A finite element method for computing the flow of multi-mode viscoelastic fluids: comparison with experiments

The numerical computation of viscoelastic fluid flows with differential constitutive equations presents various difficulties. The first one lies in the numerical convergence of the complex numerical scheme solving the non-linear set of equations. Due to the hybrid type of these equations (elliptic and hyperbolic), geometrical singularities such as reentrant corner or die induce stress singularities and hence numerical problems. Another difficulty is the choice of an appropriate constitutive equation and the determination of rheological constants. In this paper, a quasi-Newton method is developed for a fluid obeying a multi-mode Phan-Thien and Tanner constitutive equation. A confined convergent geometry followed by the extrudate swell has been considered. Numerical results obtained for two-dimensional or axisymmetric flows are compared to experimental results (birefringence patterns or extrudate swell) for a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and a low density polyethylene (LDPE).