Finite element analysis of viscoelastic flows in a domain with geometric singularities

This work presents results of finite element analysis of isothermal incompressible creeping viscoelastic flows with the tensor-logarithmic formulation of the Leonov model especially for the planar geometry with singular comers in the domain. In the case of 4:1 contraction flow, for all 5 meshes we have obtained solutions over the Deborah number of 100, even though there exists slight decrease of convergence limit as the mesh becomes finer. From this analysis, singular behavior of the comer vortex has been clearly seen and proper interpolation of variables in terms of the logarithmic transformation is demonstrated. Solutions of 4:1:4 contraction/expansion flow are also presented, where there exists 2 singular comers. 5 different types spatial resolutions are also employed, in which convergent solutions are obtained over the Deborah number of 10. Although the convergence limit is rather low in comparison with the result of the contraction flow, the results presented herein seem to be the only numerical outcome available for this flow type. As the flow rate increases, the upstream vortex increases, but the downstream vortex decreases in their size. In addition, peculiar deflection of the streamlines near the exit comer has been found. When the spatial resolution is fine enough and the Deborah number is high, small lip vortex just before the exit comer has been observed. It seems to occur due to abrupt expansion of the elastic liquid through the constriction exit that accompanies sudden relaxation of elastic deformation.