Numerical simulation of complex flows using the Double Convected Pom-Pom model (DCPP)
Rulande Rutgers, Nicolas Clemeur, Benoit Debbaut
University of Queensland
Australia

Keywords: Pom-Pom, simulation, birefringence

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In the recent years, progress has been made in modelling long chain branched polymers by the introduction of the so-called Pom-Pom model (McLeish and Larson (1998), Journal of Rheology 42(1): 81-110). An alternative form of the Pom-Pom model, the Double Convected Pom-Pom (DCPP) model has been recently proposed (Clemeur et al., Rheologica Acta, 2002, accepted) and is used here. The DCPP formulation eliminates a number of rheological and mathematical defects apparent in previous formulation while maintaining the important characteristics of the original model. The implementation of this model into a finite element simulation code is discussed. First, the validity of the implementation is demonstrated in the simulation of well known benchmark flows such as the falling sphere in a tube and the contraction 4 by 1 using the Upper Convected Maxwell model for which numerous results are available and can be compared. Then, the DCPP model is used in these flows and the effects of varying some of its constitutive parameters are analysed