MUFFIN: Multiphase Simulator

Abstract

MUFFIN (MUltiFarious FIeld simulator for a Non-equilibrium system) consists of simulators based on the continuum model that calculate the dynamics of multiphase structures of soft matter. As the numerical methods, the finite difference method and finite element method are used. Using these simulators, it is possible to simulate polymer phase separation under a flow, the dynamics of an electrolyte solution considering an electric field, the reaction and diffusion of a fluid in a microchannel flow, large deformation of gels, deformation of elastic material with a phase-separated structure, and the light transmission of polymeric materials containing spherulites. This chapter presents the background and fundamental theory of representative simulators, together with some simple tutorials. We select two application examples. The first is the phase separation of polymer melts under the effect of hydrodynamics, and the second is the deformation of elastic material with a phase-separated structure.