Dr Shicheng Xue
Telephone: 93512305, email: shicheng@mech.eng.usyd.edu.au
3D Numerical Simulation of Viscoelastic Fluid Flow
Objective:
The overall objective is to develop a novel (in terms of accuracy and efficiency) approach to the computation of 3D viscoelastic flows, particularly to produce a working program capable of analyzing 3D complex flows of polymer melts. In view of its time and space saving features, it is quite feasible to develop Finite Volume Methods (FVM) into the viscoelastic flow computational area by introducing proper viscoelastic models and novel numerical schemes. The significance for the field of computational rheology is twofold: 1) the ability to simulate realistic 3D melt flow processes such as extrusion, die-filling and calendering, 2) a better understanding of high-stress regions at separation points, including the setting of appropriate boundary conditions, which will lead to improved process design. Another important application is to evaluate the modelling of viscoelastic materials by comparing numerical predictions with experimental observations.
Background:
By modelling a process mathematically, and solving the system of governing equations efficiently with the aid of high-speed digital computers, the unknowns involving in the process can be numerically predicted and visualized in a modern way. It is an efficient complement and economic supplement for theoretical and experimental investigation approaches, especially for the cases where experimental approaches are not feasible.
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) has been successfully employed in a wide range of scientific researches and engineering applications. However, when it is directly used for computational rheology in which more factors are involved, such as the non-linear responses of materials, long-range fluid (elastic) memory effects, some difficulties arise, such as convergence of numerical methods. Also, some of the distinct features of the process can only be observed in a three dimensional (3D) space, thus, a 3D numerical simulation has to be implemented for the predictions, thus, efficiency of the numerical method being of importance with limited computer resources for industrial applications.
Vortex enhancement in 4 to 1 contraction flow of Boger-fluid
