A new approach to the deformation fields method for solving complex flows using integral constitutive equations. (Q5944228)

For complex flows with integral-type constitutive equations the authors suggest a modification in the deformation fields method. The difference is basically a time shift. The deformation fields are not specified by their absolute creation time, but by the age of the field relative to the current time. An extra convection term has been introduced in the evolution equation for deformation fields due to the time shift. These techniques offer certain advantages over the methods in vogue because with steady flow the fields also become steady thereby avoiding time discretisation errors, and easy and adaptive grid refinement is possible in the age direction. The application of the method to two problems involving the flow around a sphere using UCM model, and the flow around a sphere in a different geometry using PSM model, has shown that it performs well. However, for greater acceptability of this approach more applications should be studied.