Numerical simulation of incompressible multiphase flows with immiscible
fluids is still a challenging field, particularly for 3D configurations
undergoing complex topological changes. In this paper, we discuss a 3D FEM
approach with a high-order Stokes elements (Q2/P1) for velocity and pressure
on general hexahedral meshes. A discontinuous Galerkin approach with
piecewise linear polynomials (dG(1)) is used to treat the Level Set function.
The developed methodology allows the application of special redistancing algorithms
which do not change the position of the interface. We explain the
corresponding FEM techniques for treating the advection steps and surface
tension effects, and validate the corresponding 3D code with respect to both
numerical test cases and experimental data. The corresponding applications
describe the classical rising bubble problem for various parameters and the
generation of droplets from a viscous liquid jet in a coflowing surrounding
fluid. Both of these applications can be used for rigorous benchmarking of
3D multiphase flow simulations.