Three-dimensional spectral element simulations of variable density and viscosity miscible displacements in a capillary tube. (Q1430685)

The goal is to introduce a highly accurate numerical method for time-dependent three-dimensional simulations of variable density and viscosity miscible flows in cylindrical geometry. To this end, the authors develop an approach that treats the conservation equations in cylindrical coordinate system. The spatial discretization is performed by a mixed spectral element/Fourier spectral scheme. Here, the treatment of the well-known singularity on the axis of symmetry requires special care. Therefore, the authors employ a transformation of velocity components in Fourier space, which removes the singularity directly at the axis. Moreover, spectral convergence is demonstrated for the present numerical scheme.