A spectral element approach to the simulation of viscoelastic flows using Brownian configuration fields

Spectral element methods are developed for simulating viscoelastic flows based on a micro–macro modelling approach in which the polymer dynamics is described by the evolution of an ensemble of Brownian configuration fields. The application of the technique to the start-up of Couette flow and flow between eccentrically rotating cylinders are described. Comparisons are made between simulations based on the Oldroyd B constitutive model and those based on Brownian configuration fields using Hookean dumbbells. Comparisons are also made between simulations based on different force laws. The performance of the method is discussed.