Visual analysis of interface deformation in multiphase flow

Abstract In multiphase flows, the evolution of fluid-fluid interfaces is of interest in many applications. In addition to fluid dynamic forces governing the flow in the entire volume, surface tension determines droplet interfaces. Here, the analysis of interface kinematics can help in the investigation of interface deformation and the identification of potential breakups. To this end, we developed a visualization technique using metric and shape tensors to analyze interface stretching and bending. For interface stretching, we employ the eigenpairs of the metric tensor defined for the deformation rate of the fluid surface. For interface bending, we present a technique that locally captures the interface curvature change in terms of a shape tensor, extracting its principal directions and curvatures. We then visualize interface deformation by combining both representations into a novel glyph design. We apply our method to study multiphase flow simulations with particular emphasis on interface effects. These include the interplay between fluid dynamics and surface tension forces leading to breakup processes following droplet collisions, as well as droplet-droplet interactions of different fluids where Marangoni convection along the surface is explicitly taken into account. Graphical abstract