A modified SPH approach for fluids with large density differences

Abstract

We introduce a modified SPH approach that is based on discretising the particle density instead of the mass density. This approach makes it possible to use SPH particles with very different masses to simulate multi-phase flows with large differences in mass density between the phases. We test our formulation with a simple advection problem, with sound waves encountering a density discontinuity, and with shock tubes containing a contact discontinuity between air and Diesel oil. For all examined problems where particles have different masses, the new formulation yields better results than standard SPH. This is also the case for problems in which different spatial resolutions are needed while the mass density does not change.