Semi-implicit finite volume level set method for advective motion of interfaces in normal direction

In this paper a semi-implicit finite volume method is proposed to solve the applications with moving interfaces using the approach of level set methods. The level set advection equation with a given speed in normal direction is solved by this method. Moreover, the scheme is used for the numerical solution of eikonal equation to compute the signed distance function and for the linear advection equation to compute the so-called extension speed [1]. In both equations an extrapolation near the interface is used in our method to treat Dirichlet boundary conditions on implicitly given interfaces. No restrictive CFL stability condition is required by the semi-implicit method that is very convenient especially when using the extrapolation approach. In summary, we can apply the method for the numerical solution of level set advection equation with the initial condition given by the signed distance function and with the advection velocity in normal direction given by the extension speed. Several advantages of the proposed approach can be shown for chosen examples and application. The advected numerical level set function approximates well the property of remaining the signed distance function during whole simulation time. Sufficiently accurate numerical results can be obtained even with the time steps violating the CFL stability condition. (C) 2014 IMACS. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.