K-1210 Numerical Techniques Improving Convergence Behavior of Viscoelastic Flow Analysis at High Weissenberg Number

Abstract

In the finite element analysis using biquadratic shape functions, velocity gradients(▽v) are of the discontinuous in nature at the element boundary. To improve this lack of continuity of the velocity gradient, we introduced a smoothing technique of velocity gradient. The terms ▽v used in constitutive equation may be replaced by tensor D which is smoothed velocity gradients evaluating from the velocity field calculated in previous step of iterative method. This technique, associated with the techniques previously reported, improved the convergence behavior of decoupled finite element analysis of die swell flow of viscoelastic fluids.