Multiscale simulation of mixing processes using 3D-parallel, fluid-structure interaction techniques

This work focuses on the development of a general finite element code, called Ximex®, devoted to the three-dimensional direct simulation of mixing processes of complex fluids. The code is based on a simplified fictitious domain method coupled with a “level-set” approach to represent the rigid moving boundaries, such as screws and rotors, as well as free surfaces. These techniques, combined with the use of parallel computing, allow computing the time-dependent flow of generalized Newtonian fluids in large and complex processes, involving moving free surfaces which are treated by a level-set/Hamilton-Jacobi method. Two flow case studies will be presented in this paper: the flow within a twin-screw extruder and the flow in a batch mixer.