Simulation of two-fluid flows using a finite element/level set method. Application to bubbles and vesicle dynamics

A new framework for two-fluids flow using a Finite Element/Level Set method is presented and verified through the simulation of the rising of a bubble in a viscous fluid. This model is then enriched to deal with vesicles (which mimic red blood cells mechanical behavior) by introducing a Lagrange multiplier to constrain the inextensibility of the membrane. Moreover, high order polynomial approximation is used to increase the accuracy of the simulations. A validation of this model is finally presented on known behaviors of vesicles under flow such as “tank treading” and tumbling motions.