Three-dimensional simulation of planar contraction viscoelastic flow by penalty finite element method

The planar contraction flow is a benchmark problem for the numerical investigation of viscoelastic flow. The mathematical model of three-dimensional viscoelastic fluids flow is established and the numerical simulation of its planar contraction flow is conducted by using the penalty finite element method with a differential Phan-Thien Tanner constitutive model. The discrete elastic viscous split stress formulation in cooperating with the inconsistent streamline upwind scheme is employed to improve the computation stability. The distributions of velocity and stress obtained by simulation are compared with that of Quinzani's experimental results detected by laser-doppler velocimetry and flow-induced birefringence technologies. It shows that the numerical results agree well with the experimental results. The numerical methods proposed in the study can be well used to predict complex flow patterns of viscoelastic fluids. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.