Investigating the Applicability of Combined Lattice Boltzmann-Smoothed Profile Methods in Particulate Systems

Abstract

In this article, a combination of Lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) and smoothed profile method (SPM) are used in simulation of one, two, and many particles’ motion in fluid flow. SPM is used as the simulation method for particles motion. A shear flow is produced using a) solid walls for which standard bounce-back (SBB) boundary condition is applied and b) Lees-Edwards boundary conditions (LEBC). Simulation of Couette flow problem of fluid-only system reveals the accuracy of both methods. LBM-SPM coupled with LEBC is applied for flow geometries of one and two particles in a shear flow. Comparison of results obtained from simulation of one and two interacting particles using moving walls with SBB with those in the literature shows good correspondence. In addition, for the case of many particles, the effective viscosity of a suspension of circular particles which are placed randomly between two parallel walls is investigated from dilute to dense regimes. Relative bulk viscosity is compared with theoretical and semi-empirical results of other investigators and satisfactory agreement is found. Finally, a combination of SPM-LBM is examined for sedimentation of one, two and many particles. Numerical results show suitability of LBM-SPM with LEBC for simulation of particles suspended in flow.