From the summary: We present a fully three-dimensional (3D) convergent numerical study of planar viscoelastic contraction flows. A 3D finite volume method (FVM) with the primary variable elastic viscous split stress (EVSS) formulation is employed, and a very efficient 3D block solver coupled with block correction is developed to speed up the convergence rate. Full 3D simulations of viscoelastic flows in 4:1 planar abrupt contractions are carried out using experimental conditions. Upstream vortex patterns comparable with the existing flow visualisation observations are captured using the upper convected Maxwell model for a Boger fluid, and the Phan-Thien/Tanner model for a shear thinning fluid. Comprehensive comparisons between numerical simulation results and data measured in the dynamic fields in a 4:1 planar abrupt contraction are made, and the results indicate that the experimental measurements can be quantitatively reproduced if the fluid is well characterised by an appropriate viscoelastic model.