A path-conservative finite volume scheme for compressible multi-phase flows with surface tension

The accurate simulation of compressible multi-phase flows with surface tension effects is currently still one of the most challenging problems in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The basic difficulties are the capturing of the correct interface dynamics between the two fluids as well as the computation of the interface curvature. In this paper, we present a novel path-conservative finite volume discretization of the continuum surface force method (CSF) of Brackbill et al. to account for the surface tension effect due to curvature of the phase interface. This is achieved in the context of a diffuse interface approach, based on the seven equation Baer–Nunziato model of compressible multi-phase flows. Such diffuse interface methods for compressible multi-phase flows including capillary effects have first been proposed by Perigaud and Saurel. In the CSF method, the surface tension effect is replaced by a volume force, which is usually integrated as a classical volume source term. However, since this source term contains the gradient of a color function that is convected with the flow velocity, we propose to integrate the CSF source term as a non-conservative product and not simply as a source term, following the ideas on path-conservative finite volume schemes put forward by Castro and Parés.