Finite element discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations with a free capillary surface (Q5944666)

This paper deals with instationary Navier-Stokes equations in two and three space dimensions. A finite element discretization of this problem is based on a variational formulation of the mean curvature as a functional, given by an integration by parts of the Laplace-Beltrami operator. A proof of unconditional stability of the proposed scheme is presented. Furthermore, the existence of solutions to the discrete problem is proved. The author shows that one may solve the equations by an iteration which decouples the geometry problem from the flow problem. The results of presented numerical examples are obtained using the fractional step \(\vartheta\)-scheme instead of space-time elements.