Computation of incompressible bubble dynamics with a stabilized finite element level set method (Q2495810)

The authors present a fairly sophisticated numerical algorithm in order to evaluate two-phase incompressible flows in two and three dimensions. They use a stabilized finite element formulation along with the level set method. This method represents the free surface (the interface between two phases) as a zero level set of a smooth function. The surface tension as a body force (a continuous three-dimensional effect across the interface) is also taken into account. The algorithm is robust with respect to large density (up to 1000 times) and viscosity (up to 100 times) differences. Its capability to simulate bubble coalescence and breakup is also proved.