Partic. vol. 34 pp. 1-13 (October 2017)
doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2016.11.001

Particle flow simulations with homogenised lattice Boltzmann methods

Mathias J. Krause^{a, b}, Fabian Klemens^{a, *}, Thomas Henn^a, Robin Trunk^b, Hermann Nirschl^b

fabian.klemens@kit.edu

Abstract

An alternative approach to simulating arbitrarily shaped particles submersed in viscous fluid in two dimensions is proposed, obtained by adapting the velocity parameter of the equilibrium distribution function of a standard lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Comparisons of exemplifying simulations to results in the literature validate the approach as well as the convergence analysis. Pressure fluctuations occurring in Ladd’s approach are greatly reduced. In comparison with the immersed boundary method, this approach does not require cost intensive interpolations. The parallel efficiency of LBM is retained. An intrinsic momentum transfer is observed during particle–particle collisions. To demonstrate the capabilities of the approach, sedimentation of particles of several shapes is simulated despite omitting an explicit particle collision model.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Particulate flow simulations; Arbitrarily shaped particles; Lattice Boltzmann methods; Validation; Sedimentation processes