A Parallel Computational Method for Simulating Two-Phase Gel Dynamics

Jian Du, University of Utah
Aaron L. Fogelson, University of Utah
Grady Wright, Boise State University

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This is an author-produced, peer-reviewed version of this article. The final, definitive version of this document can be found online at International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, published by Institution of Engineering and Technology. Copyright restrictions may apply. DOI: 10.1002/fld.1907

Abstract

We develop a parallel computational algorithm for simulating models of gel dynamics where the gel is described by two phases, a networked polymer and a fluid solvent. The models consist of transport equations for the two phases, two coupled momentum equations, and a volumeaveraged incompressibility constraint. Multigrid with Vanka-type box relaxation scheme is used as preconditioner for the Krylov subspace solver (GMRES) to solve the momentum and incompressibility equations. Through numerical experiments of a model problem, the efficiency, robustness and scalability of the algorithm are illustrated.