Enhanced cascaded lattice Boltzmann model for multiphase flow simulations at large density ratio

Abstract

In recent years, the pseudopotential multiphase lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been widely applied in the numerical simulations of complex multiphase flow. However, numerical stability at high Weber (We) and Reynolds (Re) numbers seriously restricts its application. In the present work, the pseudopotential multiphase LBM is developed by introducing the entropic stabilizers to the cascaded collision operator, and thus, the numerical stability is effectively enhanced. The relaxation rates for different order moments are all determined by fluid viscosities and the maximum entropy condition instead of being user-defined. Furthermore, the surface tension and contact angle can be adjusted in a wide range, which extends the application of the pseudopotential multiphase model. The accuracy and capability of the present model to simulate the complex multiphase flow are validated by reproducing the droplet impact on the flat or textured superhydrophobic surfaces. In addition, a droplet impact on the superhydrophobic surface at We=1280 and Re=18000 is simulated, in which the Weber and Reynolds numbers have significantly increased. This strongly demonstrates that the present model can enhance the numerical stability in the simulation of large density ratio multiphase flows at simultaneously high Weber and Reynolds numbers, which means the present model can further extend the pseudopotential multiphase LBM to more realistic scientific and technical applications.