Numerical simulation of the fountain flow problem for viscoelastic fluids

Fountain flow for isothermal viscoelastic fluids is simulated by a numerical method based on a combination of a finite element method and a finite volume method. For the treatment of moving free surfaces, a fringe element generation method is used. Circulating flow and elongation in the transverse direction at the melt front are simulated well. Numerical results also suggest that circulation in fountain flow and viscoelastic retardation may give rise to symmetric V‐shaped patterns of birefringence between the center‐plane and wall. Such information on molecular orientation in fountain flow is important for physical properties of thick molded products.