination of both the equations, which has an independent interest.

Navier–Stokes–Cahn–Hilliard equations on evolving surfaces

Navier–Stokes–Cahn–Hilliard equations on evolving surfaces

On the Limit Problem Arising in the Kinetic Derivation of a Cahn–Hilliard Equation

On the Limit Problem Arising in the Kinetic Derivation of a Cahn–Hilliard Equation

A uniqueness theory on determining the nonlinear energy potential in phase-field system

Abstract The phase-field system is a nonlinear model that has significant applications in material sciences. In this paper, we are concerned with the uniqueness of determining the nonlinear energy potential in a phase-field system consisted of Cahn-Hilliard and Allen-Cahn equations. This system finds widespread applications in the development of alloys engineered to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures. The goal is to reconstruct the nonlinear energy potential through the measurements of concentration fields. We establish the local well-posedness of the phase-field system based on the implicit function theorem in Banach spaces. Both of the uniqueness results for recovering time-independent and time-dependent energy potential functions are provided through the higher order linearization technique.

High-order schemes of exponential time differencing for stiff systems with nondiagonal linear part

Exponential time differencing methods are a power tool for high-performance numerical simulation of computationally challenging problems in condensed matter physics, fluid dynamics, chemical and biological physics, where mathematical models often possess fast oscillating or decaying modes—in other words, are stiff systems. Practical implementation of these methods for the systems with nondiagonal linear part of equations is exacerbated by infeasibility of an analytical calculation of the exponential of a nondiagonal linear operator; in this case, the coefficients of the exponential time differencing scheme cannot be calculated analytically. We suggest an approach, where these coefficients are numerically calculated with auxiliary problems. We rewrite the high-order Runge–Kutta type schemes in terms of the solutions to these auxiliary problems and practically examine the accuracy and computational performance of these methods for a heterogeneous Cahn–Hilliard equation, a sixth-order spatial derivative equation governing pattern formation in the presence of an additional conservation law, and a Fokker–Planck equation governing macroscopic dynamics of a network of neurons.

Existence, stability and the number of two-dimensional invariant manifolds for the convective Cahn–Hilliard equation

We study the well-known generalised version of the nonlinear Cahn–Hilliard evolution equation, supplemented with periodic boundary conditions. We study local bifurcations in the vicinity of spatially homogeneous equilibrium states. We show the possibility of the existence of a finite or countable set of equilibrium states of the boundary value problem under study, in the vicinity of which, if appropriate conditions are met, there exist two-dimensional invariant manifolds filled with solutions that are periodic in the evolutionary variable. Moreover, we derive asymptotic formulas for these periodic solutions. Finally, we study the stability of invariant manifolds and the solutions belonging to them.In order to analyse the bifurcation problem, we used methods from the theory of dynamical systems with infinite-dimensional phase, namely the method of invariant manifolds and the method of normal forms.

Two-phase flows through porous media described by a Cahn–Hilliard–Brinkman model with dynamic boundary conditions

We investigate a new diffuse-interface model that describes creeping two-phase flows (i.e., flows exhibiting a low Reynolds number), especially flows that permeate a porous medium. The system of equations consists of a Brinkman equation for the volume averaged velocity field and a convective Cahn–Hilliard equation with dynamic boundary conditions for the phase field, which describes the location of the two fluids within the domain. The dynamic boundary conditions are incorporated to model the interaction of the fluids with the wall of the container more precisely. In particular, they allow for a dynamic evolution of the contact angle between the interface separating the fluids and the boundary, and for a convection-induced motion of the corresponding contact line. For our model, we first prove the existence of global-in-time weak solutions in the case where regular potentials are used in the Cahn–Hilliard subsystem. In this case, we can further show the uniqueness of the weak solution under suitable additional assumptions. We further prove the existence of weak solutions in the case of singular potentials. Therefore, we regularize such singular potentials by a Moreau–Yosida approximation, such that the results for regular potentials can be applied, and eventually pass to the limit in this approximation scheme.

Hydrodynamics of multicomponent vesicles: A phase-field approach

In this paper, we introduce a thermodynamically-consistent phase-field model to investigate the hydrodynamics of inextensible multicomponent vesicles in various fluid flows with inertial forces. Our model couples the fluid field, surface concentration field representing chemical species on the membrane, and vesicle dynamics, while enforcing global area and volume constraints through a Lagrange multiplier method. Specifically, we employ full Navier–Stokes equations for the fluid field, the Cahn–Hilliard equations for the species concentration on the membrane, a nonlinear advection–diffusion equation to describe the evolution of the vesicle membrane, and an additional equation to enforce local inextensibility. We utilize a residual-based variational multiscale method for the Navier–Stokes equations and a standard Galerkin finite element framework for the remaining equations. The PDEs are solved using an implicit, monolithic scheme based on the generalized-α time integration method. We extend previous models for homogeneous vesicles (Aland et al., 2014; Valizadeh and Rabczuk, 2022) to multicomponent vesicles, introducing Cahn–Hilliard equations while maintaining thermodynamic consistency. Additionally, we employ isogeometric analysis (IGA) for higher accuracy. We present a variety of two-dimensional numerical examples, including multicomponent vesicles in shear flow and Poiseuille flow with and without obstructions, using the resistive immersed surface method to handle obstructions. Furthermore, we provide three-dimensional simulations of multicomponent vesicles in Poiseuille flow.

Dry granular column collapse: Numerical simulations using the partially regularized [formula omitted]-model via stabilized finite elements and phase field formulation

We revisit the gravitational collapse of a 2D column of dry granular material surrounded by air, using a continuum mechanics approximation. By employing the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field equation as an interface capturing technique and by coupling it with the Cauchy equation, we numerically simulate this multiphase system, eliminating the need for any ad-hoc numerical adjustment to prevent the finger formation of light fluid between the material and the solid boundary due to the no-slip boundary condition. We implement the μ(I)-rheology in our stabilized Finite Element method, highlighting the presence of instabilities when using this constitutive law. Our study is characterized by three main goals. First, we address the instability issue by implementing the partially regularized formulation of the μ(I)-rheology proposed by Barker and Gray (2017). An important outcome is that using shock-capturing terms in the momentum equation can significantly smooth these oscillations by adding dissipation in the direction of the gradients. Second, we systematically study the fluid dynamics under realistic conditions. Our results accurately replicate the material dynamics during collapse, confirming three distinct stages: free-fall, spreading, and cessation. We identify two regions in the material during the spreading phase: a quasi-static zone with negligible velocities and deformations, and a flowing layer exhibiting high shear rates. These observations closely align with experimental data. Additionally, we examine the evolution of the yielded/unyielded regions based on the Drucker-Prager criterion, and we also explore an empirical criterion, based on a critical value of the velocity norm, that satisfactorily separates these regions. Finally, we perform an extensive parametric study covering a wide range of rheological parameters.

Oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by hydrolysed black soldier fly larvae proteins: Reproduction of experimental data via phase-field modelling

A phase field model based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation was validated experimentally by comparison of the numerical data with experimental data of emulsions of oil in water stabilized with Black Soldier Fly Larvae Proteins (BSFLP) and protein hydrolysates. Among the model parameters, the surface tension was determined by the pendant drop method, and the mobility by two different experiments, one based on the Turbiscan Stability Index, and another one based on the history of the average d3,2, both of them throughout a 48 h period. The initial condition was built from an experimental droplet size distribution measured prior to phase separation. Results show that the model is able to quantitatively reproduce the phase separation kinetics, and provide an intuitive graphical representation of the droplet growth. Application of this procedure to other systems will allow the generalization of phase field modelling as a predictive tool for food applications.

Two linear energy stable lumped mass finite element schemes for the viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation on curved surfaces in 3D

The evolution of a dynamic system on complex curved 3D surfaces is essential for the understanding of natural phenomena, the development of new materials, and engineering design optimization. In this work, we study the viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation on curved surfaces and develop two linear energy stable finite element schemes based on the lumped mass method. Two stabilizing terms are added to ensure both the unique solvability and unconditional energy stability. We prove rigorously that two schemes are unconditionally energy stable . Numerical experiments are presented to verify theoretical results and to show the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method.

An unconditionally energy dissipative, adaptive IMEX BDF2 scheme and its error estimates for Cahn–Hilliard equation on generalized SAV approach

Abstract An adaptive implicit-explicit (IMEX) BDF2 scheme is investigated on generalized SAV approach for the Cahn–Hilliard equation by combining with Fourier spectral method in space. It is proved that the modified energy dissipation law is unconditionally preserved at discrete levels. Under a mild ratio restriction, i.e., A1: $0<r_{k}:=\tau _{k}/\tau _{k-1}< r_{\max }\approx 4.8645$, we establish a rigorous error estimate in $H^{1}$-norm and achieve optimal second-order accuracy in time. The proof involves the tools of discrete orthogonal convolution (DOC) kernels and inequality zoom. It is worth noting that the presented adaptive time-step scheme only requires solving one linear system with constant coefficients at each time step. In our analysis, the first-consistent BDF1 for the first step does not bring the order reduction in $H^{1}$-norm. The $H^{1}$ bound of numerical solution under periodic boundary conditions can be derived without any restriction (such as zero mean of the initial data). Finally, numerical examples are provided to verify our theoretical analysis and the algorithm efficiency.

Complex pattern formation governed by a Cahn–Hilliard–Swift–Hohenberg system: Analysis and numerical simulations

This paper investigates a Cahn–Hilliard–Swift–Hohenberg system, focusing on a three-species chemical mixture subject to physical constraints on volume fractions. The resulting system leads to complex patterns involving a separation into phases as typical of the Cahn–Hilliard equation and small scale stripes and dots as seen in the Swift–Hohenberg equation. We introduce singular potentials of logarithmic type to enhance the model’s accuracy in adhering to essential physical constraints. The paper establishes the existence and uniqueness of weak solutions within this extended framework. The insights gained contribute to a deeper understanding of phase separation in complex systems, with potential applications in materials science and related fields. We introduce a stable finite element approximation based on an obstacle formulation. Subsequent numerical simulations demonstrate that the model allows for complex structures as seen in pigment patterns of animals and in porous polymeric materials.

On the existence, uniqueness and regularity of strong solutions to a stochastic 2D Cahn–Hilliard-Magnetohydrodynamic model

Abstract We investigate a stochastic coupled model of the Cahn–Hilliard equations and the stochastic magnetohydrodynamic equations in a bounded domain of ℝ 2 {\mathbb{R}^{2}} . The model describes the flow of the mixture of two incompressible and immiscible fluids under the influence of an electromagnetic field with stochastic perturbations. We prove the existence, uniqueness and regularity of a probabilistic strong solution. The proof of the existence is based on the Galerkin approximation, the stopping time technique and some weak convergence principles in functional analysis.

A robust family of exponential attractors for a linear time discretization of the Cahn-Hilliard equation with a source term

We consider a linear implicit-explicit (IMEX) time discretization of the Cahn-Hilliard equation with a source term, endowed with Dirichlet boundary conditions. For every time step small enough, we build an exponential attractor of the discrete-in-time dynamical system associated to the discretization. We prove that, as the time step tends to 0, this attractor converges for the symmetric Hausdorff distance to an exponential attractor of the continuous-in-time dynamical system associated with the PDE. We also prove that the fractal dimension of the exponential attractor (and consequently, of the global attractor) is bounded by a constant independent of the time step. The results also apply to the classical Cahn-Hilliard equation with Neumann boundary conditions.

Maximally efficient exchange in thin flow cells using density gradients

Flow cells are ubiquitous in laboratories and automated instrumentation, and are crucial for ease of sample preparation, analyte addition and buffer exchange. The assumption that the fluids have exchanged completely in a flow cell is often critical to data interpretation. This article describes the buoyancy effects on the exchange of fluids with differing densities or viscosities in thin, circular flow cells. Depending on the flow direction, fluid exchange varies from highly efficient to drastically incomplete, even after a large excess of exchange volume. Numerical solutions to the Navier–Stokes and Cahn–Hilliard equations match well with experimental observations. This leads to quantitative predictions of the conditions where buoyancy forces in thin flow cells are significant. A novel method is introduced for exchanging fluid cells by accounting for and utilizing buoyancy effects that can be essential to obtain accurate results from measurements performed within closed-volume fluid environments.

Existence of weak solutions to a Cahn–Hilliard–Biot system

We prove existence of weak solutions to a diffuse interface model describing the flow of a fluid through a deformable porous medium consisting of two phases. The system non-linearly couples Biot’s equations for poroelasticity, including phase-field dependent material properties, with the Cahn–Hilliard equation to model the evolution of the solid, and is further augmented by a visco-elastic regularization of Kelvin–Voigt type. To obtain this result, we approximate the problem in two steps, where first a semi-Galerkin ansatz is employed to show existence of weak solutions to regularized systems, for which later on compactness arguments allow limit passage. Notably, we also establish a maximal regularity theory for linear visco-elastic problems.

Fast implicit update schemes for Cahn–Hilliard-type gradient flow in the context of Fourier-spectral methods

This work discusses a way of allowing fast implicit update schemes for the temporal discretization of phase-field models for gradient flow problems that employ Fourier-spectral methods for their spatial discretization. Through the repeated application of the Sherman–Morrison formula we provide a rule for approximations of the inverted tangent matrix of the corresponding Newton–Raphson method with a selectable order. Since the representation of this inversion is exact for a sufficiently high approximation order, the proposed scheme is shown to provide a fixed-point-type iterative solver for gradient flow problems that require the solution of linear systems in the context of an implicit time-integration. While the proposed scheme is applicable to general gradient flow phase-field models, we discuss the scheme in the context of the Cahn–Hilliard equation, the Swift–Hohenberg equation, and the phase-field crystal equation for which we demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in comparison with classical solvers.