Finite Element Simulation for Elastic and Plastic Fluids

Abstract

In this study, we present the development of a 2D finite element solver for simulating fluids exhibiting both elastic and plastic constitutive properties. We achieve this by combining the constitutive models of the Oldroyd-B model for viscoelastic fluids and the Papanastasiou model for Bingham fluids within a single Eulerian numerical framework. Our aim within this approach is to approximate the given velocity, pressure, and elastic stresses. We employ a higher-order finite element method for the velocity-stress approximation and a discontinuous pressure element. This specific element pair has proven highly effective for accurately capturing the behavior of both Oldroyd-B and Bingham fluids, including nonlinear viscosity functions. Our study consists of two main steps. Firstly, we validate the numerical results for each module component of the constitutives to ensure the accuracy of the approximations and calculations. This step is crucial for establishing the reliability and robustness of our approach. Subsequently, in the second step, we apply the solver to simulate elastoviscoplastic fluid behavior in a porous medium. By investigating fluid flow and deformation within this specific context, we aim to demonstrate the capabilities and potential of our methodology.