Application of a coupled level set and volume of fluid method for unsteady simulations with an unstructured flow solver

In this paper, a Coupled Level Set and Volume of Fluid surface capturing method is evaluated alongside the standard Volume of Fluid method against experimental data, using the breaking dam benchmark test case. Results are obtained for simulations on three geometrically similar cartesian meshes for both methods, measuring kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the flow, including arrival time, water front velocity, water heights, impact pressures and rise times. Both methods can predict the kinematics of the initial impact within the interval of experimental data, however, results from both methods show some spreading away from experimental data for the dynamic characteristics of the flow. The coupled method gives better control over the free surface interface thickness, while both methods show the ability to conserve initial water volume. The coupled method must however use a non conservative formulation of the momentum equations for stability.