arXiv subjects

Suchuan Dong

Publications and source records attributed to Suchuan Dong.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

gPAV-Based Unconditionally Energy-Stable Schemes for the Cahn-Hilliard Equation: Stability and Error Analysis

We present several first-order and second-order numerical schemes for the Cahn-Hilliard equation with discrete unconditional energy stability. These schemes stem from the generalized Positive Auxiliary Variable (gPAV) idea, and require only the solution of linear algebraic systems with a constant coefficient matrix. More importantly, the computational complexity (operation count per time step) of these schemes is approximately a half of those of the gPAV and the scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) methods in previous works. We investigate the stability properties of the proposed schemes to establish stability bounds for the field function and the auxiliary variable, and also provide their error analyses. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the theoretical analyses and also demonstrate the stability of the schemes at large time step sizes.

math.NA↗

arXiv2019

A Roadmap for Discretely Energy-Stable Schemes for Dissipative Systems Based on a Generalized Auxiliary Variable with Guaranteed Positivity

We present a framework for devising discretely energy-stable schemes for general dissipative systems based on a generalized auxiliary variable. The auxiliary variable, a scalar number, can be defined in terms of the energy functional by a general class of functions, not limited to the square root function adopted in previous approaches. The current method has another remarkable property: the computed values for the generalized auxiliary variable are guaranteed to be positive on the discrete level, regardless of the time step sizes or the external forces. This property of guaranteed positivity is not available in previous approaches. A unified procedure for treating the dissipative governing equations and the generalized auxiliary variable on the discrete level has been presented. The discrete energy stability of the proposed numerical scheme and the positivity of the computed auxiliary variable have been proved for general dissipative systems. The current method, termed gPAV (generalized Positive Auxiliary Variable), requires only the solution of linear algebraic equations within a time step. With appropriate choice of the operator in the algorithm, the resultant linear algebraic systems upon discretization involve only constant and time-independent coefficient matrices, which only need to be computed once and can be pre-computed. Several specific dissipative systems are studied in relative detail using the gPAV framework. Ample numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the performance of the method, and the robustness of the scheme at large time step sizes.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2018

Laser Streaming: Turning a Laser Beam into a Flow of Liquid

Transforming a laser beam into a mass flow has been a challenge both scientifically and technologically. Here we report the discovery of a new optofluidics principle and demonstrate the generation of a steady-state water flow by a pulsed laser beam through a glass window. In order to generate a flow or stream in the same path as the refracted laser beam in pure water from an arbitrary spot on the window, we first fill a glass cuvette with an aqueous solution of Au nanoparticles. A flow will emerge from the focused laser spot on the window after the laser is turned on for a few to tens of minutes, the flow remains after the colloidal solution is completely replaced by pure water. Microscopically, this transformation is made possible by an underlying plasmonic nanoparticle-decorated cavity which is self-fabricated on the glass by nanoparticle-assisted laser etching and exhibits size and shape uniquely tailored to the incident beam profile. Hydrophone signals indicate that the flow is driven via acoustic streaming by a long-lasting ultrasound wave that is resonantly generated by the laser and the cavity through the photoacoustic effect. The principle of this light-driven flow via ultrasound, i.e. photoacoustic streaming by coupling photoacoustics to acoustic streaming, is general and can be applied to any liquids, opening up new research and applications in optofluidics as well as traditional photoacoustics and acoustic streaming.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2018

Energy-Stable Boundary Conditions Based on a Quadratic Form: Applications to Outflow/Open-Boundary Problems in Incompressible Flows

We present a set of new energy-stable open boundary conditions for tackling the backflow instability in simulations of outflow/open boundary problems for incompressible flows. These boundary conditions are developed through two steps: (i) devise a general form of boundary conditions that ensure the energy stability by re-formulating the boundary contribution into a quadratic form in terms of a symmetric matrix and computing an associated eigen problem; and (ii) require that, upon imposing the boundary conditions from the previous step, the scale of boundary dissipation should match a physical scale. These open boundary conditions can be re-cast into the form of a traction-type condition, and therefore they can be implemented numerically using the splitting-type algorithm from a previous work. The current boundary conditions can effectively overcome the backflow instability typically encountered at moderate and high Reynolds numbers. These boundary conditions in general give rise to a non-zero traction on the entire open boundary, unlike previous related methods which only take effect in the backflow regions of the boundary. Extensive numerical experiments in two and three dimensions are presented to test the effectiveness and performance of the presented methods, and simulation results are compared with the available experimental data to demonstrate their accuracy.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2018

Numerical Approximation of Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations Based on an Auxiliary Energy Variable

We present a numerical scheme for approximating the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations based on an auxiliary variable associated with the total system energy. By introducing a dynamic equation for the auxiliary variable and reformulating the Navier-Stokes equations into an equivalent system, the scheme satisfies a discrete energy stability property in terms of a modified energy and it allows for an efficient solution algorithm and implementation. Within each time step, the algorithm involves the computations of two pressure fields and two velocity fields by solving several de-coupled individual linear algebraic systems with constant coefficient matrices, together with the solution of a nonlinear algebraic equation about a {\em scalar number} involving a negligible cost. A number of numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and the performance of the presented algorithm.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2018

A Family of Second-Order Energy-Stable Schemes for Cahn-Hilliard Type Equations

We focus on the numerical approximation of the Cahn-Hilliard type equations, and present a family of second-order unconditionally energy-stable schemes. By reformulating the equation into an equivalent system employing a scalar auxiliary variable, we approximate the system at the time step $(n+θ)$ ($n$ denoting the time step index and $θ$ is a real-valued parameter), and devise a family of corresponding approximations that are second-order accurate and unconditionally energy stable. This family of approximations contains the often-used Crank-Nicolson scheme and the second-order backward differentiation formula as particular cases. We further develop an efficient solution algorithm for the resultant discrete system of equations to overcome the difficulty caused by the unknown scalar auxiliary variable. The final algorithm requires only the solution of four de-coupled individual Helmholtz type equations within each time step, which involve only constant and time-independent coefficient matrices that can be pre-computed. A number of numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of the family of schemes developed herein. We note that this family of second-order approximations can be readily applied to devise energy-stable schemes for other types of gradient flows when combined with the auxiliary variable approaches.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Multiphase Flows of N Immiscible Incompressible Fluids: An Outflow/Open Boundary Condition and Algorithm

We present a set of effective outflow/open boundary conditions and an associated algorithm for simulating the dynamics of multiphase flows consisting of $N$ ($N\geqslant 2$) immiscible incompressible fluids in domains involving outflows or open boundaries. These boundary conditions are devised based on the properties of energy stability and reduction consistency. The energy stability property ensures that the contributions of these boundary conditions to the energy balance will not cause the total energy of the N-phase system to increase over time. Therefore, these open/outflow boundary conditions are very effective in overcoming the backflow instability in multiphase systems. The reduction consistency property ensures that if some fluid components are absent from the N-phase system then these N-phase boundary conditions will reduce to those corresponding boundary conditions for the equivalent smaller system. Our numerical algorithm for the proposed boundary conditions together with the N-phase governing equations involves only the solution of a set of de-coupled individual Helmholtz-type equations within each time step, and the resultant linear algebraic systems after discretization involve only constant and time-independent coefficient matrices which can be pre-computed. Therefore, the algorithm is computationally very efficient and attractive. We present extensive numerical experiments for flow problems involving multiple fluid components and inflow/outflow boundaries to test the proposed method. In particular, we compare in detail the simulation results of a three-phase capillary wave problem with Prosperetti's exact physical solution and demonstrate that the method developed herein produces physically accurate results.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2017

Multiphase Flows of N Immiscible Incompressible Fluids: A Reduction-Consistent and Thermodynamically-Consistent Formulation and Associated Algorithm

We present a reduction-consistent and thermodynamically consistent formulation and an associated numerical algorithm for simulating the dynamics of an isothermal mixture consisting of $N$ ($N\geqslant 2$) immiscible incompressible fluids with different physical properties (densities, viscosities, and pair-wise surface tensions). By reduction consistency we refer to the property that if only a set of $M$ ($1\leqslant M\leqslant N-1$) fluids are present in the system then the N-phase governing equations and boundary conditions will exactly reduce to those for the corresponding $M$-phase system. By theromdynamic consistency we refer to the property that the formulation honors the thermodynamic principles. Our N-phase formulation is developed based on a more general method that allows for the systematic construction of reduction-consistent formulations, and the method suggests the existence of many possible forms of reduction-consistent and thermodynamically consistent N-phase formulations. Extensive numerical experiments have been presented for flow problems involving multiple fluid components and large density ratios and large viscosity ratios, and the simulation results are compared with the physical theories or the available physical solutions. The comparisons demonstrate that our method produces physically accurate results for this class of problems.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2015

A Convective-like Energy-Stable Open Boundary Condition for Simulations of Incompressible Flows

We present a new energy-stable open boundary condition, and an associated numerical algorithm, for simulating incompressible flows with outflow/open boundaries. This open boundary condition ensures the energy stability of the system, even when strong vortices or backflows occur at the outflow boundary. Under certain situations it can be reduced to a form that can be analogized to the usual convective boundary condition. One prominent feature of this boundary condition is that it provides a control over the velocity on the outflow/open boundary. This is not available with the other energy-stable open boundary conditions from previous works. Our numerical algorithm treats the proposed open boundary condition based on a rotational velocity-correction type strategy. It gives rise to a Robin-type condition for the discrete pressure and a Robin-type condition for the discrete velocity on the outflow/open boundary, respectively at the pressure and the velocity sub-steps. We present extensive numerical experiments on a canonical wake flow and a jet flow in open domain to test the effectiveness and performance of the method developed herein. Simulation results are compared with the experimental data as well as with other previous simulations to demonstrate the accuracy of the current method. Long-time simulations are performed for a range of Reynolds numbers, at which strong vortices and backflows occur at the outflow/open boundaries. The results show that our method is effective in overcoming the backflow instability, and that it allows for the vortices to discharge from the domain in a fairly natural fashion even at high Reynolds numbers.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2014

A pressure correction scheme for generalized form of energy-stable open boundary conditions for incompressible flows

We present a generalized form of open boundary conditions, and an associated numerical algorithm, for simulating incompressible flows involving open or outflow boundaries. The generalized form represents a family of open boundary conditions, which all ensure the energy stability of the system, even in situations where strong vortices or backflows occur at the open/outflow boundaries. Our numerical algorithm for treating these open boundary conditions is based on a rotational pressure correction-type strategy, with a formulation suitable for $C^0$ spectral-element spatial discretizations. We have introduced a discrete equation and associated boundary conditions for an auxiliary variable. The algorithm contains constructions that prevent a numerical locking at the open/outflow boundary. In addition, we have also developed a scheme with a provable unconditional stability for a sub-class of the open boundary conditions. Extensive numerical experiments have been presented to demonstrate the performance of our method for several flow problems involving open/outflow boundaries. We compare simulation results with the experimental data to demonstrate the accuracy of our algorithm. Long-time simulations have been performed for a range of Reynolds numbers at which strong vortices or backflows occur at the open/outflow boundaries. We show that the open boundary conditions and the numerical algorithm developed herein produce stable simulations in such situations.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2014

Physical Formulation and Numerical Algorithm for Simulating N Immiscible Incompressible Fluids Involving General Order Parameters

We present a physical formulation, and a numerical algorithm, based on a class of general order parameters for simulating the motion of a mixture of $N$ ($N\geqslant 2$) immiscible incompressible fluids with given densities, dynamic viscosities, and pairwise surface tensions. The introduction of general order parameters leads to a more strongly coupled system of phase field equations, in contrast to that with certain special choice of the order parameters. However, the general form enables one to compute the N-phase mixing energy density coefficients in an explicit fashion in terms of the pairwise surface tensions. From the simulation perspective, the increased complexity in the form of the phase field equations with general order parameters in actuality does not cause essential computational difficulties. Our numerical algorithm reformulates the ($N-1$) strongly-coupled phase field equations for general order parameters into $2(N-1)$ Helmholtz-type equations that are completely de-coupled from one another, leading to a computational complexity essentially the same as that of the simpler phase field equations associated with special choice of order parameters. We demonstrate the capabilities of the method developed herein using several test problems involving multiple fluid phases and large contrasts in densities and viscosities among the multitude of fluids. In particular, by comparing simulation results with the Langmuir-de Gennes theory of floating liquid lenses we show that the method produces physically accurate results for multiple fluid phases.

physics.flu-dyn↗