3D gradient corrected SPH for fully resolved particle–fluid interactions

Abstract

Fully resolved fluid–solid coupling is explored with the gradient corrected weakly compressible SPH methodology being used to simulate an incompressible Newtonian fluid as well as being used to obtain the coupling force information required to accurately represent these interactions. Gradient correction allows for the application of the Neumann boundary condition required to describe the pressure fields at solid interfaces, as well as symmetry boundary conditions for velocity (where applicable) without the use of ghost or mirrored particles. A scaling study is performed by investigating the drag on an infinitely long cylinder at different smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) resolutions, with finer resolution scales showing good correlation to other studies. The drag characteristics of several particle shapes and topologies are also investigated making use of both convex and non-convex particle shapes. Clear distinction for both the fluid and solid particle responses for the various solid particle shapes are observed. Boundary effects are also explored with results showing a strong responses to changing domain geometry aspect ratios. A many particle system with two different particle shapes are simulated to investigate bulk behaviour of the different solids falling under gravity in a fluid. All results presented in this paper are obtained from full 3D simulations.