Simulations of 2D and 3D thermocapillary flows by a least-squares finite element method

Numerical results for time-dependent 2D and 3D thermocapillary flows are presented in this work. The numerical algorithm is based on the Crank-Nicolson scheme for time integration, Newton's method for linearization, and a least-squares finite element method, together with a matrix-free Jacobi conjugate gradient technique. The main objective in this work is to demonstrate how the least-squares finite element method, together with an iterative procedure, deals with the capillary-traction boundary conditions at the free surface, which involves the coupling of velocity and temperature gradients. Mesh refinement studies were also carried out to validate the numerical results. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.