Patent ID: 8214185

Claim:
A method using a central processing unit to simulate and analyze flow of a viscoelastic fluid through a channel having an interface between a first fluid that flows through the channel and a second fluid, and a formation of a droplet, the method comprising: performing calculations using the central processing unit to solve equations, including a momentum equation, governing a viscoelastic flow of the first fluid through the channel, including viscoelastic stress equations that include a normalized relaxation time up to 1000, the calculations being performed to simulate the flow of the first fluid through the channel, wherein the method is stable over a period of time in which a droplet is formed; and updating, periodically during the simulation using the central processing unit, a level set function for the first and second fluids, wherein the level set function describes a position of the interface between the first and second fluids, and an evolution of the level set function over time describes a shape and the position of the interface over time; wherein each of the performing and updating steps is carried out using a quadrilateral grid finite difference method.