A simple, fully-discrete, unconditionally energy-stable method for the two-phase Navier-Stokes Cahn-Hilliard model with arbitrary density ratios

Abstract: The two-phase Navier-Stokes Cahn-Hilliard (NSCH) mixture model is a key framework for simulating multiphase flows with non-matching densities. Developing fully discrete, energy-stable schemes for this model remains challenging, due to the possible presence of negative densities. While various methods have been proposed, ensuring provable energy stability under phase-field modifications, like positive extensions of the density, remains an open problem. We propose a simple, fully discrete, energy-stable method for the NSCH mixture model that ensures stability with respect to the energy functional, where the density in the kinetic energy is positively extended. The method is based on an alternative but equivalent formulation using mass-averaged velocity and volume-fraction-based order parameters, simplifying implementation while preserving theoretical consistency. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is robust, accurate, and stable for large density ratios, addressing key challenges in the discretization of NSCH models.