Numerical simulation of 3D-unsteady viscoelastic free surface flows by improved smoothed particle hydrodynamics method

► The smoothed particle hydrodynamics method is used to simulate 3D-unsteady viscoelastic free surface flows. ► A new boundary treatment technique is proposed to improve the computational efficiency. ► A simplified artificial stress term is adopted to alleviate the tensile instability problem. ► Newtonian, Oldroyd-B and Maxwell models are used. ► The fall and impact on a rigid plate of a viscoelastic drop and the jet buckling of viscoelastic fluids are investigated.